thesis: [re]constructing belle isle

[re]constructing Belle Isle:using memory + constructivism as the foundations for a dynamic urban river parkThis project is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Degree in the College of Architecture + Urban Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute + State University

Benjamin W. Turpin

Terry Clements, Associate ProfessorProject Advisor + Coordinator

Brian Katen, Associate ProfessorProgram Chair

[ acknowledgements ]

Terry Clements - for pushing me to do my best on this project, and for all of the guidance and patience over the past three years

the LAR faculty, especially Brian Katen, CL Bohannon, and Ben Johnson - for all of the help along the way

Teresa Phipps - for keeping me on track these past four years

Dick Gibbons - for sharing your vast knowledge of Richmond and landscape architecture

LAR class of 2013 - it’s been great

Mom, Dad, Anna - for all of the great times over the past twenty- three years, and for all of your love and support

Joy, John - for all of your love, help, and encouragement

Goode + Oakland UMC - for all of the encouragement and prayers

the rest of my family and friends - you’re all wonderful

[ preface ]

This project began out of an interest in deep mapping and historic preservation. As long as I can remember I’ve had an interest in historic landscapes, perhaps stemming from all of the family vacations to battlefields and national parks. Through these trips I came to realize that too often historic landscapes are treated as static elements that are held in a certain time period, where they are not allowed to evolve over time. This goes against the very nature of landscape, as landscapes are inherently dynamic.

In this project I set out to understand how a historic site can explore and interpret it’s many pasts while still being a usable and dynamic public space. A park does not have to be one or the other—it can provide the community with an adaptable public space that meets the needs of the present and future while also allowing the history and narrative of the site to be a defining element. A place’s many stories and pasts can be quite compelling. Allowing visitors to discover those stories while becoming part of its ongoing narrative allows them to see and experience a site in a powerful and rewarding way.

the beginning

introduction [ 01 ]

context [ 02 ]

analysis

historic analysis [ 05 ]

current analysis [ 19 ] opportunit ies + constraints [ 26 ]

synthesis [ 27 ] analysis + synthesis conclusions [ 28 ]

concept [ 30 ]

design

zones + masterplan [ 32 ]

general [ 36 ]

constructivism [ 39 ]

detai l [ 42 ]

conclusions [ 54 ]

sources [ 55 ]

[ 1 ]

The city of Richmond has long been a central node within the Commonwealth of Virginia as well as the region. It is the current capital of the state. During the American Civil War it was the capitol of the Confederate States of America. Prior to European colonization it was one of the capitals of the Powhatan tribe.

The city has been an important place for manufacturing, education, commerce, agriculture, and trade because of its location at the Falls of the James River. The James fueled Virginia’s industrial revolution, and transported Richmond’s products east to the coast and west to the interior of Virginia. Richmond is the city it is today because of the James River.

Belle Isle is a fifty-four acre granite outcropping in the middle of the James. This island is a microcosm of Richmond. During each distinctive period of the city’s history it has reflected the ideals and identity of the city at large. It has been a landscape of utility,

serving as a fishing village for the Powhatan, a prisoner of war camp during the Civil War, an iron and steel mill throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, and an urban green space for Richmond in the 21st.

[re]constructing Belle Isle seeks to reveal and interpret these many histories, narratives, and memories that exist on Belle Isle. For the most part these things are not visible. As a utilitarian landscape many of the built elements of the past were erased to make room for the present, and others eroded after the island entered a period of abandonment when the steel mill closed down in 1972.

Belle Isle’s history is rich and varied. It provides a structuring element for the redevelopment of Belle Isle as an urban river park for Richmond. As a post-industrial city, Richmond is re-forging a connection to the James River through recreational activities

rather than industrial production. Richmond desires a public park connected to the river, one that caters to an active crowd engaging in kayaking, climbing, mountain biking, and hiking, as well as more passive activities such as sitting by the river, bird-watching, fishing, and walking.

This project proposes a park that reveals Belle Isle’s many layers of history while also responding to the active recreation needs of Richmond. Constructivist theory is used as a structuring element for a new interpretive program, allowing visitors to actively explore and discover traces of the island’s many pasts. Belle Isle can become a central and defining park for the City of Richmond: one that respects, explores, and discovers the past while providing a dynamic urban park environment for the present and future Richmond.

[ introduction ]

[ 2 ]

• Located on the threshold of the Fall Zone- where the Piedmont transitions to the Coastal Plain physiographic region

• Richmond’s location is due to the Fall Zone - the elevation drop on the James River powered its industrialization, and limited deep water shipping past this point, and the river provided a means of transporting goods up and down river

• Richmond is the capital of Virginia, with a population of ~210,000 in the city and ~1.3 million in the metro area (figures from 2010)

• - Travels through all of the geologic provinces of Virginia

• Belle Isle is located in the middle of the James River, between downtown and Manchester

•• The island is at the terminus of the Fall Zone - many rapids surround

it due to the drastic elevation change• - Travels through all of the geologic provinces of Virginia

• The James River watershed drains 1/3 of Virginia

• The James passes through four of Virginia’s physiographic regions – Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain

• The James enters the Fall Zone upon reaching the City of Richmondthrough all of the geologic provinces of Virginia

[ State of Virginia ] [ City of Richmond ] [ Belle Isle ]

James River watershed

James River

Ridge + Valley Blue Ridge Coastal PlainPiedmont

Richmond

Richmond

Piedmont

Coastal Plain

approximate fall line / zone

Belle Isle

James River

downtown

Manchester

[ context ][ state / city / site ]

