chaco canyon
TRANSCRIPT
Cairo
Alexandria
Fayoum
I. Prior Condition
Access to monuments via internal road systemMost visitors stay for 90 minutes with stops at the Sphinx and the Great PyramidLack of visitor management and education leads to on-site damage
II. Overall Access
Conservation Zone established within WorldHeritage SiteInternal road system replaced by one-way perimeter access road Parking located at three new reception centers Pyramids closed sequentially for maintenanceNew sites opened to distribute visitors over the whole siteEntrance fee charged to decrease foot trafficand fund maintenance
III. Visitor experience + Excavation
Un-authentic structures removedEducational/conservational structures builtFurther excavation within Conservation ZoneGIS mapping for site assessmentStaff training to provide knowledgable personnel
Internal road system
Unauthentic structures
Conservation zoneEducational/conservation structures
Pyramid complexes
Cairo
Alexandria
Fayoum
Reception Centers
Giza Plateau Site Management Analysis
Cairo
Alexandria
Fayoum
I. Journey to Sacred Haida Site
The journey to the Haida settlement is part of the Ninstints experience
II. Overall Access
Advance reservations with Haida guardians must be made before visiting siteAccess to site via kayak at high tideGuided tours of site given by Haida guardians
III. Visitor experience + Excavation
The isolation of the site, and necessity of arriving by sea as its original inhabitants did, makes a profound impression on visitors1995 Parks Canada/Haida team excavatedand straightened 4 totem poles No visitor centers or signs on the islandMotorized vehicular access is prohibited
ApproachNinstints site and totem poles
Ninstints Approach
CHACO CANYON ORIENTATION CENTERChaco Canyon, New Mexico5Program
Chaco Canyon was the heart of Anasazi Culture between 850 and 1250 AD. As a center for trade and ceremony, Chaco is remarkable for its distinctive cosmologically planned architecture and road system.
In 1907, Chaco Canyon National Monument was created to preserve the largest collection of prehistoric archaeological sites in the United States. Today the canyon remains a significant sacred site to many Southwest Indian Cultures such as the Hopi and Navajo.
Unfortunately, the Chacoan ruins face great danger from exposure to the elements and tourist impacts (e.g., ruins desecration, artifact scavenging). The interest in uncovering, excavating, and accessing the ruins has paradoxically accelerated their deterioration.
The focus of this studio project is the design of a strategic plan and orientation center that address the present critical interpretation and preservation issues facing Chaco Canyon.
In order to develop an orientation center for Chaco, other World Heritage sites such as the Pyramids of Giza and the Haida settlement of Ninstints were analyzed as relevant precedents. Theobjective of these precedent analyses was to learn how an interpretive center could tell the story of a site.
The interpretive strategy envisioned for Chaco is a transition from our world to the
Anasazi world, a journey through time that would revealthe essential elements of the Anasazi belief systems, a sequence of experiences that would make the visitors aware of the elements of Chaco Culture.
From our talks with the Park Superintendent, we learnedthat the greatest issue facing Chaco is infrastructure. Currently, the infrastructure of the park detracts from the interpretive potential of Chaco. The Chaco Plan Comparison(pg 3) shows how a proposed plan would improve and change the present condition of Chaco. The Site Management Plan components are then further detailed (pg 4).
The execution of the proposedSite Management Plan depends on many factors. For example, the issue of reuse of
existing dirt roads around Chaco Canyon depends on the interplay of many agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management, Navajo Nation, and the National Park Service. Taking into consideration the many factors involved in Chaco's planning, a sequence of phases is proposed.
The heart of the plan lies in the first two phases. These phases are designed to connect the journey to the Chaco experience, systematically preserve archaeological sites, remove obstructions that detract from the visitor's experience, and foster vehicular movement along the periphery of the site. The last two phases work to enhance the visitor's experience by offering more options to hikers and distributing the impact of visitors around the site more evenly.
WORLD HERITAGE SITES PRECEDENT STUDIES
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Critic: Glenn Murcutt
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Thoreau
Farmington
II. Unauthentic Structures
Unauthentic structures (such as bathrooms and the visitor center), and signage within park obstruct Anasazi alignments.
