Ryan Hillyer | Landscape Architecture
My name is Ryan Hillyer, and I am a senior in the landscape architecture program at The Ohio State University. I will graduate in May 2017 with an undergraduate degree in landscape architecture from the Knowlton School of Architecture. My pursuit of a degree in landscape architecture began with my interests in history, science, and environmental conservation. In my studies at Ohio State, I was exposed to all of these subjects, and through a series of intensive studios I learned how to utilize them in tandem with the design process. My intentions with landscape architecture are to study the relationships that a physical place maintains with its inherent environmental and cultural histories, and to learn how the depth and richness of this knowledge might facilitate sustainable and evocative design strategies. Thank you for your time and consideration in viewing my work sample.
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SELECTED STUDENT WORK
5
Lane Ave.
THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY
High St .
W 5th Ave.
. Neil Ave
W 3rd Ave.
5
OH-31
Goodale Blvd.
70
I-6 Dublin Rd.
Scioto River
t. Broad S
Olentangy Green-way Scioto Greenway Street Cycle Route
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THE OLENTANGY BIKEWAY The Confluence Framework Plan Project Type: Master-Planning Instructors: Jacob Mitchell; Halina Steiner The Olentangy and Scioto Greenway trails are a key asset to the city of Columbus, creating north-south connections between downtown, The Ohio State University, and outlying neighborhoods along the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers. The paths allow cyclists and pedestrians a secluded network devoid of vehicular traffic, ensuring the safety of the green-way users. Despite these benefits, the pathway has its limitations. The Interstate Highway system took advantage of the space along the river, creating a network of large scale roadways that run along the river systems. Railroads reminiscent of an previously industrial city cut across the space with low lying bridges. The extreme floods of the early 20th century spurred an engineering project to ensure the safety of the city, building levees and flood walls to further define and compress the space. Vegetation growth is unchecked, often encroaching upon the path. For the users of the green-way, this series of conditions creates an uncomfortable, and sometimes dangerous situation. In order to further promote the use of the network to connect the city, the greenway requires a new set of strategies that will highlight the relationships between transportation infrastructure and the river corridor, and amplify the network’s value to the cycling community in Columbus. Conditions of the green-way inhibit the full potential it holds as a network asset for Columbus. Through a series of interventions, the Olentangy Bikeway will address the unique qualities of the space, revealing infrastructures, expanding mobility, clarifying identity, and highlighting moments of interest to change the perceived experience of the corridor.
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BRIDGE
Occasionally, the cycleway is forced to change sides of the river, requiring the use of a separate pedestrian bridge, or existing road bridge.
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EXPANSIVE SPACE
The most predominate typology, characterized by wide fields of view, and open space adjacent to the path.
COMPRESSIVE SPACE
Due to the dynamic constricting of the river corridor, elements such as vegetation, fencing, and structures encroach upon the paths margins.
OVERPASS
The network is crossed a number of times by various roads, often forcing the path to run underneath the bridge over the river.
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EXPAND
Path networks will be expanded in width to accommodate for the separation of multi-modal transportation.
REVEAL
The Olentangy Bikeway will reveal moments of infrastructural juxtaposition between transportation networks by shifting paths, directing views, and occupying space. 10 Ryan Hillyer
CLARIFY
Ground-plane manipulations and material choices will help to unify the network and clarify it against the other networks in Columbus.
HIGHLIGHT
Similar techniques of lighting design will compliment the underpass condition and change perceptions of the spaces and the network as a whole. THE OLENTANGY BIKEWAY 11
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SHIFT NETWORKS
Bringing paths out from under dense vertical elements into the river allows for view shed expansion and new spatial definition.
DIRECTING VIEWS
Manipulations of structural elements direct attention to the interrelationship between site infrastructure and the river.
OCCUPY SPACES
The occupation of important spaces along the river edge establishes the bike way amongst the other networks in the corridor. THE OLENTANGY BIKEWAY 13
NETWORK IDENTITY
By occupying a point of hierarchy along the confluence point of the Olentangy and Scioto Rivers, the bikeway establishes an anchor, firmly justifying its place along the corridor.
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THE WEIGHT OF GRIEF A Metaphoric Concept for an American Cemetery Project Type: Design in Detail / Cemetery Design Instructors: Karla Trott; Theirry Beaudoin The loss of a loved one is a profoundly emotional event, often described as bearing weight upon the soul. In this proposal, I sought to metaphorically depict that feeling of weight through manipulations of compressive and expansive elements in the site. The project began with a conceptual site, consisting of a single square bordered by a forest edge, a lake edge, and a city encompassing the remaining sides. The initial move to display this weight was to extend the forest into the site, creating a dark and vertical space, eventually thinning out towards the lake edge. Dark granite walls encircle the site, only broken in key places, permitting entry through an alley created by an extension of the walls, furthering the sense of compression and weight. I placed the procession in such a way that it is cutting through this forested edge, beginning in the dark pines and fading out with aspens and the chapel placed at the end, The procession path drops at a much slower slope, therefore slowly elevating as the ground subtly falls away, giving mourners and visitors a sense of weightlessness and release, contrasting to the space they just entered. A single channel of water, symbolic of the journey of life, flows quietly down the procession path, guiding people toward the light. At the platforms edge near the funerary chapel, the water cascades over into a pool below, symbolizing a release of the spirit. The motif of the compression and weight is highlighted in the construction of the columbarium walls for burial. Their design makes them appear as if they are emerging from the ground, sinking into the soil, eventually lifting off towards the lakes edge. Corresponding materials of dark granite remind the visitor of the compression felt upon entering, symbolizing the weight of grief that never truly dissipates following the loss of a loved one.