[ 3 ]

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jam

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petersburg granite

end of fall zone

petersburg granite

[ Richmond geomorphology ]

alluvium

alluvium

alluvium

clay + silt

sand + gravelfluvial clays



beginning of fall zone: 7 miles

• Outcroppings and quarrying on the island make much of Belle Isle’s underlying geology visible

•• - Travels through all of the geologic provinces of Virginia

• At 54 acres Belle Isle is the largest outcropping/island in the James River


• Belle Isle is the last major island within the Piedmont (the non-navigable section of the James) - the river below Belle Isle is open for ship traffic

• The island is an outcropping of Petersburg Granite, which is surrounded by alluvium, sand, gravel, and fluvial clays


0 0.5 1 mi

[ context ][ geomorphology ]

[ 4 ]

[ context ][ city + districts ]

[ 5 ]

Belle Isle has a diverse and rich history. Its central location at the Falls of the James as well as its geographic prominence within the city of Richmond has ensured that the island evolves with Richmond.

The earliest known human history goes back to the Powhatan tribe, also known as the Virginia Algonquians. They seasonally inhabited a fishing village located on the island, taking advantage of Belle Isle’s location. During the annual shad migration the fish moved from the coastal waters inland directly past Belle Isle. The shad had to traverse the rapids, making an easy target for the Native Americans to catch them with traps and nets. Shad was a dietary staple of the Powhatan.

European colonization in the 17th century brought white men to the area. Captain John Smith first explored the island in 1607, and afterwards the colonists used Belle Isle as a fishery. Not a great deal is known about this period of its history. However, by the 18th century the island was known as Broad Rock Island, which Benjamin Latrobe (architect of the

United States Capitol) described as “a beautiful, fertile, and romantic spot” where he hoped to eventually live out his days. It seems at this point the island was still a rather “natural” environment. This did not last long, however, as a small ironworks known as Belle Isle Manufacturing Company was founded in the early 19th century; this was later chartered by the Virginia Assembly in 1832 as Old Dominion Iron and Nailworks (often called ODIN).

The ironworks grew over the following years, operating up to and throughout the Civil war. Confederate forces operated a Prisoner of War camp on the island, imprisoning thousands of enlisted union soldiers.

As the railroad extended to the island the ironworks grew, expanding their products from nails and horseshoes to iron and copper plating. The ironworks shifted locations in the early 20th century, and a hydro-electric plant replaced the ironworks on the southside millrace. As the scope of the ironworks changed it took the name of Old Dominion Iron and Steel

(ODIS). ODIS shifted to production of welded steel products, such as steel tanks and refrigerators.

The industry on Belle Isle took significant damage in 1969 from Hurricane Camille. The hydro-electric plant shut down that year, and Old Dominion Iron and Steel closed its doors for good in 1972. After that point Belle Isle entered a period of abandonment.

[ historic analysis ][ an introduction ]

[ 6 ]

During the Civil War, Belle Isle served as a prison without walls. Its location in the midst of the Falls of the James made it a prime location for a prison—the harsh rapids surrounding the island made escape a dangerous act. A small earthen berm marked the boundaries of the six acre prison, which was located on the northeastern lowlands of the island. Guards were placed on each corner of the berm; prisoners who stepped over the line were shot. A cannon emplacement on the ridge provided an additional deterrent from escaping, and an additional gun emplacement on the western side of the island protected against outside attacks on the island.

Over the course of the war approximately 30,000 Union soldiers were imprisoned on Belle Isle. 1000 died and were buried on the island (to be later removed). Prisoners were generally processed at the nearby Libby Prison north of the James and marched to the island.

Belle Isle had a reputation as one of the worst prison camps in the Confederacy—there were never enough tents to house the prisoners, and many lived in the open throughout all seasons. Food, blankets, and medicine were scarce, as was the case throughout the city.

Poet and author Walt Whitman observed the conditions of Belle Isle during the war. His question perhaps best summarizes the conditions of this prison:

[ the civil war ]

Above Maps / Collage: A map of Richmond’s defenses is overlaid on a map of current Richmond (left). As the capital of the Confederacy , Richmond built extensive defenses throughout and around the city.

Belle Isle Prison was located along the southern rail system. Many Union soldiers originally imprisoned on Belle Isle were later shipped deeper south to different prisons (right).

Right Map / Collage: This map is an investigation into Deep Mapping: showing elements no longer visible and traces of cultural elements of the island during the Civil War period. The process of mapping helped to compile and understand traces of Belle Isle, using sources ranging from historic photographs to song lyrics.

“Can those be men—those little livid brown, ash-streak’d, monkey-looking dwarfs?—are they really not mummied, dwindled corpses?”

[ historic analysis ][ civil war era ]

[ 7 ]

[ historic analysis ][ civil war era ]

[ 8 ]

April 5, 1862 WANTED – NAIL KEG HOOPS. I wish to contract for a large quan-tity of hoops, already shaved, for nail kegs. Persons in the country who have birch growth in considerable quantity will find it to their interest to apply at my office on Pearl street, south of Cary, where they can see samples of the hoops wanted.

Wm. S. Tripplet, President, Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works Company

Tredegar Iron

rail south to Danville

August 30, 1862 WANTED – IRON – SCRAP, PIG, &c. – Farmers and others will find it to their interest to gather up and send us all Cast and Wrought IRON they have. We will pay the highest market price for it, and, also, for Pig Iron, Blooms, &c.

