Ryan Cor r i gan Por tfolio 1 2 2 Wa r r e n S t . A p t . 1 1 | B r i g h t o n , M A 0 2 1 3 5 | 4 0 2 - 8 7 1 - 0 1 2 6 | r y a n @ b r e a k i n g g r o u n d o m a h a . c o m
L andscape Design + Community Planning + Sustainable Development + Photo graphy + Graphics
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Design E thics Selected Projects {Conway School of Ecolog ical L andscape Design}
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Waterfront Design for Harbor Park | Middletown CT
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Aquinnah Circle Master Plan | Aquinnah, MA
{Breaking Ground L andscape Design} 14
Jamaica Plain Entry Garden | Boston, MA
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Little Conestoga Native Garden | Lancaster, PA
Related Work Landscape Rendering and Hand Graphics
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Landscape Photography and Marketing
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Writing Sample
Ryan Corrigan
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Design Ethics Ecological design should not only be in tune with ecosystem function and services, it should inspire and challenge the relationship between humanity and the land. Ecosystems and societies are extremely complicated networks. A designer should be able to communicate effectively across disciplines, communities, and cultures. A strong narrative is critical to a successful design, a successful community, and to a successful global movement toward sustainability. Strong designs evolve, planning for ecological succession and offering flexibility for social evolutions. If community does not feel heard or inspired, they will not exert effort to sustain the design. Everyone deserves a beautiful, functional landscape whether they can afford it or not. These principles have been shaped and tested by the rigors of real projects. I offer hands-on experience as well as the creative and intellectual capacities necessary for achieving a positive difference in land use— whether at a residence or in a region.
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H a r b o r Pa r k R e d e s i g n M iddle tow n, CT A pr.- June 2016 Design Challenge: The City of Middletown, Ct sought to build on momentum from a thriving downtown and grow the deteriorated Harbor Park into a key destination for the community. • Can a park lying completely within the floodplain of a tidal river serve the infrastructure needs of a diverse community? • How can access be improved, and how can Harbor Park entice visitors to stay while meeting the ecological needs of the place? • How can the interaction between visitors and Route 9 be improved? Outcomes: • Community visioning sessions and surveys prioritized ways to entice more visitors and promote them to stay. • Interviews with city council and federal officials helped set boundaries for design solutions. • A phasing plan has given the community tangible steps forward toward prioritizing park improvements.
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Key Observations: • Despite annual flooding concerns and its close proximity to route 9, Harbor Park represents one of the only access points to the river and gathering spaces. • All design implements will have to hold up to annual flooding and fulfill environmental regulations. • The park must support large temporary events and day to day park activities. • Route 9 is noisy and unsightly, steps should be taken to reduce noise and enhance views. Our team studied: • Character Zones • Flooding • Stormwater Drainage • Circulation • Soils • Views • Slope • Vegetation • Atmosphere • Regulatory Boundaries • Ecological Boundaries • Summary Analysis
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Community Visioning Two community meetings, city government interviews and community surveys yielded varied and conflicting needs but were grouped into six recommendation themes: (1)Provide Educational Opportunities, (2)Facilitate Circulation, (3) Add Wayfinding, (4)Update Infrastructure, (5)Provide Gathering Spaces, (6)Reevaluate policies.
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Wetland Riparian Planting
Shaded Seating and Boardwalk Landing
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Natural Playground
No-mow area
Bioswale
Picnic and Pergola area
Viewing Mound
Entrance landing and garden
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Native Poplar Grove
Interactive Water Feature
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Wetland Educational area
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Floating Dock
Extended Boardwalk
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Pedestrian Boardwalk Bridge Restored Cove
Moved Bathroom and Equipment Rental
Art Garden
Food Truck Parking
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VISION The design envisions Harbor Park as a site with frequent and diverse activities that also provides habitat for local ecology and educational opportunities.
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NATURAL ZONE To the north, a narrow, extended boardwalk meanders through a native poplar grove along an educational wetland depression. The trail loop follows the bottom of the embankment. GATEWAY ENTRANCE Visitors entering through the tunnel are guided into the park by a staggered set of three boardwalk landings featuring stone path leading through it. The plant swath continues up the slope of the embankment as an unmowed area providing a seasonal visual buffer from Route 9.
