MIA SCHARPHIE SELECTED LANDSCAPE DESIGN
SELECTED ACADEMIC WORK
01A_
twenty-four hours at walden: remaking the american getaway
02A_
accretionary urbanism: working city+ working ecologies
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL WORK
01P_ 02P_
symphony park, SOMERVILLE, MA all the green, all the program
power plant campus, MEREDOSIA, IL energy ecology landscape
_01A twenty-four hours at walden: remaking the american getaway
The mandate of this project was to take both Walden Pond, a landscape icon, and its strange ‘mirror’ across the street-a landfill--and to propose interventions that engage with our concepts of what ‘nature’ is. The intervention at Walden takes on the woods surrounding the famous pond, and plays with flipping the planes of ground surface and sky, inspired by Thoreau’s writings. The intervention at the landfill takes the relationship between sky and ground as a starting point as well, in taking on the classic American experience of nature, the campground. It takes advantage of the landfill’s unique ecological state as a grassland in the woods of New England, and proposes a nontraditional campground with shifting settlement patterns inspired by the grassland management regime.
above: Model of Walden Pond bathymetry inspired by Thoreau’s sounding survey (10x vert. exaggeration) below: Walden Pond (left) and Concord landfill in Walden Woods (right)
INTERVENTION 1: WALDEN WOODS
Dynamics in the vertical profile of Walden Woods
above: Studies of canopy and ground conditions as figure gounds below: Record of Walden Woods psychogeographic walk
Forest clearing installation using patterning from canopy extruded from forest floor and vice-versa
INTERVENTION 2: CONCORD LANDFILL
GRASS PALETTE
Andropogon gerardii “big bluestem” on site
Solidago Sempervirens “seaside goldenrod” on site
Bouteloua curtipendula “sideoats grama” introduced
Melilotus alba “sweet clover” on site
Grass diversity at Concord landfill at Walden Woods
Miscanthus
introduced
Tortula ruralis “star moss” on site
unidentified
on site
d site grass
Oenothera “evening primrose” on site
Schizachyrium scoparium “little bluestem” introduced
Typha latifolia “cattail” on site
Schizachyrium scoparium “prairie dropseed” introduced
Daucos carota “queen anne’s lace” on site
Artemisia vulgaris “mugwort” on site
SYSTEM DYNAMICS
hanging cabin scaffold system
program gathering spaces & campfire zones disabled access campsite outdoor shower
circulation permanent path dynamic path
topography
DESIGN COMPONENTS
Axonometric of rotational campground system components
S
MAINTENANCE AND SETUP REGIME MAINTENANCE AND SETUP REGIME
STEP 1: MOW STEP 1: MOW
STEP 2: RESEED STEP 2: RESEED
STEP 3: MOVE CAMPSITES STEP 3: M
EMAINTENANCE AND SETUP REGIME ANDMAINTENANCE SETUP REGIMEAND SETUP REGIME
STEP 1: MOW STEP 1: MOW
STEP 1: MOW
STEP 2: RESEED STEP 2: RESEED
STEP 4: GRASS GROWS IN STEP 3: MOVE STEP CAMPSITES 3: MOVE CAMPSITES STEP 3: MOVE CAMPSITES STEP 4: GRASS GROWS IN STEP 2: RESEED
DESIGN COMPONENTS DESIGN COMPONENTS
above: Traditional campground, degraded from overuse below: Rotational campground maintenance system
ONAL CHANGE-SEASONAL MIC CAMPSITE SETUPCHANGE-DYNAMIC CAMPSITE SETUP
STEP 4.: MOW A NEW PATH ...AND REPEAT STEP 4.: MOW A NEW PATH ...AND REPEAT
01
5
01 10
5
10
01
5
10
V O NA ETGEEGVEV EMIT REEM VIE OTMERIG TEN RA EH VEC OGLE GATNHEAC GHELCVALTA
left: Rotational system leads to complexity in plant dynamics over time right: Site plan
Section through campground
Floating camping pods and grass patterning
below: Concept model of grass, topography and pod infrastructure interrelation
above: Camping pods. Plan, section, perspective next page: Time-flow montage of user visit to Walden Pond, including new landfill campground
_02A accretionary urbanism: working city+ working ecologies
This project explores the potential of ecological systems-in this case, wetlands--to restore the environmentally degraded waterfront of Willet’s Point in New York City. Its strategy is to bring redevelopment to a neighborhood, subsidizing its environmental restoration, without displacing the site’s existing auto shop economy which provides working class jobs in New York City. The project takes a ‘kit of parts’ and ‘rules of organization’ approach to planning, and interweaves environmental, social and economic forces to create an ecologicaly and socioeconomically diverse environment.
