Project 2.002
The first phase of the design process divided the studio into two groups based on the randomly drawn site to conduct the mapping and analysis portions of the project. The group had to conduct and analysis of what will fit on the site pertaining to the various programs of performance space, dog park, recreation space, small and large gathering spaces, temporal market space, parking, and recreation opportunities. Secondly, the mapping and analysis portion had to look at a study of the following in the site as well as in the context surrounding the site: vehicular and pedestrian circulation, topography, hydrology, surfaces, vegetation, building typologies, building program/use, other relevant mappings, and overall context analysis of the site, as well as four sections cut through the existing site.
After the initial mapping and analysis portion was accomplished the group conducted a site visit to layout on the site individual site considerations of what sort of program style was to be attempted on the actual grounds.
For my site I choose to look at two things, the amphitheatre in the front center section of the site and the volleyball court located at the back right of my site. I decided it best to look at the amphitheatre in the context of the road and how it would look facing traffic.
Other site considerations for the area included pedestrian circulation through the site, the connection of the site beyond its landscape, the scale of the landscape in relationship to the surrounding urban fabric, planting, the changing of functions of the site throughout the site on a daily basis, and how the site will function as festival space for Mardi Gras and other annual festivities.
The site also had to work closely with a to be installed site plan on the other side of the levee, called Crescent Park that was developed by Hargreaves and Associates and was in the contracting phase of development during the time our project was in the design phase.
Finally the site design had to incorporate a sensing, processing, and visualization technique relative to our module studies from the previous project in order to implement a responsive environment that accomplishes the goals set forth in our site considerations while considering all or some of the following: integration, information, device, interpretation, biology/ecology, interface, interaction, and illustration.
As far as representing our site in the final project of the semester, it was left open, but had to precisely represent and explain design ideas while contributing to the over concept of the project without replicating similar information.
All of the previous designs and projects from the semester were considered in the final representation, and strategy of the final design proposal.
In the design process a series of iteration and models were done to look at an assortment of site designs that accomplished the main goals I set forth on this design.
The goals were:
1. To bring the other side of the levee wall and the river into the city, making the wall virtually transparent for the resident of the neighborhood.
2. Create an area that differs all of the tourist traffic to Hargreaves site design on the other side of the levee, creating a site strictly for the residents of the neighborhood.
3. Leave a feeling of expansive open space in an otherwise crowded city block layout.
4. Create an area that not only appeals to the people within the park, but is also aesthetically pleasing for the people that drive on Chartres, since it is a major traffic area for residents of the city and the neighborhood.
5. Slow down traffic without the use of signs and speed bumps
to let drivers know that they are entering a different section of Chartres.
For the goal of making the levee wall essentially “transparent” for the people that reside in the neighborhood, I created a raised platform that observationally spans the levee wall. In addition I masked the levee wall along the city square area of the design with a Parabiennta green wall structure and reflection pool located beneath it. Finally for the transparency aspect of the design I decided to use my sensory technology from the previous project and incorporated it into the scope of the overall design by making the same aspects that were used in the LED screen as a fountain that is the fundamental center of the park design. For the fountain I used water speed shown on water jets that spray higher as the river speed increases, and when boats pass by go high enough to cover the walkway through the center of the fountain with a warning signal boat style horn that blows during the day. For the river depth I made the fountain perform so that the entire water level of the middle fountain raises and lowers proportionally. In addition to the fountain in the center, the idea of the levee wall being “transparent” is also further reinforced by the transparent mimic of the levee wall that is wrapped around the back of the stage to reduce sound volume in the restaurants and future developments to be located underneath the large building in the back of the site.
To accomplish the second goal set forth I utilized the constrained space area shown on the group overall context analysis of the entire site to constrain it more. I narrowed the path in this area and planted it heavily to differ the traffic from the French Quarter toward the much closer Hargreaves main entrance bridge.
For the third goal of leaving the sense of open space in the park I left all confining structures and fenced specified use areas on the edges of the square, creating a large expansive lawn for the people to view the stage during performances and leave a relaxing public hammock garden in the area next to the fountain to drown out other noises that may come from the city.
To address the fourth and fifth goals, I dictated that the area near the roads be a spot that would show people that this area is a different part of Chartres than the rest by spotting two large fountains on either side of the road. The fountain on the city block side of the side shows running water complete with jets that resemble and do the same thing as the jets in the middle fountain of the complex. On the opposite side next two the levee I left a large reflection pool to reflect the green wall that is installed on the levee as well as provide a feeling of the water running under the road at the same level.
In addition to accomplishing the main goals set forth in the design of the site, the site includes a variety of other aspects that take into consideration visitors to the park. A basketball court located in the upper right of the design, along with a seat wall and hill across the walkway next to it for spectators. Moving the existing sidewalk along the long stretch from Elysian fields closer to the levee wall for shade purposes, and having a bend in it at the end of Hargreaves proposed design helps detract tourists from the French Quarter. Over the reflecting pond on the levee side of the design I included a large pedestrian boardwalk complete with seat planters and a misting system underneath the walk to keep visitors cooler on a hot day. A grad entrance area was also added to the design underneath the observational platform at the main entrance to the park. To the north of the basketball court is a playground shaded by Crepe Myrtles that resemble the lay of the columns underneath the open building at the very north of the park.
Overall, the site design encompasses all the goals set forth by the dictates of the site design as well as the goals set forth for myself at the beginning of the final project. The park also uses materials and an overall form and shape that fits into the context of the surrounding that make up New Orleans, LA.