I. Vehicular Traffic Routes
Access to loop road is neither gated nor monitored. Subsequent lack of visitor management and education leads to on-site damage. Access to monuments via paved internal road system has no relationship to Chacoan inter-building alignments. Visitors drive through the canyon past most other archeological sites to get to main attraction, Pueblo Bonito. Car routes and parking next to sensitive archaeological sites detract from the Chaco experience.
III. Inhabitation
Camping and housing structures located in front of visitor center along the northern entry detract from the grandeur of the world heritage site. Campers may camp without proper registration.
PRESENT PLAN 1 MILE0
North South Access Road
Internal Loop Road
Camping
Housing
Maintenance Sheds
Visitor Center
Thoreau
Farmington
CHACO PARK PLANNINGSITE MANAGEMENT PLAN
The goal of the proposed hiking trail system is to enhance visitors' experiencesand to distribute visitors more evenly over the park. All shuttle bus revenue goes toward the maintenance of the park.
To enhance visitor's appreciation of Chaco sites, the trails are designed to revealthe logic of Anasazi alignments and building siting.
The trail system is integrated with the park loop road and shuttle bus system toenhance visitor's experiences by offering more options for trails; one way orround trip journeys, sunset experiences within the park, and access to remote areas of the park.
Two types of trails are proposed: (a) circuit trails are localized trails, shorter indistance, that focus on particular aspects of the park, (b) traverse trails are choreographed to reveal the drama of the journey through Chaco Canyon.
Circuit Trails Traverse Trails
HIKING TRAIL SYSTEM
The goal of the National Park Service (NPS) is to manage the preservation and interpretation of the Chaco Culture National Park. The interpretive strategy proposed is a journey that would reveal the Anasazi belief system; a sequence of experiences that would make the visitors aware of the key elements of Chaco culture.
The program of the NPS is arranged to support the interpretive strategy. Aconservation zone is defined by a new loop road. All unauthentic modernstructures such as housing, maintenance facilities, and visitor center are movedto the exterior of this zone. The visitor center is located along original Chacoan road passing through South Gap thereby integrating the journey to the Chaco experience. The campground is re-located to a discreet site past the visitor center along the loop road to ensure all campers register before camping.
A landscape system is established to preserve archaeological sites. Modular preservation mounds cover unexcavated sites and allow for future piecemeal excavation.
Camping
Housing
Maintenance Sheds
Preservation Mound
Visitor Center / Gate
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PROGRAM
The vehicular traffic infrastructure addresses issues concerning control, entry, access, and maintenance. Three types of roads are articulated: north south access route, perimeter loop road, and maintenance roads.
The north south access route connects Chaco National Park to the outside world. Fajada Butte serves as the entrance beacon for Chaco Canyon along the route. The North South access road is routed east of Fajada Butte to maintain distance from the Una Vida site.
The internal road system is replaced by a perimeter loop road approximately 25 miles in length which first directs all visitors through the gate / visitor center.The loop road incorporates many existing dirt roads through Chaco Canyon. All parking is located outside the internal loop road
Maintenance roads provide access for maintenance and archaeological work and also act as alignment foot paths
VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ROUTES
Visitor Center / GatePueblo Benasco StopPueblo Alto StopUna Vida Stop
Two Way Perimeter RoadNorth South Access Roads
Maintenance Road /Anasazi Road Systems
One Way Perimeter Road
Fajada Butte
Thoreau
Farmington
1 MILE0
PROPOSED PLAN
Circuit and traverse trails coupled to the proposed shuttle bus system offer new ways to use Chaco Culture Park.
A. Hike circuit trail from visitor center B. Drive to bus stop and hike circuit trail C. Hike from visitor center to bus stop D. Hike from bus stop to bus stop
II. New Hiking Modes Pueblo Benasco Stop
Pueblo Alto Stop
Una Vida Stop
Camping
Housing
Two Way Perimeter Road
North South Access Road
Maintenance Roads
One Way Perimeter Road
Visitor Center
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CHACO PARK PLANNINGPLAN ANALYSIS
The site strategy proposed for Chaco is similar to the strategy currently deployed at the Pyramids of Giza. Limiting vehicular access to the periphery allows for: the establishment of a controlled internal conservation zone, more authentic experiences with the ancient ruins for the visitors, and different hiking experiences for visitors.