15 ft
15 ft
30 ft
30 ft
45 ft
60 ft
90°
75°
45°
15 ft deep
15 ft tall
25° 10 ft wide
7 ft wide
15 ft
15 ft
30 ft
30 ft
45 ft
60 ft
15°
dikes 3 ft tall
channels 3 ft deep
10 ft wide
buildings 40 ft deep
20 ft deep
15 ft
15 ft
30 ft
30 ft
45 ft
60 ft
15 ft wide
30 ft
45 ft
7 ft tall
60 ft deep
7 ft wide
7 ft deep
15 ft wide
15 ft wide
30 ft
30 ft
45 ft
45 ft
60 ft
60 ft
7 m wide
10 ft wide
60 ft 15 ft
15 ft
30 ft
30 ft
45 ft
60 ft
90°
paths sidewalk
75°
stairs
catwalk
10 ft wide 45°
15 ft tall
15 ft deep 25°
10 ft wide
7 ft wide 20 ft 15°
15 ft
15 ft
30 ft
30 ft
45 ft
60 ft
30 ft
buildings 20 ft deep 15 ft wide
30 ft
45 ft
60 ft
40 ft deep
60 ft deep
15 ft wide
15 ft wide
30 ft
30 ft
45 ft
45 ft
60 ft
above: “Kit of urban parts” for water conveyance and control left: Diagram showing how simple components can create complex spatial conditions 60 ft
paths
w: 20 d: 5 a: 75°-35°
w: 20-5 d: 5 a: 75
w: 5 d: 1 a: 75° 50° turn
w: 20 d: 5 a: 90° 75° turn
w: 10 d: 1 a: 15° 25° turn
w: 10 d: 1 a: 15° 50° turn
w: 20 d: 5-1 a: 75°
w: 20 d: 5 a: 90° 50° turn
w: 5 d: 1 a: 75° 25° turn
w: 10 d: 5 a: 90°-45°
open space analysis open space analysis
“unidirectionally toothy”
“polka dot”
block area 172,000 bldg area 54,000 31% open 118,000 sf
s
block area 152,000 bldg area 30,000 18% open 122,000 sf
“unidirectionally toothy”
“polka d
block area 172,000 bldg area 54,000 31% open 118,000 sf
block area 1 bldg area 30 18% open
spatial patterns: the chopshop 18’
15’ 20’
33’
18’
spatial patterns: the chopshop 15’
60’
20’
“unidirectionally toothy”
elevation
“quasi-courtayrd
“polka dot”
block area 172,000 bldg area 54,000 31% open 118,000 sf
block area 152,000 bldg area 30,000 18% open 122,000 sf
block area 134,000 elevation bldg area 56,000 42% open 78,000 sf
2x10” roof beam
concrete masonry unit with rebar
10”
30’
8”
4” 30’
18’
15’ 20’
60’
2x10” roof beam
section concrete masonry unit with rebar
10”
elevation
spatial patterns: the chopshop
20’
(no more than 30 ft)
8” 2x10” roof beam concrete masonry unit with rebar
4”
10”
50’
30’
“unidirectionally toothy”
8”
“quasi-courtayrd”
“polka dot”
block area 172,000 bldg area 54,000 31% open 118,000 sf
16”
4”
30’
block area 134,000 bldg area 56,000 42% open 78,000 sf
block area 152,000 bldg area 30,000 18% open 122,000 sf
33’
plan
18’
18’ section 15’ 60’
20’
section 15’
peekaboo moments
20’ elevation
spatial patterns: the chopshop
(no mo
2x10” roof beam concrete masonry unit with rebar
10” 30’
50’
8” 4” 30’
elevation 16”
33’
section
18’
2x10” roof beam
15’
plan
concrete masonry unit with rebar
60’
20’
10”
18’ 50’ 20’
elevation
(no more than 30 ft)
8” 15’ 4”
20’
2x10” roof beam
peekaboo moments
concrete masonry unit with rebar
10”
50’ 30’
16”
8” 4” 30’
16”
elevation
section
plan
section
Willet’s Point urban fabric analysis, existing typologies and conditions 2x10” roof beam concrete masonry unit with rebar
10”
20’
(no more than 30 ft)
peekaboo moments
plan
Original concept for intervention threads new building types through existing urban fabric
industrial wetlands
water cleansing + productive greenhouse
above: Plant species adapted to wetland condition below: Concept sketches exploring wetland-building integration opportunities
car lot + residential
residential wetlands greywater collection
car lot wetland secret garden
channels 1 ft deep 7 ft wide
8 ft wide