WM. S. TRIPLETT, President, Old Dominion Iron and Nail Works Company.

Richmond Dispatch

May 8, 1

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[ historic analysis ][ old dominion iron + nailworks ]

[ 9 ]

grey biotite granite

Pete

rsb

urg

Gra

nite

red aplite dike

blue biotite granite

[ Belle Isle quarry + geology ]

Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks (ODIN) traces its roots back to the Belle Isle Manufacturing Company, founded in 1815. ODIN primarily produced nails and horseshoes which were known for their quality throughout Virginia and beyond.

ODIN, located on the south side of the island, used a dam and a millrace to power its operations. During this period the majority of the island was cleared of vegetation, perhaps to fuel furnaces, produce lumber, and allow for livestock and horse grazing. In 1860 the island housed 7 puddling furnaces, 3 heating furnaces, 48 nail machines, a rolling mill, a keg factory, and several sawmills. 21 slaves and 200 free workers ran these operations.

ODIN continued operations throughout the Civil War, and expanded operations after the war when the railroad spanned the island, connecting

Left Map / Collage: This map was an extension of the earlier deep mapping exercise. Historic maps, photographs, and newspapers were collaged together to make a portrait of the island during this period. The process of compiling, editing, and collaging sources helped to gain an understanding of the many stories of the island during this period.

the island to Tredegar Iron Works on the north side of the James and Manchester on the south. During this post-war period a school, a store, and a tenement were located on the island. The industry gradually expanded to the eastern expanse of the island. Around 1900 granite-quarrying operations began. ODIN became Old Dominion Iron + Steel (ODIS) between approximately 1900 and 1930.

Quarrying on Belle Isle:

• two varieties of granite were quarried on Belle Isle - grey and blue biotite

• this stone was used for railroad ballast, paving stone (used in Richmond), and construction material (used for buildings on Belle Isle, including the island’s Fuel Storage Building)

[ old dominion iron + nailworks ]

[ historic analysis ][ industrial process ]

[ 10 ]

[ historic analysis ][ old dominion iron + steel ]

[ 11 ]

Old Dominion Iron + Steel (ODIS) primarily operated on the eastern extent of Belle Isle. ODIS expanded beyond the mill race, and the production was then powered by electricity rather than hydro power. In this new location ODIS produced welded steel products, sheet metal, steel tanks, and industrial refrigerators. These products were shipped across the country via rail.

In 1905 a hydro-electric plant (not part of ODIS) was built on the expanded mill race to power Richmond’s electric street car system. The plant closed in 1967. ODIS closed for good in 1972.

Left Map / Collage: This map was an extension of the earlier deep mapping exercise. Historic maps and historic and current photographs were collaged together to make a portrait of the island during the ODIS period. Once again, the process of researching, editing, and collaging these sources was instrumental in gaining insight into Belle Isle during this time period. The final map presents an easily readable representation on the island during the ODIS period.

ODIN ~1815 - 1905

water entered cut granite power canal/mill race

water passed through a debris screen, removing trash and logs that could harm the turbines

water moved through the expanded power canal, which utilized the previous mill race - an additional 4 feet of concrete was added to increase the volume of water flowing to the hydro plant

water flowed through the canal and into a basin above the hydro plant; it then flowed into the plant water flowed through

the turbines, creating electricity that powered the street car system

water exited the turbines and flowed out of the bottom level of the plant, exiting back into the James

water powered the machinery, bar mills, horse shoe factory, and the plate mill

water flowed through the tailrace (since buried) and exited back into the James on the south side of the island

hydro plant - 1905 - 1967

[ old dominion iron + steel ] [ water power on belle isle, above ]

• The above diagrams show the movement of water on Belle Isle.

• The top illustrates Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks, where water powered the plants producing iron.

• The bottom illustrates the hydro-electric plant, where the water powered Richmond’s street car system.

[ historic analysis ][ industrial process ]

[ 12 ]

native / mature / open piedmont forest:white oakred oak chestnut oakamerican chestnutamerican beecheastern hemlockbirchblack gumred maple

1815: old dominion iron and nail works opens

1860: belle isle prisoner of war camp opens

1865: belle isle prisoner of war camp closes

1900: old dominion moves majority of operation to north-east corner of island

1851: richmond and danville RR builds bridge to island from manchester

1870: richmond and danville RR line crosses to north bank of james

1905: quarry + hydro plant open

trees along river’s edge and on ridgetop

fewer trees along ridge and river’s edge

trees cleared on ridge, more trees along hillside and river’s edge

horses graze on hilltop

more trees along northern end of island

pre-1600: island used as fishing camp for powhatan tribe

[ pre - 1815 ] [ 1815 - 1890s ] [ 1900s - 1940s ]

[ historic analysis ][ vegetation ]

[ 13 ]

1967: hydro plant closes

1972: old dominion iron closes permanently

1973: richmond parks + rec buys belle isle

re-established forest:poplarriver birchailanthuslocusttulip poplar sweet gum

ridge and northern side of island begin to become re-vegetated

1985: new lee bridge constructed through belle isle

1990s - current: belle isle evolves as an industrial ruin and an urban park

much of island overgrown, except for Lee Bridge corridor

buckeyered oakpoison ivyvirginia creepervarious vines + groundcovers

dense undergrowth

little light penetrates to forest floor

[ 1950s - 1960s ] [ 1970s - 1990s ] [ 2000s - current ]