I. Perimeter Access Road / Internal Conservation Zone
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The implementation of the site management plan works to preserve Historic Chaco Culture Sites and provide for their interpretation. The overlay of National Park Service program, hiking trail system, and vehicular trafficinfrastructure is designed to enhance visitor experience and understanding of the site.
INTEGRATED SITE MANAGEMENT PLAN
Circuit Trails
Traverse Trails
Visitor Center / GatePueblo Benasco StopPueblo Alto StopUna Vida Stop
Two Way Perimeter RoadNorth South Access Roads
Maintenance Road /Anasazi Road Systems
One Way Perimeter Road
Fajada Butte
Camping
Housing
Maintenance Sheds
Preservation Mound
CHACO PARK PLANNINGTRANSFORMATION
I. ANASAZI ROAD SYSTEM BUILDING TO BUILDING
II. BUILDING TO GEOGRAPHICAL LANDMARK III. SOLSTICE DIAGRAM
Winter solstice sunriseWinter solstice sunset
Summer solstice sunriseSummer solstice sunset
Building to Building
Geographical Landmarks
Anasazi Road System
Indian Ruins
Great Houses
Building to Geographical Landmark
Thoreau
Farmington
2015
The goal of this phase is to offer opportunities to hike to remote scenic areas and archaeological sites of Chaco canyon.
New seasonal dirt road between new visitor center and Pueblo Benasco stop
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Thoreau
Farmington
The goal of this phase is to distribute the impacts of visitors throughout the site by offering different types of hikes through the canyon.
Shuttle bus on existing dirt road between new visitor center and Pueblo Alto stop
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Thoreau
Farmington
The goals of this phase are to systematically preserve and protect archaeological sites and enhance visitor experience through landscape modification.
Earthwork preservation moundsMaintenance roads / alignment paths Excavation at proposed visitor center site
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PHASE I: LANDSCAPE + PRESERVATIONOVERVIEW
The main objective of this phase is to design thelandscape of Chaco to present the ruins as part of an interconnected web of sites instead of isolated objects in the landscape.
The Anasazi designed their buildings to connect to their cosmos and natural surroundings in various ways: siting, materials, form, and alignment. An 'alignment' was made when a building is placed on axis with a geographical landmark, road, celestial event (i.e., solstice sunrise location on horizon), or another building. The diagram above shows amap of Chaco overlaid with a map of Anasazi alignments.
At crucial ruins such as Pueblo Bonito, there are multipleoverlapping alignments. At the
macroscopic scale, Pueblo Bonito is aligned to Pueblo Altoand Tsin Kletsin along its cardinal north-south axis. The ancient North Road that connects Chaco to Aztec Ruins 65 miles north of the site runs straight along this axis from Pueblo Alto. At the microscopic scale, a kiva and ridge of narrow rooms within Pueblo Bonito's plaza are aligned to the north-south axis. At the midpoint of everyday, the sun is directly in line with Pueblo Bonito's kiva and ridge, the North Road, and the ruins (Pueblo Bonito, Pueblo Alto,and Tsin Kletsin). The logic of Anasazi alignments is remarkably consistent at both large and small scales and underlies Anasazi planning and architecture.
Currently, the infrastructure of
Chaco impedes the visitor's holistic understanding of Chaco. For example, obtrusive parking lots, signage, and roads interfere with Chaco alignments.
By changing the design of Chaco's infrastructure, the visitor can understand how the ruins connect to their landscape and other ruins. Secondly, by adding pertinent infrastructure for interpretation, the visitor can develop a new understanding of Chaco. For instance, instead of walking by 'holes in the ground' (kivas) within building sites, a visitor can understand that the aligned kivas define the building's relationship to cosmological events and to other buildings in the canyon. Finally, by experiencing similar kiva alignments (i.e., north-south
axis alignments at Tsin Kletsin, Pueblo Alto) at various ruins, the visitor learns how the ruins are interconnected to other buildings and geographical landmarks.
The first part of this phase connects ruins to each other via dirt maintenance roads. This allows the Park service to periodically maintain sites and visitors to walk from ruin to ruin. Currently, there are no direct footpaths between ruins. The proposed paths would be created just as the ancient roads were established. Asimple turning of soil and its resulting change in soil content would change/inhibit the surface vegetation, thus marking the pathway.
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Thoreau
Farmington
The new visitor center is constructed after careful excavation and survey of its site. All unauthentic structures within the park are removed to enhance visitor experience.