12 ft wide 1 ft deep 11 ft ft deep deep 7 ft wide 111 ft deep 15 ft deep deep 7 ftftwide 1 ft ft deep channels 77ftftwide 11 ft wide ft deep deep 715ftftwide
1’ overflow capacity 1’ overflow 3’ optimal capacity water depth 3’ optimal water depth
7 ft deep compound
20 ft tall
7 ft wide 77 ftftftft wide wide 7 wide 30 15ft 7 715ft ftftftwide wide 15 30ft 15 ftft 15 15 ftft 15ft 15 1 ft deep 30 ft 15 15 ft ft 30 30 ft 60ft 30 ftft 30 7 ftft wide 30 ft 30 30 ftft 60 ft 30 30 ft ft 60 ft 15 ft 60 60ftft module becomes 60 ft 60 inhabitable 60 ftft 60ft ft 60 ft 60 60 module becomes 30 60ftft ft 3 ft deep inhabitable
3 ft deep 7 wide 3 ft deep 33 ft ft deep deep 60 7 ft wide 3 ft deep 3 ft deep ft deep deep 33 ft 7 wide 3 ft deep 3 ft deep 7715 wide wide ft
10 ft wide 10 ft wide
7 ft wide 7 ft wide
15 ft 15 ft
15 ft 15 ft
30 ft 30 ft
30 ft 30 ft
45 ft 45 ft
l
l
catwalk catwalk catwalk 4 ft wide catwalk catwalk 4 ft wide catwalk catwalk 4 ftftwide catwalk 4 wide catwalk 4 ft 4 ftftwide wide 4 wide 44 ftftwide wide 4ft wide
25° 2
compound modules
module becomes shade structure module becomes shade structure
15° 1
60 ft 60 ft
90° 7 wide 7 77wide wide wide 7 wide 15 ft 7 90° 7 wide wide 15 ft 90° 4 ft wide 3 ft deep 15 15ftft 90° 4 ft wide 90° 15 30ft ft 15 ft 90° 15 ftft 20 ft 90° 1510 15 ft 90° ft wide 90° 90° 75° 20 ft ft 10 ft wide 715 wide 15 ftft 30 90° 30 ft 90° 30 ft 75° 30 ft inhabitable dike wetland channel circulation dike 30 30 75° 60ftftft 30 ft 30 ft 75° 75° 30 ft 30 ft 30 ftft 30 75° wetland channel circulation dike 60 15 ft ft inhabitable dike 75° 30 90° 75° 30 ft ft 75° 75° 60 ft 75° 45° 75° 60 60ftft 60 ft 60 45° 60 ftft 60ft ft 60 ft 60 60 45° 60ftft ft 30 45° 45° 7 ft deep 75° 45° 45° 45° 45° 45° 45° 7 ft deep 25° 45° 45° 1’ overflow 7 ft deep 60ftftwide 7 25° 1’ overflow 77 ft deep capacity ft deep 7 ft deep capacity 25° 77 ft ft deep 7 ft wide 3’ optimal ft deep deep 7 25° 25° 3’ optimal water depth 7 ft deep 25° 7 ft wide 7 ft deep 45° 25° water depth 25° 25° 25° 77ftftwide 25° wide 15° 25° 7 ft wide 25° 77ft ftftwide wide 7 wide 7 ft wide 15 ftwide 15° 7 7 ft ft wide 15° 7 ft deep 15 ft 15° 15° 15 ft 15° 15° 25° 15° 15° 15° 15° 15 15ftft 15° ft 15 15° 7 ft wide ft 15 ftftft 15 30 15ft 15 ft 15 15 ft 30 ft 30 ft 15° 30 30ftft 30 ft 30 30 ftft 30ftft ft 30 ft 15 30 60ftft 30 30 ft channel with central channel separate channel channelcapacity with60 ft overflow central channel separate channel overflow capacity 60 ft 60 60ftft 60 30 ftft 60 60 ftft 60ft ft 60 ft 60 60 60 ft ft
paths paths
modules
catwalk catwalk 8 ft wide 8 ft wide
12 ft wide 12 ft wide
module becomes module becomes inhabitable inhabitable
inhabitabl inhabita
4 ft wide60 ft
30 ft
8 ft wide 12 ft wide 30 ft 8 ft wide 12 ft wide 4 30 Section ft 4 ft ft wide wide accomodating above: morphologies performative and recreational 8 ft wide 30 30ftft 12 ft wide 88ftftwide wide to be 12 30 ft opposite: Multiple water types and quantities accomodated ftftwide 30 ft 8 ft wide 12 wide 30 ft water cleansing + productive greenhouse 30 ft 8 ft wide 30 30ftft 88ft ftftwide wide 12 ft wide wide 8 12 ft wide 30 12 ftftwide wide 12ft wide 12 30 ft ft 8 8 ft ft wide wide + productive 12 water cleansing greenhouse 4 ft wide 12 ft ft wide wide
catwalk
goals
car lo +wet car lo +wet
SYSTEM ASSEMBLY: ‘THE RULES’ N
+
45’
+ 1/2
d d
strategic relocation
growth envelope every
buildings that are relocated go preferentially to block edges on east and west.