[ historic analysis ][ vegetation ]

[ 14 ]

• Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks is located on the south bank of the island

• POW camp is located on the flats on the northeastern section of the island

• gh all of the geologic provinces of Virginia

• Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks expands to the northeastern section of the island

• Rail line expands across the river, bridging downtown/Tredegar and Manchester

• gh all of the geologic provinces of Virginia

• Old Dominion Iron + Steel occupies the northeastern section of the island

• Hydroelectric plant occupies the former power canal on the south bank of the river (built in 1905)

•• The train trestles have been turned into vehicular bridges• gh all of the geologic provinces of Virginia

This mapping exercise is a representation of Belle Isle without actually drawing the island. These maps try to understand what is no longer visible on and from the island, how the island has changed over time, what some of the important elements of the island are, how people experience and use the space, and what spaces visitors strongly connect to. Together, these begin to show the experience of the island.

[ Belle Isle built environment, 1865 ] [ Belle Isle built environment, 1905 ] [ Belle Isle built environment, 1965 ]

[ historic analysis ][ mapping belle isle ]

[ 15 ]

• Only ruins remain

• Hydroelectric plant, assembly shed, and two stone and brick ruins are the primary remnants left

• These remains are a primary attraction for people visiting Belle Isle

• The Lee Bridge crosses the island, connecting Manchester to downtown (dashed lines above show the bridge corridor)

• Viewsheds from and to the island are extremely important - visual resources are managed carefully by the City of Richmond

• Views from the north bank are especially important: Hollywood Cemetery, Tredegar Ironworks, downtown Richmond

•

• Photographs and drawings dating back to the Civil War provide glimpses of historic viewsheds

• The view from the crest of the ridge was especially important, as that was where the POWs were monitored by the Confederate forces

•• Views have changed drastically as vegetation and development

has shifted over time

[ Belle Isle built environment, 2013 ] [ Belle Isle current viewsheds ] [ Belle Isle historic viewsheds ]


[ 16 ]

• These are spaces of visitor connection - places that could be considered destination spaces

• Landmarks include the quarry pond, Grateful Dead Rock, the hydro plant, the Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks ruins, the former POW cemetery, the Old Dominion Iron + Steel ruins, and the point (view to downtown)

•

• These are the zones of Belle Isle - broken down into physically different spaces

• Each zone is differentiated from the others - each has a distinctive feel and different spatial qualities

• This breakdown of visitor activity is based upon observation as well as social media analysis

• Categories are broken into: river based, active recreation based, nature based, exploration based, and illegal

••

[ Belle Isle landmarks ] [ Belle Isle activities ] [ Belle Isle zones ]


[ 17 ]

Portrait of Belle Isle and the James River:

This compilation is a portrait of Belle Isle and the James, showing an interpretive and experiential view of and from the island through combining many of its important historic and current elements.

The majority of overlap exists on the northeast corner of the island. This is a zone where an opportunity to explore multiple historic narratives exists.

Views from and to the island are also very important, both in the context of Belle Isle and Richmond.

[ historic analysis ][ compiled map ]

abandoned Old Dominion Iron + Steel assembly building/shed

[ 19 ]

After ODIS closed in 1972, the City of Richmond’s Parks and Recreation Department purchased the property with the intention of creating a public open space. Belle Isle was incorporated into the James River Park System, a series of 14 parks totaling 550 acres that dot the city’s riverfront.

Currently Belle Isle has minimal formal programming, primarily limited to trails for hiking and biking. There are no park management facilities, though educational activities do take place on the island (educators must bring all their material with them).

The north bank of the island is a primary draw. People come to swim, sunbathe, fish, gather, or observe people kayaking and rafting. The quarry pond is also a significant attraction, and a small pier brings people to the pond’s edge.

Active recreation is popular on Belle Isle; the cliff walls along the

quarry provide places to rock climb, and trails on the island’s interior attract mountain bikers from throughout the city. These trails are connected to others throughout the James River Park. The recent Downtown Riverfront Plan calls for expanded biking opportunities along the James. Recognizing Belle Isle’s importance to Richmond’s active population, the city built a mountain biking skills training area in 2012 that provides a space to learn the basics of mountain biking.

Belle Isle’s history also draws many visitors. Little visibly remains of the island’s past lives, though the elements that do remain are compelling. The hydro-electric plant as well as several ruins from the days of ODIN and ODIS still are visible. Tthese are popular landmarks, and are often used as photographic backdrops. Outdated interpretive signage speaks to Belle Isle’s history, though it is not presented in a compelling or interactive manner.

[ current - analysis ][ an introduction ]

[ 20 ]

[figure/ground] [ paved surfaces ][ aerial view ]

• Belle Isle acts as a central node between downtown and Manchester

• It has the opportunity to act as a link between the two different areas

• Belle Isle is a prominent element with Richmond, and is the largest island in the James River

• Lee Bridge (over Belle Isle) is one of the primary connections between the two Richmonds - north of the James and south of the James

• S. Belvidere St/Jefferson Davis Hwy (the road traveling over the Lee Bridge) acts as a major spine structuring the roads around it

• Street patterns shift when running into S. Belvidere St

These maps show Belle Isle and the immediate vicinity around the island in 2012/2013. These maps are adapted from data provided by the City of Richmond’s GIS/Public Works Department.

