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Arcadia Park

By irososhi | L Pocket Park Design | 2015 National High School Architecture Competition
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05/21/15
An aerial view of the pocket park site. For the grass, I decided to use Tifgreen 328 grass. This grass it drought tolerant and only requires light maintenance (important in maintaining a pocket park). The walkway is made of concrete, and the flow and navigation of the park is easy to circumvent through.

This Step

Summary

What should I upload in the Final Design step?

  • final hand or digital renderings
  • images of your finished physical model
  • or your finished digital model

You can even include links to a YouTube or Vimeo of a digital walk-through like this one: https://youtu.be/ncaVQ2V6XXU

Adaptive Reuse

Architects often find creative ways to reuse old structures that are no longer in use. Check out how old rail lines were adapted to create New York's High Line and Chicago's 606.

Comments

I enjoy the all of different compenents in your park but you should try to describe why things are located where they are. Like, why would you choose to locate the shade structure in a far corner in the park and not in the middle where more people will be able to access it. Also, try describing more about why you choose to have such large pathways and green space.

By darkmango, Student at 10:03 am, 22 May 2015

Thank you!

The central pathway is ten feet in width. The reason for that is because I wanted feasible access within the park. That means that I want those with disabilities to also have feasible navigation in the park. For example, if someone were to have a wheel chair, it would still be accessible for them because I made it so that the incline for the central pathway and site follows the 1:12 wheelchair accessibility rule. Not only that, but by doing so, it serves as a two-way flow for using the park. I decided on putting the canopy at the back because I did not want it to be "centerpiece" of the park. During the developing solution stage, I did think about the placement of the canopy. However, if I noticed that if I put the canopy in the middle, it would violate one of my essential components to the park ---- private space. The whole concept of factoring in the idea that your park should be most suitable for those who use it played a key role in the canopy's placement. If I were to put the canopy in the center, it would serve as a place that everyone will undoubtedly use. Not only that, but the sloped nature of my park would make it harder to find private space in the park if I were to have put it in the middle.
As for the green space, as I've stated in the summary, I wanted to have a lot of green space because it is a key aspect to the purpose of my park. What I envisioned Arcadia Park to be is an enclosed area in the middle of a pool of busy work space. I want it to be a gateway for the people within the area to use to relax and unwind. By using green spaces and various permutation of plant life, it makes the park a place that serves as an oasis-like place located within a barren desert.

Again, I thank you for this comment. It showed me that I have to be more articulate on my purpose for my designs! :)

By irososhi, Student at 03:25 pm, 22 May 2015