existing building keeps the right to grow vertically up to 45 ft tall. they can also sell these rights to another developer or buy into the scheme.
25x residential graywater/sf
30sf / person
wetland positioning
solar access buildings
south of wetland planting should be only as high as half the distance between them and the wetland. Taller buildings preferentially on northern side of wetland.
wetlands should be positioned in the top right corner of city blocks to take advantage of true south given the northwestern tilt of the city blocks
outdoor workspace there should be outside work space accessible to businesses that need it.
” *6 sf a ity x xtr ac e ap c
87.5sf / person
.008sf wetland/ sf building
44’
6”
industrial waterways
residential waterways
for every square foot of industrial space there should be X cubic feet industrial effluent treatment water capacity.
for every square foot of residential space there should be X cubic feet greywater treatment water capacity.
blackwater treatment for every square foot of residential space there should be X cubic feet greywater treatment water capacity.
storm capacity leave at least 6” freeboard in all wetlands for storm events. Wetlands draining car lots should have 6” capacity for every sq ft of the car lot.
car lot dimensions are at least 44’ wide to allow for one lane of parking and working, and one lane to drive and work in
neighborhood buildout 90’ offset 2x bldg envelope height
’
176
100’ offset
34
5’
1800 1850 = 1800 2400sf
existing
7850sf 157,000sf
water thread
building thread
Guidelines for system assembly and insertion of new residential units into existing fabric car lots greywater wetland 3600sf industrial effluent wetland 4100sf car lot runofff
drive-thru
44’
6”
industrial waterways
residential waterways
for every square foot of industrial space there should be X cubic feet industrial effluent treatment water capacity.
for every square foot of residential space there should be X cubic feet greywater treatment water capacity.
blackwater treatment for every square foot of residential space there should be X cubic feet greywater treatment water capacity.
storm capacity leave at least 6” freeboard in all wetlands for storm events. Wetlands draining car lots should have 6” capacity for every sq ft of the car lot.
car lot dimensions are at least 44’ wide to allow for one lane of parking and working, and one lane to drive and work in
neighborhood buildout 90’ offset 2x bldg envelope height
’
176
100’ offset
34
5’
1800 1850 = 1800 2400sf
7850sf 157,000sf
existing
water thread
building thread
car lots greywater wetland 3600sf industrial effluent wetland 4100sf car lot runofff swale
drive-thru access to lots balconies overlooking wetland
relocated to another block relocated to edge of block
4 story bldg 10 units (avg 3 ppl each) per floor 120 ppl
new building
wetland services
Buildout of new residential fabric and wetland system incrementally
program and access
Middle of a section through the entire bay, 20 feet long when printed, showing the relationship between water infrastructure, housing and businesses
_01P symphony park, SOMERVILLE, MA all the green, all the program
The major design challenge in this small park on a vacant single family house lot in Somerville was to accomodate multiple programmatic needs and steep topography, without sacrificing a lush vegetated feel, an element sorely needed in densly-built up Somerville. Multifunctional spaces, and an integrated topographic and custom furniture strategy pack the program in, and dense planting climbs up and down the site. In addition, due to the presence of a retirement community across from the site, our firm developed a new typology of accessible community garden beds, adding beds accessible to residents with physical challenges to Somerville’s growing portfolio of community gardens. I WORKED ON THIS PROJECT FROM CONCEPT DESIGN TO CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS. I WORKED ON ALL AREAS OF THE PROJECT BUT PARTICULARLY FOCUSED ON FURNITURE DESIGN AND WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PLANTING DESIGN.