New South Gap visitor center Removal of old visitor center Removal of paved roads and parking lots
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PHASE I: LANDSCAPE + PRESERVATIONKIVA PATHWAYS
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Once at a ruin, a simple wooden plank pathway encourages visitors to visit ruins without stepping on fragile walls. Thepathway strategy developed for Chaco ruins highlights the Anasazi's cosmological alignments and relationships by positioning platforms in line with kiva alignments. These places of rest are connected by wooden plank paths. Asmentioned before, kiva alignments are important because they are aligned to the solar and lunar events which serve as the basis of all Anasazisite planning.
The sketches (below left) show how different sites such as Chetro Ketl, Pueblo Arroyo, and Una Vida share cosmological characteristics that are unique to Chaco architecture; kivas are aligned to celestial events (i.e., winter solstice sunrise). A prototypical pathway for Pueblo Bonito highlighting solstice, cardinal, equinox, and lunar events is proposed (belowright).
Solstice Platform
Lunar Minor PlatformCardinal Platform
Lunar Major Platform
Path
PHASE I: LANDSCAPE + PRESERVATIONPRESERVATION MOUNDS
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PRE-EXCAVATION: 1890
JUDD EXCAVATION: 1920
CURRENT CONDITION: 2002
PHASE I: 2005
PHASE IV: 2015
Visitors of Chaco ruins are often unaware of the extent of archaeological remains andartifacts. The ruins which are visible and visited comprise only a fraction of the archaeological record. In fact, a trove of valuable archaeological information lies beneath the ground that the visitors walk on.
The series of sections of Pueblo Bonito on the right details former and proposed modes of land use around the ruins.
Prior to 1900's, the trash middens located south of Pueblo Bonito containedthousands of artifacts.
During the 1920's, archaeologist Neil Judd excavated trenches through these middens in search of artifacts to piece together a picture of the culture that once occupied Chaco.
In its current condition, thousands of visitors unknowingly walk over the middens. Pueblo Bonito stands as an isolated object in the landscape surrounded by encroaching car parking and roads.
In Phase I of the Site Mangement Plan, landscaped mounds form archaeological caps that protect sensitive archaeological sites from damage until future excavation. While integrating the observable ruins with the landscape, the mounds also signify the extent of the unseen ruins beneath the ground.
During Phase IV, temporary excavation structures provide protection for archaeological trenches. These on-site excavations serve to educate visitors on the importance and process of archaeological research at Chaco Canyon.
PHASE I: LANDSCAPE + PRESERVATIONPROGRAMMED LANDSCAPE
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To avoid the objectification of the ruins, National Park Service program such as shade, rest, boundary, access, and preservation are embedded in the landscape. Conceptual models and sketches (below) show how the land might be formed to accept the program.
A prototypical modular preservation/excavation system for Pueblo Bonito is shown in the lower right diagram. Thelandscaped mounds covering sensitive archaeological sites around Pueblo Bonito are divided into sections to allow for future piecemeal excavation.
The model on the right shows how the maintenance roads, ruins pathway, and modular preservation/excavation system are all integrated.
PB1
Shade/Rest Area
Boundary Maintenance Roads
Modular archaeological cap
Temporary excavation structure
Elevated Path
PB1 PB2PB4
PB5PB6
PB7PB8
PB9PB10
PB11
PB16
PB17
PB12PB13 PB14
PB15
The new visitor center is sited over one of many previously unexcavated Anasazi ruin along the ancient Chacoan road running through South Gap s. Since we do not know the exact configuration of the ruins because they are unexcavated, Pueblo Arroyowas used as an example in this project to show the general approach of developing a new visitor center.
In siting the visitor center over a previously unexcavated ruin, the new visitor center incorporates a working excavation site as part of its education and exhibition program. By incorporating the excavation aspect to the park,visitors are actively engaged with the preservation aspect of the National Park Service.Currently, the entry and
vehicular access to the canyon lacks the original ancient power of entry. The proposed new visitor center seeks to reconnect the journey to the Chaco experience by having people walk along the original Chacoan roads to enter the canyon. In ancient times, the Anasazi would walk many days and nights to get to Chaco Canyon. Traveling from the south, the Anasazi would enter Chaco Canyon between two mesas. These mesas dramatically frame the entry sequence to the canyon. Site photos (far right) shows the entry sequence to the canyon through South Gap from thenew visitor center to PuebloArroyo.