[ current - analysis ][ urban context ]

[ 21 ]

[ green space ] [ parcel value, dollars ] [ land use ]

• Belle Isle is a primary/central green space for the city of Richmond

• Belle Isle has the opportunity to serve as a “central park” for Richmond due to its important location in the middle of the James and in the middle of Richmond

• Belle Isle is part of the larger James River Park system - a string of parks along the James; bike/hiking trails will eventually connect all of these park units

• Belle Isle is central to a mix of property values - high in downtown, lower in Manchester, and mixed value within the Randolph and Fan districts

• This allows Belle Isle to become a destination for people of various backgrounds and means

• Belle Isle is central the downtown commercial/office/government core, as well as housing, industry, and green space

• There is a great deal of housing close by - Belle Isle can become a major destination for residents

• Adjacent industrial zones could provide potential mixed-use or green space development in the future

1,000 - 50,00050,000 - 100,000100,000 - 150,000150,000 - 200,000200,000 - 250,000250,000 - 300,000300,000 - 350,000350,000 - 400,000

vacantsingle familypublic open spaceofficemulti-family

mixed useinstitutionalindustrialduplexcommercial

400,000 - 450,000450,000 - 500,000500,000 - 1,000,0001,000,000 - 5,000,0005,000,000 - 10,000,00010,000,000 - 20,000,00020,000,000 +

[ current - analysis ][ urban context ]

[ 22 ]

exploratory: involves exploration, discovery of history, physical interaction with the island

observational: involves viewing, prospect, photography, taking note of something

nature based: involves Belle Isle’s natural elements, such as the forest, vegetation, wildlife, etc

active/participatory: involves recreation, hiking, biking, climbing, physical action, etc

river based: revolves around the river - swimming, sunbathing, kayaking, fishing, gathering, etc

This social media analysis used information from Facebook, Foursquare, and Yelp to understand how visitors viewed and responded to Belle Isle digitally. Many of the comments were similar to one another; the comments to the right illustrate the range of comment types. These comments were divided into five categories - nature based, observational, active/participatory, exploratory, and river based.

0 200 400

[ current - analysis ][ social media ]

[ 23 ]

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[ current - analysis ][ social media ]

[ 24 ]

• Hollywood Cemetery

• Tredegar Iron Works

• Manchester (multi-story buildings)

• Lee Bridge (from a vehicle)

• James River (people kayaking + rafting)

• Downtown (multi-story buildings)

• Riverwalk/Canalwalk

• The point

• Lee Bridge

• Trestle bridge ruin

• Forest throughout island (island seen as a natural element of the city)

• Hydro-electric plant

• The shore/the forest’s edge

• Viewsheds within Richmond are carefully managed - changes to viewsheds including Belle Isle would involve oversight by the city

• The thick understory (as well as invasive groundcovers) give the island a very natural image

• This dense vegetation limits views from the shoreline into the island

• Views to the shore from the island are also limited by the dense vegetation, unless one is on the river bank

[ important places with views of Belle Isle ] [ important viewable elements ] [ viewshed observations ]

downtown

N

Manchester

Lee BridgeTredegarnorth bank

south bank

existing edge condition on Belle Isle`: overgrown edge prevents views into the island from the shore and views of the shore from the island

Riverwalk

James River

Hollywood Cemetery

This viewshed study looks at Belle Isle’s importance within the viewsheds of Richmond. It is a visible element within Richmond, primarily from the north bank, including views from the highrises downtown, the Riverwalk, and Hollywood Cemetery. For this reason the drawing is oriented with north on the bottom.

[ current - analysis ][ primary viewsheds ]

[ 25 ]

• Design interventions on Belle Isle will make impacts to the viewsheds from and to the island - it is important that such changes are accounted for. Overall the interventions are minimal, so the viewsheds will not be heavily impacted. The primary changes will be thinning and clearing of vegetation, especially of the understory and invasive groundcovers. This will allow views to penetrate farther into the island, while also providing more views from the island to Richmond or Manchester.

• The point (the northeastern tip of the island) will be cleared to provide more expansive views from the island. This also reinterprets the openness and solitude of the island during the Civil War.

• An observation tower is sited on the high point of Belle Isle - providing views to Richmond as well as views down towards the open thorofare along the Lee Bridge corridor. This observation tower also re-interprets the historic observation point used to guard and monitor the POW camp during the Civil War.

• The tower will be approximately even with the tops of the trees, minimizing the impact on viewsheds.

• The tower will be more visible during the winter months when the trees have lost their foliage.

• The shoreline/edges of Belle Isle will have a greater degree of transparency, due to the selective clearing of understory/groundcover/invasive vegetation.

• The managed use of goats will be an effective method of removing groundcover and invasive species.

• A more transparent edge will not have negative impacts on views from off of Belle Isle.

• Improving the edge condition will also provide greater access to the river’s edge, which is a primary draw to the island.

