Progress 5.19

Plan features:
1.1 mile walking path, w/ addn'l .34 mile path.
65 Residences
Acres of Forest

Progress Plan

The site contains a dense center forest, which is the focus of the site experience. The center forest is on a slightly raised topography, using berms removed on site to create site lines. Five types of trees have been chose because they once composed the majority of native forest that was once here, or because of their value to land reclamation or wildlife. Some buildings will be demolished, others adapted. The movie theater will remain.

Berms

The berms on this site hide some of the parking, but the expanse is visible in the distance. The average berm size on the site is 5' in height, and they surround the entire site.

When the site becomes more natural, the need for berms to hide what is behind will be gone. I propose to remove some of the berms surrounding the site to allow better views into the site and better accessibility for walkers.

Curbing, a major design hurdle?

Thousands of linear feet of concrete curbing break up the asphalt jungle that is the site for this thesis. Reforestation of large amounts of space, or even the conversion to a meadow, will require large quantities of concrete curbing on islands to be removed.

Though we rarely think about it, Concrete curbing is an expectation of many urban and suburban dwellers. To carefully contain nature inside its limits, to keep soil from the roadways, to provide drainage, and keep cars off of sidewalks, concrete curbing does the job. Yet vehicles, snow plows, salt, and other factors contribute to its inevitable demise- often within 20 years of installation. So what can be done with the curbing? Reuse? Not likely, much of it breaks apart during removal, and it often contains reinforcing. Recycling? It is possible. More on that as I learn about it.

Here is an interesting article about what could be used instead of concrete curbing:
http://www.ncgranite.com/LifecycleCostComparison.pdf

But for so many applications beyond high traffic roads, this country girl doesn't understand curbing. It feels like a fence, keeping us from what's inside. A sterile means of protecting us from....dirt?

Existing Site Geometry

Effects of Climate on Site Planning

What effects do the elements of Climate Analysis have on site planning?

This is an important question, please add your own comments so that I can expand my understanding of the process.

1. Vegetation that can be used for site reforestation or landscaping is limited to what can thrive in the Climate of the site.
2. Incorporation of certain "green" planning strategies are limited to certain Climates, for example:

• Rainwater collection for irrigation may not be practical in an arid climate
• Harnessing wind power would not be effective on sites with low wind levels

3. Adaptation to existing buildings on site can consider how the buildings can best utilize climate for the comfort and the new use of the building, in aspects such as heat gain, sun shading, natural ventilation, etc.

4. The angle of the sun should affect the placement of the reforestation and landscaping in relation to existing buildings.

5. Temperature and humidity can affect the comfort of people on the site and the uses should be appropriate for the climate, for example:

• Planning for certain recreational activities like swimming or ice skating must consider climate feasibility.
• Climates with high amounts of rain, may consider providing shelters for those who may be caught in inclement weather.

Some specifics about the site chosen for this thesis.

The site is located in the "Humid Continental- Hot Summer" Climate Region, according to the Encarta map available at: http://encarta.msn.com/media_461544522/united_states_climate_regions.html

Columbus, Ohio Site Climate Analysis

Parti's

Vehicular Patterns Currently on and into the Site