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AMENITIES The asphalt access path is moved west toward the embankment to open more flexible space for events and unorganized activity. The path leads into a hardscape picnic area featuring a new, set-back locust arbors with vines extend over the patio providing seasonal shade bathroom which includes a pergola and equipment rental such as mobile seating, hammocks and games to be used in the open space. Black seating around pockets of native plants, and shade trees. At the waters edge, a floating
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R e v i s i o n i n g A q u i n n a h C i rc l e Aquinnah, MA Jan.-April 2016 Design Challenge: The Town of Aquinnah and Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah sought a master vision for Aquinnah circle that balances the unique ecology with its cultural significance and tourist economy infrastructure. • How can time-limited visitors better understand the cultural and ecological significance of the site? • How can the rugged terrain be traversed more safely and efficiently? • How can the site better serve community needs during and after the tourism season? Outcomes: • Community visioning sessions clarified needs of both town residents and the tribe. • The visioning process and report provided a roadmap toward decision making at the Circle facilitating its inclusion as a MA Cultural District and helping to secure funds for improvements. • The report has led to follow-up studies focused on the specific site components.
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Key Observations: • The site design favors vehicular travel rather than pedestrian. • Traffic concentrates at a single choke point near the top of the circle. • Key locations are located near difficult slopes and are weakened by poor drainage. • Major destinations lack cohesive characteristics, making short-term visits confusing. Our team studied: • Circulation • Parking • Stormwater Drainage • Character Zones • Soils • Views • Slope
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Community Visioning Three community meetings with the town and the tribe revealed varied and conflicting needs but were grouped into six recommendation themes: (1)Provide Educational Opportunities, (2)Facilitate Circulation, (3)Add Wayfinding, (4) Update Infrastructure, (5)Provide Gathering Spaces, (6)Re-evaluate policies.
Design Objectives
The design objectives address the need to preserve the character of Aquinnah Circle while providing a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors. These evolved into more specific design guidelines which led to specific recommendations and design schematics.
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Our team provided 5 broad schematics based on site analysis, community needs and ecological realities. Each have significant assets and constraints, which were detailed in the final report.
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A road-map indicates the next steps for the town and the Wampanoag tribe toward a enhanced circle experience that reflects the values and needs of the community while providing a safe, educational experience for visitors.
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Ja m a i c a P l a i n E n t r y G a rd e n Boston, MA October 2017 Design Challenge: The two-family home sought a design that accents the recently modernized house while reflecting an English-country garden feel. Design Solutions: • Concrete curbing was replaced with a natural cobblestone wall to retain soil while expanding the driveway space. • A layered plant design of spring bulbs, native perennials, evergreens and late blooming flowers provides year-round interest, heights and leaf textures.
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Key Aspects: • A large pot placed tucked behind boxwood provides opportunities for early season color at different eye levels. • Plantings were spaced tightly to promote dense ground cover and eventually remove the need for mulch.
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L i t t l e C o n e s t o g a Na t i v e G a rd e n L a n c a s t e r , PA A u g . 2 0 1 6 Design Challenge: The clients sought a master plan for their newly acquired home that provided multiple entertainment areas, a more defined entry, and four season color while managing existing stormwater drainage problems. • The clients also wanted to explore the possibility of installing a pool.
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Key Observations: - Percolation tests in six locations on site revealed few areas suitable for water storage. - Sink holes on site and a high bedrock layer make pool construction impractical. - Stormwater flowing off-site drains almost directly to little Conestoga creek contributing to flooding in rain events. -Compacted grassy areas hinder stormwater storage - Some areas need to be regraded to prevent pooling near home. - Sun-shade studies indicate diverse opportunities for plant types and character zones.
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The design studied: - Character Zones - Stormwater Drainage and water percolation - Circulation - Soils - Views - Sun/shade - Vegetation - Zoning Requirements - Ecological Boundaries
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Design and Rendering Design Solutions: • Stormwater was directed away from the home to areas of faster percolation on site (rain gardens/swale) and excess was moved off-site through drains. • The design suggests shade- tolerant entry planting featuring color and interest yearround. • An expanded bluestone patio and flagstone fire pit area provide more opportunities to entertain. • Native plantings facilitate water storage while benefiting the local ecosystem. • Aeration and organic fertilizers may help improve the water storage ability of the site. • A gabion bench at the front entry provides extra seating while recycling the wood from the removed magnolia tree. • The first phase of the design included changing the paint scheme of the home. Landscape plantings will be installed in the second phase.