[ the point ] [ the observation tower ] [ the edge condition ]

N

north bank

south bank

[ current - analysis ][ viewshed impacts ]

[ 26 ]

0 100’ 200’ 400’

Hollywood Cemetery - important historic element - maintain visual connection

rapids - major draw for kayakers + raftersprovide access from Belle Isle

quarry pond - important location for climbing + fishing

river shore - important spot for visitors

access is limited - improve

quarry wall - opportunity for climbing

connection to Manchester

forest

ODIN (1815 -70s/80s)

ODIS (1880s - 1930s)

ODIS (1940s - 1972)

water based

interpretation/history based

recreation based

nature/ecology based

hydro plant - historic interest and opportunity for climbinghistoric millrace floods in significant floods -

limit amount of development within area

terminus of strong sightline - important end to corridor

bike skills course - interferes with strong sightline - move if possible

industrial relics (steel, tires, metal pieces) littering woods - interesting to “discover”

Chrysler bldg relic - keep as relic

strong viewshed looking under bridge corridor

pedestrian access from Richmond

strong visual connection to downtown - maintain

building footprints no longer visible - non-visible spatial structure important element of interpretation of island

use spatial structure as element of design

ridge point - opportunity for strong views similar to POW observation point

ruins - interesting sense of “discovery”

connect climbing areas

possible historic/interpretive connection to Tredegar Iron Works

south channel low during dry periods - good place for “rock hopping”

active rail line- strong barrier b/w Belle Isle + Manchester - needs

better connection

Confederate forces during Civil Warimportant interpretive area

POW camp outlineimportant interpretive area

[analysis ][ opportunities + constraints ]

[ 27 ]

04

06

10

11

12

13

14

02

03

05

07

08

*

**

09

*

09

10

11

12

13

14

01

01

02

03

04

05

06

07

08

**

0 100’ 200’ 400’

ODIN (1815 -70s/80s)

ODIS (1880s - 1930s)

ODIS (1940s - 1972)

pow camp (union prisoners)

pow camp (confederate forces)

primary entry - make importantproximity to climbing/kayaking - opportunity for training nodeterminus of bridge sightline - end with strong elementmain overlap - opportunity to design overlapping narratives

improve river accessforest - thin out ground level + provide throughout

chrysler building ruin

emphasize downtown view from point - create destination space

maintain strong views across river

explore island’s native american history - primarily used as a fishing village/camp during shad migration

explore island’s geology through materiality in design

quarry pondopportunity for expanded fishing + climbing

hydro plant ruinopportunity for exploration + climbing

former pow cemeteryopportunity for re-defining/interpretation/solitude

steel mill ruinopportunity for “discovery”

fuel storage building ruinopportunity for “discovery”

assembly shed buildingopportunity for classrooms+ park facilities

the pointopportunity to create spatialstructure of pow camp, strongviews to downtown

mill race - exploration of forest + history + materiality

Possible Landmarks:

Civil War gun emplacement - provide access

ODIN mill site - open up + provide spatial/historic clues

vista - views throughout Richmond + historic interpretation of gun emplacement

Lee Bridge overpass - strong linear spatial order - opportunity for public art + interpretation

provide connections between landmarks:

grateful dead rock

[analysis ][ synthesis of places on Belle Isle ]

[ 28 ]

Belle Isle has a myriad of opportunities to explore its many pasts while also becoming an active and central park for Richmond. The remaining historic elements provide a sense of discovery that can give visitors a connection to the current and past island. The simple feeling gained when rounding a corner and “discovering” a ruin or folly is much more rewarding than reading a sign that explains the significance of what is being presented. Allowing the visitors to fill in the blanks is key.

The landmarks on the island are especially important, and provide nodes and places of connection on Belle Isle. These speak to the past while becoming places of gathering and exploration in the present. New landmarks can be added, such as the mill race or the ridge point.

The invisible traces of the past can become contemporary elements that speak to the past, and the structure of the former industry can serve

as a guide to how one interacts with the site. Using an idea of addition and subtraction can reference the spatial forms of the former Belle Isle without literally recreating the historic forms.

Ultimately the analysis and synthesis showed that this is a park about a river. It is not a river park that also happens to have a rich history; rather, the history is one of the many dynamics of Belle Isle and the James River. Everything comes back to the James River. Therefore this park must reflect that—it must become a dynamic urban river park. The histories and narratives are there for those who seek it; for those that don’t, Belle Isle is a place of respite, recreation, and connection.

[analysis ][ conclusions ]

[ 29 ]

history

discovery

connectivity

exploration

gathering

reflection

ecologyrecreation

[ 30 ]

Belle Isle is built upon these foundations:

• history + memory: the stories, memories, and histories of Belle Isle are visible to the discerning visitor’s eye, and are there to be discovered as one experiences the island

• exploration + recreation: Belle Isle becomes the center of Richmond’s active recreation, a place to kayak, mountain bike, discover, explore, climb, and interact with the James

• ecology: at nearly 60 acres, Belle Isle becomes an urban wild, one where native flora and fauna can live within the city, and where visitors can interact with natural systems

• culture + identity: the island reflects Richmond’s identity as a post-industrial river city, one where the dirty history of industry and war collides with the creative and dynamic Richmond of today

Concept: a dynamic urban river park

[ design ][ concept ]

[ 31 ]

[ design ][ concept ]

[ 32 ]

the river’s e

dge

the pointthe river

the river

the m

ounta

in bik

ing co

urse

the hydro-electric plant

the forest

the observation tower

the memorial

the groves + assembly shed

the

inter

pret

ive tr

anse

ct

the nailworks grove

the quarry pond

the mill race

0 200 400

[ design ][ zones ]

[ 33 ]

[ the point ]

This is a place to view downtown, where the city’s reflection glistens in the river. Benches provide places to rest and relax, and the lack of canopy and the distance from the shores speaks to the islands earlier life as a POW camp.

[ the hydro electric plant ]

The hydro plant becomes a place to learn the ropes of climbing, where climbers can directly interact with this fascinating landmark. The structure and key elements of the historic plant remain, providing a tactile reminder of Helle Isle’s history.