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EXISTING CONDITIONS
In this exercise, we were prescribed a site that was 500 square feet, surrounded by city on two sides, forest and lake edge on the others. We were tasked with determining the quality of the surrounding spaces.
FOREST EXTENSION
My first move was to extend the forest into the top of the site, creating a hierarchy and establishing a tension between the lake and the city.
PROCESSION
Given the forest extension, a processional element cutting through the forest and emerging into an oblique view of the lake displayed a contrast between metaphoric weight and release.
PROGRAM
Balancing the stages of burial in the crematorium and chapel on either end of the procession created tension and contrast, and the axial relationship mirrored this tension in columbarium walls. 18 Ryan Hillyer
Procession View of Chapel
Mourners and visitors are guided by a channel of flowing water along the side of the path, which cuts through the chapel.
View from Reflecting Pool
Water pours through the chapel and over the extended balcony overlooking the lake, depicting a moment of release at the funeral stage of the procession.
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Site Plan
The shifted grid presents as a departure from the city grid, designating a sacred space for reflection. Burial walls are oriented to guide people out to the water.
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Columbarium Elevation
Columbarium walls begin, emerging from the ground, continuing as the topography falls away, eventually lifting off the ground at their termination.
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Lakeside Site View
Simple forms align with subtle planting implementation to create a cohesive site experience.
Places of Burial
Burial spaces under the canopy of the pines are purposefully dark and compressive, reflecting a tension of grief on the soul. 22 Ryan Hillyer
Procession Concept
The procession guides mourners directly to the chapel, positioned as a counter to the entrance and crematorium.
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Transect Model
Combining a simple palate of materials, the transect model displays the massing relationships between forest, ground, path, and chapel.
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RE_NEW ORLEANS Utilizing Drainage Infrastructure to Re-Envision the Future City Project Type: Master-Planning Instructors: Christie Cheramie; Brian Ashworth The city of New Orleans sits upon a dynamic landscape driven by the forces of water, yet much of it’s systematic infrastructure exists solely to repress the fluidic nature of the land it is built upon. Water is drained from the city through an extensive system of surface outflow canals, pumping stations, and underground culverts. I intend to re-purpose this system to change the perception of water and it’s role in New Orleans. The underground drainage culverts, typically found under the neutral ground on major roads, offer a range of design opportunities through day-lighting these existing culverts and accessing adjacent parcels to serve a greater and greener network and offering a growing natural framework to revitalize the city. RE-New Orleans will serve to promote the growth of natural, economic, and human capitol equally, through a process applicable throughout the city. The underground culverts will be re-SURFACED where possible, slowing subsidence and providing new opportunities for natural habitat in the neutral ground and adjacent vacant parcels. The city will be re-HABILITATED through a process of beautification in recreating native habitats and providing a network of programmatic parks suited for the parcel’s locality. Neighborhoods whose reputations are damaged due to the effects of economic downturn such as crime, poverty, and vacancy will be re-DEFINED by the growth of pride and community around a unifying city framework. All of this, to provide the citizens of New Orleans with the precedent to re-ENVISION a more beautiful, functional, and livable city for generations to come.
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re_NEW ORLEANS
Primary implementation on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd will provide the groundwork for future, larger scale installment across the city, creating a framework to build stronger communities, greener spaces, and a cohesive urban ecosystem.
re_SURFACE
Daylighting the culvert creates an opportunity for the development of a strong functional and visual network that unifies neighborhoods, limits the burden placed upon storm-water systems, and provides a number of spaces for pedestrian recreation.
re_HABILITATE
Vacant parcels adjacent to the new drainage network offer opportunities for continued habitat restoration, water filtration, and community program.
re_DEFINE
Through the stages of implementation, involvement in the communities can begin to utilize volunteer and professional labor. Involvement of the community members in every stage of the process is integral for the sociological success of the project.
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re_Surfacing the Neutral Ground
The drainage culvert is daylighted, and roadways are made more pedestrian friendly.
Roads
Curb Bumpouts
Pedestrian Circulation
Boardwalk
Drainage Infrastructure
Day-lighted Culvert
Existing Condition
Proposed
re_Defining New Orleans Neighborhoods
Program implementations purposes otherwise vacant parcels in New Orleans, fostering new connections within New Orleans Communities.
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Wetland retention basin and habitat zone can manage overflow rainwater during storm events
re_Habilitating Vacant Parcels
Programs are specifically chosen for community involvement in neighborhoods, and adjacent space is used for water retention and habitat restoration.