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A perspective view of the front entry featuring bed lines that soften the sharp stone entry. American hornbeam trees provide interesting winter bark mixed with red winterberry color and blue sedge. A gabion bench reuses site material while facilitating use of the space.
Detail drawings of the rain garden (right) and the swale the rain garden overflows into (left). Stormwater implements were placed in areas of high percolation and can reduce stormwater erosion in the little Conestoga river.
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Landscape Rendering
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Sketchup
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Sketchup
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Sketchup
Photoshop
After After
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Hand Drawing
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G ra p h i c s & Marketing
Website Design: Breakinggroundomaha.com
Newsletter Design and Writing
Pamphlet Design
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Landscape Photography
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Full Landscape Photography Portfolio Available at https://corriganculturescapes.com/portfolio/
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Executive Summary Dynamic geological forces and the rich oral traditions of the Wampanoag people have shaped the unique landscape and culture that persists on Martha’s Vineyard today. The Wampanoag people have lived within this landscape for thousands of years. Since the 1850s, the island has become a magnet for tourists luring visitors with its quaint fishing villages, warm water beaches, scenic vistas, and unique geological features. More recently, the island has experienced a building boom in vacation homes for the affluent. The demand for space on the island has driven up property values, and made it extremely difficult for year-round residents to thrive. Even in the “rural outpost” of Aquinnah, these pressures negatively affect town residents, including members of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, one of two federally recognized tribes in Massachusetts. Aquinnah’s economic town center and primary recreation space lies at its most western point: Aquinnah Circle. Over 100,000 tourists make the journey to Aquinnah Circle each summer, supporting several tribally owned businesses and providing important tax revenue for the Town. The location features: • Two federally recognized landmarks, the Gay Head Lighthouse and Aquinnah Cliffs • Aquinnah Cultural Center which showcases Wampanoag history and culture • Tribally-owned shops selling traditional food, artwork, and jewelry • Land bank conservation trails and Moshup Beach Despite large volumes of tourists, the shops at the top of the Circle have struggled in recent years. In order for Tribe and town residents to continue to live comfortably on the island year round, it is crucial that tourists have an enjoyable experience. Visitors should be encouraged to come more frequently, stay longer, learn more, and spend money. Priorities for the Tribe and the Town are to preserve and improve the culturally rich, historic and scenic elements and to promote economic development by supporting native and local artists. They seek to create a comprehensive plan that prioritizes community needs, upgrades physical infrastructure, and preserves the character and elements that make the area so special. The Town of Aquinnah hired the Conway School in January of 2016 to begin a revisioning process at the Circle. This plan will be used as a starting point for the town and Tribe as they begin thinking about Aquinnah Circle as a whole and it recommends strategies to move forward with additional community visioning and decision making.
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This document contains background information on the unique geology of the site, the long and complicated history of Aquinnah, and the current town demographics and ecology. It moves through each analysis done at the site, with summaries and implications of the findings. Community feedback and analysis of the site suggest tourists are challenged by: • Congested vehicular and pedestrian circulation • Limited parking • Separated and disconnected built features • Lack of direction and interpretation, both to the landscape and of ecological and cultural importance of the site In addition, the ecological resources of the Circle are in danger of being loved to death. The unique habitats that support rare species are threatened by: • Nutrient leaching from the bathroom septic system • Trampling and vegetation removal which leads to erosion From the community needs assessment emerged a set of guiding principles that the majority of the community agreed upon and serve as framework against which decisions can be measured: • Create a tourist friendly experience • Educate visitors on the local culture and history • Ensure the safety of all visitors • Enhance a sense of community • Preserve the open space • Protect the resource: geology and ecology To meet these principles, the report recommends the community explores methods to: • Improve vehicular and pedestrian circulation around the site. • Use technology and information stations to help visitors understand and value the unique cultural, ecological and historical character of the site. • Update public infrastructure to reduce environmental harm while maximizing the open space benefits for residents and tourists. Finally, the report recommends a process moving forward which can lead to a unified and connected vision for the future of Aquinnah Circle. This report represents one step in the visioning process. In order for the future of Aquinnah Circle to be successful, it is critical that the community discussion continues and the guiding principles, design objectives, and criteria are continually evaluated and reevaluated. Establishing a clear process for making decisions regarding the Circle can ensure projects’ match the community’s vision and will lead to shared benefit for the Tribe and the town.
Wr i t i n g Sample More writing and renderings available at www.corriganculturescapes.com/ portfolio
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