Site plan illustrating programmatic diversity and overlap on a small site
235 sf
130 sf
6” high bed
GLEN PARK 3.5’ perimeter fence semi-controlled
locked
ACCESSIBILITY
high
100 sf
6” high bed
semi-controlled
open
semi-controlled
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
60 sf
PUBLIC ACCESS
ACCESSIBILITY
low
low
high
35 sf
semi-controlled
open
ACCESSIBILITY
high
low
32 sf
0-30” high bed
SOMERVILLE COMMUNITY GROWING CENTER
12” high bed
SOUTH STREET FARM
PUBLIC ACCESS
PUBLIC ACCESS
semi-controlled
5-15” high bed
CHUCKIE HARRIS PARK locked
ACCESSIBILITY
open
high
open
PUBLIC ACCESS locked
semi-controlled
low
18” high bed
JAMES STREET RESERVE
GARDENS FOR CHALRESTOWN
locked
locked
ACCESSIBILITY
low
PUBLIC ACCESS locked
open
ACCESSIBILITY
high
100 sf
PUBLIC ACCESS
semi-controlled
locked
2-12” high bed 12’ perimeter fence
ALBION PARK
PUBLIC ACCESS
open
low
115 sf
4” high bed
MORSE KELLEY 4’ perimeter fence
PUBLIC ACCESS
open
semi-controlled
locked
open
high
30 sf
25” high bed
COSTA PARK PUBLIC ACCESS semi-controlled
locked
ACCESSIBILITY low
open
ACCESSIBILITY high
low
high
ACCESSIBILITY low
20 sf
3’ perimeter fence
BALLARD P-PATCH SEATTLE, WA PUBLIC ACCESS locked
semi-controlled
open
ACCESSIBILITY low
18 sf
4” high bed 10’ perimeter fence
NATIONALITIES SERVICE CENTER PHILADELPHIA, PA PUBLIC ACCESS locked
semi-controlled
low
5 sf
32” high bed
JAMES STREET RESERVE
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
PUBLIC ACCESS open
ACCESSIBILITY high
high
locked
semi-controlled
open
ACCESSIBILITY high
low
high
Study of predominantly local community garden beds focused on sizes and accessibility conditions; this drawing sets up an argument for a higher standard of garden accessibility in this park.
above: Planting plan shows density of plantings, chosen for seasonal color and fragrance below: Custom-designed furniture ‘flows’ over topography, and is ‘swallowed’ by dense planting
View from Florence St. shows site’s lushness as well as its programmatic density.
_02P power plant campus, MEREDOSIA, IL energy ecology landscape
This concept design for the renovation of a lower-emissions energy plant puts the focus on the relationship between the site and its river location.Through a circulation loop that runs through a biomass planting and a flexible, floodable new wetland waterfront, the design addresses larger issues of energy and challenges of river flooding. The site also reframes the river as a site of spectacle--both the spectacle of wetland ecosystems on the smaller scale, and the spectacle of river barge traffic on the larger scale. I PLAYED A PRIMARY ROLE IN SITE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONCEPT.
TYPICAL SECTION 10x EXAGGERATION
+SURROUNDING HILLSIDES
RIVERBANK SECTION
+ILLINOIS RIVER AND MARSHES
+AGRICULTURAL RIVER VALLEY 1 MILE
Map of site context, showing river valley flood plain and topographic conditions
JUNE
6
2007 JUNE 2012 JUNE 2009
FT
JUNE 200
00
50
FT
00
20
FLUCTUATING RIVER LEVEL
TRAFFIC
00
50
FT
00
20
FT
IFE LIF ILD
W
AL CO
SURFACE WATER
SITE FLOWS W
above: Map of changing water levels in different seasonal and flood conditions below: Mapping of flows of water, materials and traffic across site
“Bargespotting,� a compilation of river barge traffic makes case for riverfront as site of spectacle
ENTRY PAVILLION
NEW WATERFRONT PATH SYSTEM PUBLIC WATERFRONT/ PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH
TREES PLANTED ON LINES TO FRAME BUILDING PLANTED BIOMASS FIELDS high yield species eg. Miscanthus-grass Populus-tree
possible extension of park
VIEW CORRIDOR
COAL RUNOFF TREATMENT WETLAND VIEW CORRIDOR frame through planting wetland trees
frame through selective removal of trees NEW WETLAND EDGE
LANDSCAPE SCHEME OPTION
Final site concept proposes circulation loop through plant, fields of biomass planting, and a series of new wetland edges flexible to changing water levels