Program Type 1
Program Type 2
Program Type 3
Open Air Theater
Multi-Purpose Parking
Public Basketball Courts
Public open air theater provides community gathering space
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Preliminary Program Implementation
Three parcel groupings were chosen due to their adjacency to a primary intersection along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The sites range in size in order to accommodate the three program choices.
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Retention Basins
Vacant parcels serve the city during rain events, filtering runoff water and preventing subsidence.
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Median, MLK Jr. Blvd
Lighting is provided to promote safety of residents utilizing the boardwalk. Lighting posts double as a reminder to subsidence levels in the city.
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PROFESSIONAL WORK
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NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY
Visualizing a Unified Identity for the New Orleans Public Library Project Type: Design Proposals Project Manager: Wes Michaels - Spackman Mossop Michaels Collaborators: Jane Sutterluty The New Orleans Public Library system was looking to establish a brand to unify all of the branches of the city. This was a challenge because the library building types varied between contemporary and historic, each with a unique style of design. Working with an architectural firm leading renovations, Spackman Mossop Michaels was tasked with identifying landscape design and signage proposals that would highlight the individual character of the building, while promoting the brand of the public library system. My role in this project was to produce proposal renderings for the firm in early stages of the design process. Utilizing quick sketchup models rendered in Photoshop, I worked to produce a series of before and after images to experiment with planting design, sign placement, and paving interventions for the improvement of the libraries.
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C.I.T.A. Library Proposed Historic Buildings
Historic building signage strategies involved subtle colored-block lettering, and simple landscape design compliment the unique historic character while establishing an identity with the library system.
Existing
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Alavar Library Proposed
Existing
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Norman Meyer Memorial Library Proposed Contemporary Buildings
Matching contemporary style, the lettering was proposed in a more expressive style, voiding the letter symbols on wall installations.
Existing
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New Orleans Main Library Proposed
Existing
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New Orleans University Southern University
Dillard University Delgado University
Xavier University
Tulane University Loyola University
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UNIVERSITY GREEN-WAYS New City Network Connections
Project Type: Master-Planning Project Manager: Wes Michaels - Spackman Mossop Michaels New Orleans is home to a number of collegiate institutions, dispersed across the city. Efforts in city planning have recently looked towards the improvement of the pedestrian mobility, particularly in the incorporation of bike infrastructure. In this research project, we investigated the feasibility of a greenway route to connect all of the universities with bike infrastructure. Fostering connections between the universities would contribute to the overall connectivity of neighborhoods in the city, and provide a network for easy bicycle commuting to the schools. In addition to these benefits, the network would also create a major North - South axis for the city, connecting existing networks on the shores of Lake Ponchartrain and the Mississippi River. Such an axis would also join together the two major parks of the city, Audubon to the South and City Park to the north, allowing for safe bike access to both. The Univeristy Green-way would connect major hubs of the city by means of bicycle infrastructure, and foster the expansion of bicycle infrastructure across the city.
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SECTOR 6 SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT NEW ORLEANS
SECTOR 5 UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS
SECTOR 4 DILLARD UNIVERSITY SECTOR 3 DELGADO COLLEGE
SECTOR 2 XAVIER UNIVERSITY
SECTOR 1 TULANE UNIVERSITY
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UNIVERSITY 47
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ADDITIONAL WORK
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ELUSINA LAZENBY
EXPERIMENTAL FOREST
BANVARD GALLERY | MARCH 2–APRIL 2
Exhibit Design
Using a framework of drywall framing, the construction team established an immersive space to exhibit dioramas. Vertical elements contribute to the feeling of being in a forest.
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ELUSINA LAZENBY EXPERIMENTAL FOREST A Prototype Interpretive Center
Project Type: Exhibition Design Instructors: Sarah Cowles Group Members: Landscape Seminar Classmates
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Tracking Shades
A study to track the changes in bark texture and color from a black cherry, beech, and paper-bark birch. Planting in a grid, tree rows would create a gradient, which in time would erode into new patterns.
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ELUSINA LAZENBY 53
The Hoover Dam
Grand Coulee Dam 54 Ryan Hillyer
LANDSCAPE MACHINES
Mapping Water Control Infrastructure Project Type: Mapping Study Instructors: Jacob Boswell
The Atchafalya River Control System LANDSCAPE 55
Estuarine and Marine Deep-water Estuarine and Marine Wetland Freshwater Emergent Wetland Freshwater Forested/Shrub Wetland Fresh Water Pond Lake
Riverine Projected Loss by 2050
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WARMING CLIMATE AND RISING WATERS
Why Global Climate Change will be Disastrous for Louisiana Project Type: Map Making Instructors: Kristi Cheramie; Brian Ashworth
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Cityscape: Vancouver, British Columbia
Event Photography: Fashion Meets Music Festival 58 Ryan Hillyer
PHOTOGRAPHY Subject Types: Landscape, Cityscape, Event/Concert, Portrait
Astrophotography: Hocking Hills State Park PHOTOGRAPHY 59
Landscape Photography: Mount Rainier National Park 60 Ryan Hillyer
Landscape Photography: Lake Pontchartrain
Portrait Photography: Aurora, Cuyahoga Valley National Park PHOTOGRAPHY 61