charette handout booklet

Design Charette #2Denver, Colorado

Dec 18 2006

1. The community master plan should be a complete and integrated community containing housing, shops, work places, schools, parks and civic facilities essential to the daily life of the residents.

2. Create opportunities for all neighborhoods, office buildings, retail centers, schools, etc. to be accessible by walking and biking. Minimize conflicts between pedestrians and vehicles.

3. Provide a network of open space opportunities including street median greens, small block parks, linear greenbelts, community ball field, town square, and the large natural floodplain environment. Provide a system of sidewalks, trails and streets to all open space opportunities.

4. Require Builders to implement Green Build or LEEDs principals and techniques to a degree that is economical, and provides long term benefits to the consumer.

5. Implement practical solutions to combine storm water management systems, and water quality systems with open space amenities, and community assets. 1. Consider biogardens as a solution when ever practical2. Use non-potable water sources for irrigation

6. Assist residents of Whisper Valley, through education, prototypes, and literature to be better stewards of their community and home environment. Help them to become vested in being a sustainable place.

7. Provide a diversity of housing types and densities, from affordable to estate homes. When practical, integrate different product types within the same neighborhood. Concentrate the highest densities around retail and office uses.

8. Design with people in mind. Create human-scaled spaces to make people feel safe and comfortable.

9. Allow a variety of architectural styles that explore opportunities for solar orientation, indoor outdoor living, shared private open space, garage access alternatives, and integrated front yard and landscaped public streets. The public street and its relationship to the home is an important element to the success of creating place.

10. Create vista terminations for memorable, picturesque streets with the use of parks, civic buildings, churches, and iconic buildings.

11. Organize the land plan to provide maximum flexibility to respond to market demand. Phase uses and infrastructure to respond to market timing.

Guiding Principles

Regional Context

Land Use Plan

Site Data Chart

Illustrative Plan

Town Center Plan

Northeast Area Plan

Village/Phase One Plan

Community Vision Plan

Park and Open Space Design ConceptsConnect people with the environment and each other

Encourage interaction with the natural environment through access and educationGreen infrastructure as the framework for connecting neighborhoods and destinationsProvide pedestrian connectivity to regional amenitiesMinimize pedestrian barriersIntroduce the native landscape into the streetscape

Foster community identityCreate a memorable and unique entry experienceEstablish community landmarksGenerate a unique landscape character by introducing naturalized landscape into interior of the community

Create public spaces with form, purpose and meaningDesign habitable spacesCreate a clear hierarchy of open space amenitiesUse landscape and landform to create structureBreak the monotony of the streetscape with green space

Provide diverse recreation opportunities and experiencesBalance passive and active usesIncorporate multi-function spacesDesign spaces to support the active outdoor lifestyleProvide walk-to recreation opportunities in all neighborhoods

Implement sustainable design practicesPreserve and protect existing natural resources and capitalize on them, ie transplant mature treesUtilize contextually sensitive, environmentally sustainable materials and consider life cycle costsExplore partnership opportunities for open space conservation, development and managementUtilize regionally appropriate landscape materialsTreat stormwater infrastructure features as amenities, water quality treatmentReduce potable water consumption in the landscapeRe-vegetation of disturbed bottomland areasSite amenities to take advantage of solar orientationUtilize shade structures to create comfortable micro climates

Park Programming

Community Playgroundo Naturalo Accessibleo Inspirationo Sensory

Dog parkBike challenge courseDisc golfSkate parkSports fields + courtsBaseball/softball/t-ballMulti-use fields – soccer, football, etcVolleyballBasketballIn-line skateTennis

Park ClassificationsRegionalCommunity/SignatureNeighborhoodPocketTrail CorridorsParkways

Potential Park Program ElementsPicnic – group, individual and familyRestroomsEnvironmental education, outdoor classroom, etc.Interpretive programs – cultural + natural resources, other?Walking trails (low speed)Boardwalks and overlooksMulti-use trailsEquestrian trails + facilitiesPromenadeGardens

CommunityHorticultureChildren’sSustainableSensory

Performance amphitheater/festival lawnWater featuresAmenity pondsPiers/overlooks

Park and Open Space Framework

Valley Walk Experience Zones

Village WalkUrban interfaceDevelopedStructuredPastoral views

Community Open SpaceLeisurely/self-directedFocus on waterwaysNaturalized landscapeInward views

Signature ParkActive and passiveGateway to the GroveStreet presenceDeveloped and transitional landscapeViews to the creek

Interpretive WalkSolitudeEducationCommunity focusNative and agricultural, forest, meadowRe-vegetation

Community Elements

Community Elements

Monumentation and Entry

Landscape Character

Landscape Character

Parks and Open Space

Parks and Open Space

Signature Park Concept