The visitor center is organized around a journey through time. From the parking area by the
road, a path leads visitors to the visitor center. Passing the visitor center desk, and courtyard of occupiable skylights which frame the viewof the visitors' destination (above), the path descends into a large shed covering the excavation site. Within the excavation site, a suspended kiva pathway orients the visitor to the cosmological basis of Anasazi ruins. The hoveringnature of the pathway,introduces the visitor to a wayof respecting and learning from Anasazi sites without damaging fragile walls. Whenthe visitor later walks aroundother sites, it is hoped that this reverence and sacred feeling for the ruins continues.
As people continue along thekiva pathway, they can stop at interpretive rooms (pg 16).
PHASE II: VISITOR CENTEROVERVIEW
These rooms are the interface between visitors and Chaco park staff. They are used for artifact display and films. Because the interpretive roomsare interconnected to the archives and library, changes in temporary exhibits, and visitors' library use are facilitated.
The excavation shed only partially covers the ruins beneath. Preservation mounds,(like those initiated in Phase Iat Great House sites throughout the canyon) cover the remainder of the ruins. Byexperiencing the excavatedruins, and seeing the preservation moundssimultaneously, (pg 17-18) the visitor learns to recognize the extent of ruins throughout Chaco Canyon when visiting other sites.
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Light is used in the visitor center to highlight the uniquecosmological nature of Anasazialignments. Skylights over the excavation site are designedto be activated for specific solar events, (i.e., winter andsummer solstice, equinox, midday). For example, at themidpoint of every day, two shafts of light are aligned to the north-south kivas.
On the roof of the excavationsite, the skylights are occupiable and shaped to differentiate multiple types ofalignments.
PHASE II: VISITOR CENTERPLANS
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PHASE II: VISITOR CENTERSECTIONS
PHASE II: VISITOR CENTERSYSTEMS
SUMMER
MODES OF OPERATIONThe design of the visitor center's systems seeks to incorporate the Anasazi culture's awareness of their natural surroundings. Occupants using this buildingwill harness the potential of the sun and wind to create a comfortable internal environment.
The main components of the proposed system (below left) are insulated thermal mass, sliding insulative panels, operable vents and windows, solar water collectors, louvers, funnel shaped roof, and plenum,(excavation area). Due to the extreme nature of Chaco's climate, the proposed system has multiple configurations and allows for maximum adaptability.
The insulated thermal mass provides a thermal buffer to extreme external temperatures. Sliding insulative panels embedded in the walls prevent unwanted irradiative on cold nights. Light shelves provide diffuse lighting for office spaces. External louvers provide shading at certain times of day.Funnel shaped roofs facilitate natural ventilation and venting of hot roof surfaces. Solar watercollectors provide an efficientsource of heat. The excavation area is used as a plenum to provide pre-conditioned air for both the summer and winter seasons.
There are multiple modes of operation for these systems (far right) according to the external climatic conditions.
WINTER
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Summer Night
Excavation plenum and roof thermal mass cooled by cold night air.
Summer Midday
Cool air from excavation space used to displacement ventilate office space. Clerestory windows opened to allow hot air to vent. Sunlight reflected and diffused into office spaces. Roof vented through air space to minimize radiative heat gains.
Summer Morning
Vertical louvers along eastern windows block morning sun to prevent unwanted solar gain.
Summer Afternoon
Vertical louvers along western windows block afternoon sun to prevent unwanted solar gain.
Winter Night
Insulative panels cover windows to prevent unwanted irradiative heat loss.
Winter Afternoon
Sun penetrates through western windows and heats up thermal mass in offices.
Winter Midday
Solar gains through clerestory windows capture heat. Roof not vented through air space in order to maximize radiative heat gains.The ground-warmed excavation air is introduced to heat exchanger to condition intake air. Sunlight reflected and diffused into office spaces.
Winter Morning
Sun penetrates through eastern windows and pre-warms thermal mass in offices for morning use.
Thermal Mass
Vertical Louvers
Plenum
Solar Water Collectors
Ventable Roof Funnel
Insulation
Light Shelf
Glazed Operable Window
Sliding Insulative Panel