[ the nailworks grove ]

This grove explores the former nailworks, which is no longer visible. The apple/pawpaw groves speak to the spatial feeling of the factory site. The”walls” of these groves are structured by the surrounding forest.

[ the groves + assembly shed ]

The groves delineate the locations of the former buildings. These spaces provide areas to sit in the shade, where one can talk with friends or watch others walk by. The historic assembly shed is repurposed as park facilities and educational spaces.

[ the river’s edge ]

This is perhaps the main attraction of the island - people come here to simply sit alongside the James. Improved access provides more opportunities to reach the edge.

[ the forest ]

The forest is managed to have minimal undergrowth and a full canopy. This is a place to hike, photograph, or mountain bike. Various trails cater to different user groups and provide different lengths and levels of difficulty.

[ the mountain biking course ]

This provides Richmond with a central space to mountain bike. Trails wind through the forest, with varying topography providing different biking experiences. This is a great space in which to learn the basics of mountain biking. It replaces the biking skills course that was previously under the Lee Bridge.

[ the mill race ]

This is a place to discovered the layered history and materials of Belle Isle’s industry. As a mill race, the topography is depressed and enclosing, and this is a nice place to sit, relax, or play/climb on the mill race walls.

[ the memorial ]

The memorial is a place that reflects upon the sullen history of the Belle Isle Prisoner of War camp. It is a place of solitude, where a simple memorial speaks to the tens of thousands of soldiers who suffered here, and the thousand who died.

[ the observation tower ]

This tower reinterprets the observation point that overlooked the POW camp during the Civil War. It provides a destination space within the forest, and is a great vantage point to see throughout the City of Richmond.

[ the quarry pond ]

The pond is a place to sit along the edges and look at the beautiful reflection in the still waters, to fish, and to climb. The quarry pond is also a primary destination.

[ the interpretive transect ]

This area centralizes the historic interpretation on the island, and is based upon the theory of constructivism. In this space the stories of the island are told, stories that can then be discovered as one moves throughout the island.

[ the river ]

The James River, the heart of Richmond and Belle Isle, provides places to raft, kayak, swim, and fish. Richmond is continually forging a stronger relationship and appreciation with the James, and Belle Isle is a place where one can come to connect with the river.

[ design ][ zones ]

[ 34 ]

02

03 17

04

26

10

10a

11

20

21

23

12

existing + enhanced landmarks/nodes:

These elements are currently recognized landmarks on the island that are enhanced to adapt to the changed concept and design of the park.

[01] chrysler building ruin

[02] quarry pond - pg. 50

[03] river’s edge - pg. 53

[04] hydro-electric plant climbing center - pg. 50

[05] memorial to the union dead - pg. 51

[06] old dominion iron + nailworks mill ruin

[07] old dominion iron + nailworks oil storage building ruin

[08] repurposed assembly shed; park facilities/restrooms - pg. 46

[8a] assembly shed classrooms [8b] covered maintenance facility

[09] the point - pg. 52

new landmarks/nodes:

Some of these are little-known existing elements that are built upon and enhanced, and others are additions that are built upon historic elements that are no longer visible. Many of these nodes were identified through the process of historic and site analysis.

[10] mill race

[10a] mill race trail head - enter through historic inlet grate

[11] Civil War gun emplacement - trails lead to space

[12] nailworks clearing + grove - pg. 49

[13] observation tower (former pow observation point) - pg. 48

[14] Lee Bridge overpass (interpretive zone)

[14a] interpretive transect - pg. 42 [14b] old dominion iron + steel interpretive node [14c] old dominion iron + nail II interpretive node - pg. 45 [14d] old dominion iron + nail / civil war interpretive node [14e] native american interpretive node [14 f] american beech anchors interpretive transect

[ design ][ master plan ]

[ 35 ]

06

07

8

8a8b

05

15

1622

24

25

13

14

14a

14b

14c

14d

14e

14f

01

1827

19

09

section 01

section 02

0 200100

[15] steam mill grove

[16] old dominion iron + steel groves - pg. 46

[17] Belle Isle forest - hiking + biking - pg. 38

[18] train trestle bridge ruin

[19] folly garden in former park building ruin

site additions:

These elements are completely new to the site.

[20] water sport + climbing education center; park restrooms

[21] kayak + raft launching point

[22] kayak + raft landing (completes a river training loop)

[23] kayak + raft training loop

[24] wayfinding map - pg. 44

[25] mountain biking skills + training course

existing elements:

These are elements that are existing on the island, and are not changing with the design interventions.

[26] bridge from Manchester; pedestrian/bike + official vehicle access

[27] pedestrian bridge from north bank - primary place of entry

[ design ][ master plan ]

[ 36 ]

kayak/rafttake out

Section 01:

Section 02:

riverfront rocks-gathering swimming sunbathing

north channel - James River

birch grove

path to north shore interpretive

transect

riverfront trail - hiking strolling

biking

north hill trails - mountain biking

hiking

south hill trails - mountain biking

hiking

observation tower + ridge

top trails

These sections cut through the island from the north bank to the south, showing the diversity in topography, vegetation, and programming found throughout Belle Isle.

