DEVYN DIAZLandscape Design PortfolioArizona State UniversityUndergraduate 2009 - 2013

The following portfolio contains samples of my work during the pursuit of my undergraduate degree at Arizona State University. Projects of various types have been included to highlight the diversity of work associated with earning my degree. Various design strategies and methods have been applied to each project. All work show is a product of different levels of collaboration between fellow classmates, other students from separate design disciplines, or even individual work.

HAWK HAVENWildlife HabitatFall 2010

The goal for this project was to create a viewing area for wildlife within Papago Park. We were asked to select a species of bird that can be found in Arizona and from there research what makes an ideal habitat for that bird. We researched nesting habitats, social behaviors, preferred diet, etc. My bird of choice was the Red Tailed Hawk. My project proposal was based more on creating a food source for the hawk and attract live prey that would in turn attract hawks to be viewed on my site. I included old utility poles to be installed on site and to be re used as “perching posts” due to the fact that Red Tailed Hawks spend over 90% of their adult life watching from above. The use of utility poles also coincided with the fact that my assigned site was the only one to have existing power lines running through the site.

For this project, we were assigned an empty corner lot located within the artesian community of downtown Phoenix. We were asked to do an analysis of the neighborhood and create a mixed use program for our design.

My project was focused on creating a microclimate through shading and courtyard usage. I wanted people to be able to occupy the space and be able to escape the high temperatures Phoenix is known for. I intended to have different square footages for residential space on each floor with an area dedicated to dining and cafe services.

URBAN REPRIVEUrban Fall 2011

COSMIC PERSPECTIVEUrban Infill

We were given a site located in the urban heart of Downtown Phoenix for this project. The only requirement for this project was to create a place that was unlike any other park in Phoenix; a place that created meaning for both the community as well as the designer.

My project was based on the concept of moonlight gardens and astronomy. I wanted to create a place that one could visit both at day and at night with a different experience at each visit. One of the ways I did this was by my plant pallet. Anything planted would have white bark, flowers, or foliage so to reflect as much light as possible. I also included a species of cactus that bloomed only one night of the year. Other aspects included elliptical paths, a moon sculpture, and the entire park on a 23.3 degree axis.

LEGEND TRAILS PRESERVEPreserve Masterplan

Our assignment for this project was to select the best 5,000 acres of land within the Mcdowell Sonoran Preserve located in Northeast Scottsdale. In order to judge what portion of the land to designate as the land with the highest value, we were required to visit the site, analyze watershed data, take inventory of existing wildlife and vegetation, and become aware of many crucial natural factors.

The goal for my proposal was to create an outdoor environment with high recreational and educational value. I wanted to have a space that promoted campsites, hiking trails, and a planetarium. To me, the best way to create a sense of stewardship and conservation of land, people must first connect with their natural world.

HERITAGE COMMUNITYCommunity Masterplan

This project introduced the class to community master planning. We were given the task to create an energy efficient community in an area adjacent to Downtown Gilbert. We were challenged by having an irregular site shape defined by a rail line and a canal running through the proposed design area.

We started by analyzing 4 square miles around the design site to get a better idea of what would benefit a new community. We then researched community design guidelines and began with our designs for the area.

ARIZONA TECHNOLOGY & TRANSPORRATION SCHOOLCampus DesignThis project required collaboration between the Landscape Architecture and the Interior Design students to create a new campus for any educational institution.

The campus plan my group chose was to create an ASU campus that specialized in Sustainable Automotive Research and Development in Downtown Mesa. We chose the lot that at one time was Rendezvous park, the first home of Chicago Cubs Spring training facility. We decided this was the best proposal based on our findings of local automotive business, Arizona’s past and future reliance on a transportation infrastructure, and the need for a facility that would head towards a sustainable future.

CENTRAL CITY PROJECTCommunity Development

Our challenge for our final semester was to create an outdoor place that would represent Phoenix much as Times Square represents New York or The Strip represents Las Vegas. We had complete free range to select site, influences, and program. We were asked to give Phoenix the sense of identity it lacks.

In my research of Phoenix history, I found that the Warehouse District served as a border between the high class leisurely pursuits of downtown and the impoverished working class that helped build the city. Instead of creating a new place, my goal became to enhance the existing places south of downtown and create connectivity between wealth and culture. From there, the project became a study of how Landscape Design can help to bring down socio-economic barriers.

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Ethnicity

Hispanic

Caucasian

African American

Native American

Other

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32%

20%

12%

7%

2% 1% 0%

Household Income

$10K or Less

$10K - $25K

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$200K or More