N A R R AT I V E
RIO SALADO H A B I TAT E A S T G AT E W AY
P R O J E C T A B S T R A C T : After it was dammed in 1911, the Salt River
park for nearby residents. It embraces the natural beauty of its native
became a dry, barren wasteland, with industrial land uses dominating
desert habitat, and strives to challenge conventional perceptions of a
its edge. The river quickly became a dumping ground and the loca-
“park.” While water is an important attribute of the site, the volume is
tion for numerous sand and gravel mining operations. The destruc-
intended to fluctuate with seasonality and environmental constraints
tion of critical riparian habitat in Arizona and the desire to revitalize
transforming the visitor experience over time. While the wetter sea-
the Salt River, in particular, prompted Phoenix officials to look at how
sons make for full ponds, dry seasons leave behind sandy, open ar-
the Salt River could be restored to reintroduce habitat that had been
royos – perfect for exploring new terrain, or fort building in the shade
lost to industrialization.
of the mesquite bosques. In a similar way, the materiality of the site is also intended to morph with time.
The Rio Salado Habitat currently spans from 28th Street to 19th Avenue forests, mesquite bosque, lower desert palo verde mesquite asso-
The spirit of the park is to encourage children to see the desert as their playground, and to encourage adults to see it as their own par-
ciation, and wetland/marsh/aquatic habitat. It has over ten miles of
cel of open space, not merely a “vacant lot.” The spaces for imagina-
public trails and is home to over 200 species of migratory birds, vari-
tion and play are not predetermined with catalog equipment. The de-
ous mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. With plans to extend the Rio
sign instead, outlines areas for “fort building” or “swing-set groves”
Salado further, the City would like to develop an additional Gateway
encouraging a deeper connection with the landscape and a sense
park to the east, at 24th Street and the Rio Salado.
of discovery. Through these gestures, the hope is to instill a deeper,
and includes 595 acres of riparian habitat, such as cottonwood-willow
nostalgia with the desert, and bridge the gap between merely knowD E S I G N R E S P O N S E : The concept for the 7.2 acre gateway site
ing that these habitats are important to protect, to making them a
is an adaptable, thriving ecosystem that also serves as a community
part of your home.
CONTEXT 19 4 9 H I S T O R I C A E R I A L V I E W O F D R I E D R I V E R B E D A F T E R D A M M I N G I N 19 11
2 017 CU R R EN T SI T E I N W I D E & N A R ROW CO N T E X T S
G I S . M A R I C O PA .G O V/ M A PA P P/G I O/A E R I A L H I S T O R I C A L
MAPS.GOOGLE.COM
CONCEPT PLAN
0
12.5 6.25
SITE OVERFLOW
50 ft
N
25
G AT E WAY
MESQUITE BOSQUE/
WALK ING
BUILD-A-FORT
TWO RAIN GARDEN
PITCHED ROOF
TRAILHEAD
COT TONWOOD GROVE
TRAILS
GROVE
A M P H I T H E AT E R S
FOR RAIN
T O / F R O M H A B I TAT
SWINGSETS
OPPOSITE ENTRY
WAT E R
C O U R T PAT H
CAPTURE IN
TRAILHEAD
S
.
2 4 T
H
S
T
R E E
T
CHANNEL
E .
SIGN
E L W O O D
S
T
R E E
T
RECYCLED
PRIMARY
PA R K A C C E S S
WAT E R C YC L E R A M A D A ,
PA R K I N G +
CONCRETE PIER
TRAIL
O N - S T R E E T PA R K I N G
P O L L I N AT O R H A B I TAT
BUS DROP OFF
S I T E S C H E M AT I C S
H A B I TAT S C H E M AT I C S
WAT E R C I R C U L AT I O N
B A S E L I N E CO N T E X T F O R H A B I TAT
TREE SPECIES: P L A N T I N G H A B I TAT ZO N E S
COTTONWOOD
IRONWOOD
MESQUITE
PA LO V E R D E
ENTRY COURT
DURING EXTREME DROUGHT
DURING E X TREME R AINFALL
CONTINUED DROUGHT
CONTINUED R AINFALL
Seasonal water conditions reinforce the adaptation of the site. With time, a new site will reveal itself. Eased edges will start to form in the water channels, while some will dry up and go barren, and others will merge together to create new unpredictable veins. Plant habitats will simultaneously thrive or dwindle based on evolving conditions. DRY DESERT SCRUB
R I PA R I A N
TRANSITION ZONE
R I PA R I A N + WAT E R
S I T E S E C T I O N S & D E TA I L S S E C T I O N AT PA R K I N G L O T, E N T R Y & B U I L D I N G
D.G . PA R K I N G L O T
BIOSWALE
BIOSWALE ENTRY
SIDE ACCESS TO
STRUCTURAL BEAMS
CORTEN STEEL
ANGLED ROOF TO
P L A N T E R S AT
GARDEN
SITE TRAILS
RUN THROUGH
STRUCTURE /
L E A D R A I N WAT E R
BUILDING TO BACK
G L A S S WA L L S AT
R U N O F F I N T O WAT E R
PAT I O
ENTRY & REAR
CHANNEL & CARRY
PA R K I N G L O T
THROUGHOUT SITE WR AP-AROUND SIDE WALK
D.G. BUS
ENTRY
R A I N WAT E R
DROP OFF
COURT
PL ANTING BED
S W I N G S E T G R O V E & M A I N T R A I L W O O D I N L AY PAV I N G
R A I N WAT E R ENTRY
PL ANTING BED
S E C T I O N AT R A M A DA & P O L L I N ATO R H A B I TAT
W O O D P L A N K T R A I L PAT H ,
CONCRETE
STEEL SHADE STRUCTURE
PAT T E R N I N S P I R E D
BENCHES
MADE FROM RECYCLED
WAT E R C H A N N E L /
TRAIL
R I PA R I A N H A B I TAT
B Y W H E E L PAT T E R N F R O M
V E H I C L E S / O C TA G O N A L
E X I S T I N G J U N K YA R D S I T E
ROOF PITCH TO CHANNEL R A I N WAT E R
SWALE
Angular pathways, recessed into the earth instead of raised, and made from degradable materials, encourage visitors to leave the defined trails and find their own familiar piece of the space. Swings hung from mesquite bosques reward this sense of adventure.
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P O L L I N AT O R
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SWALE
OUTLET
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P O L L I N AT O R
H A B I TAT S
H A B I TAT S
S E C T I O N AT P I E R
+1
0
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MAIN SITE
MESQUITE BOSQUE /
DIRT
R I PA R I A N
MAIN SITE
TRAIL
COT TONWOOD GROVE
TRAIL
H A B I TAT
TRAIL
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–3
–4
–5
–6
–7
–7
–6
–5
RECYCLED
R A I N WAT E R F E D
CONCRETE PIER
P O N D F E AT U R E
–4
–3
–2
LDE 590: Spring 2017 Core Landscape Architectural Studio II
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0
0
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Student: Jill Boots Instructor: Allyce Hargrove
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