[ design ][ sections ]

[ 37 ]

ironwood grove - seating + gathering

space

ODIS assembly sheds - education/gathering space +

park facilities

mountain biking skills + practice area

mountain biking trail

woods edge trails - biking

hiking observinglowlands

interpretive transect mound forest south channel -

James River

south channel - James River

Lee Bridge

0 10050

[ design ][ sections ]

[ 38 ]

A multitude of trail typologies provides different experiences for different user types. Within the interior of the island, separate hiking and biking trails allow these different users to enjoy the forest without competing for the same trail. Typically, hikers move at a slower rate and are more likely to pause or stop to observe something or take a photograph, whereas mountain bikers generally travel at a faster rate and are less likely to pause or stop. Separating these two user groups provides a safer and more enjoyable experience for each group.

The trail going around the exterior of the island is wide enough to be used by hikers, cyclists, and service vehicles. This trail utilizes a former road. The vehicular traffic on this trail is limited to service and emergency vehicles, which can access Belle Isle via the bridge from Manchester.

The interpretive corridor underneath Lee Bridge is wide enough to be used by hikers, cyclists, and service vehicles. While there is the linear steel transect path within this corridor, the area surrounding it (paved with slag beneath the Lee Bridge) is intended to accommodate all three of the user types.

bridge from north bank

inter

pret

ive c

orrid

or

bridge from Manchester

hiking/pedestrian + cycling

hiking/pedestrian + cycling + service vehicles

mountain biking

hiking + pedestrian

plan scale

mou

ntain

biki

ng tr

aining

area

100 2000

[ trail descriptions ] [ legend ]

Example of biking trail on hillside

Example of hiking trail on ridge

[ design ][ trail typologies ]

[ 39 ]

[ interpretation ]

• The ability to analyze + understand information

[ constructivism ]

• Branch of interpretation where one learns through experience• Engages learners in constructing their own knowledge via inquiry• Process of knowing + making meaning• A person cannot come to know anything that exists beyond their

own experiences - they gain understanding through dialogue with others and through inquiry + exploration

• The designer provides limited/basic information and allows learners to build understanding through process of active exploration

• Connected to accommodation ( a process of constructing knowledge; how individuals process new information in a meaningful way based on existing framework of experience + knowledge)

• Contrasts with traditional means of interpretation: (blends aspects of both)

[ traditional methods of interpretation ]

• Rationalist: humans have the ability to see + understand truths about the world through innate reasoning.

• Rationalist meaning: something projected by the individual onto all of the things that make up the world

• Empiricist: humans can understand the objective world only through experience

• Empiracist meaning: inherent in objects; through experience humans come to know them

[ constructivist framework ]

• Meaning making in an active process - it is the result of an active process of cognition by the individual

• Cognition (the creation of knowledge + the making of meaning) is an adaptive process that seeks to make an individual’s thinking/behavior more viable given a particular goal

• Cognition organizes experience (the individual’s experiential reality)

• Knowing + meaning making have roots in biological/neurological construction and in social, language, and cultural based interactions

[ interpretive approaches to use on Belle Isle ]

depth: reference to archeological digs; idea of history embedded within the layers of the ground

groves + thresholds: reflects the spatial structure of historic industrial development; symbolic of buildings that are no longer visible; the threshold is a moment between one space and another or one time and another

transect: path that spatially cuts through the island and metaphorically cuts through time; historic information is presented solely along the transect; it is located at a single point to encourage active exploration and discovery through the rest of the island

tactile: topographic relief models of Belle Isle during different periods engages learners in physical inquiry, allowing them to see and feel how the island was in different periods; this knowledge can then be reiterated as the recognize elements throughout the island

naming: the simple act of naming attaches meaning/context to a place

“language is one of the most important examples of an artifact”-Dave Norden, Virginia Tech MLA 2003

materiality + color: reflects the previous uses of the island, using colors and materials representative of those time periods

[ design ][ constructivist theory ]

[ 40 ]

• grove - carpinus caroliniana (ironwood), ostrya virginiana (american hornbeam)

• spatial form - low, sense of enclosure; 25-35’ tall/wide

• fall color - rust (carpinus), red (ostrya)

• bark - grey/brown

• colors - speak to the steel industry it is representing, and the spatial form provides a sense of the low, spreading buildings that composed ODIS

• threshold - vertical steel plating on concrete base; relates to welded and pressed steel products produced in this period

• grove - betula nigra (river birch)

• spatial form - multi-stemmed, irregular shape, 50’+ tall, 40’ spread

• fall color - yellow

• bark - red/orange brown, exfoliating, showy

• colors - speak to the steel industry it is representing; the height differentiates it from the ODIS groves, as these buildings were taller masonry buildings rather than low steel structures; these trees also speak to the riverine environment

• threshold - vertical copper members on granite base; related to copper products made early in this period

• grove - malus sp. (apple), asimina triloba (pawpaw)

• spatial form - small + shrubby, low canopy; location within forest clearing provides sense of enclosure (similar to the puddle mills)

• fall color - yellow

• bark - brown

• threshold - vertical steel members with gabien walls; gabiens reflect the materiality of the puddling process used in this industrial period

• the production of these fruit trees speaks to the production of the industry, and the scale of the fruit reflects on the scale of the products produced (nails, horseshoes); the harvesting can become an annual event on Belle Isle

Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks: 1815 - 1860s

Old Dominion Iron + Steel: 1930s/40s - 1972

Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks II: 1860s/70s - 1930s


[ 41 ]

interpretive nodes - provide education on each distinct period of human habitation: Native American, ODIN, ODIS I, ODIS II; these are located along the interpretive transect, and allow for exploration throughout the rest of the island, creating a sense of discovery or an “a ha!” moment when people associate relics/remnants/clues/cues with what they learned within the limited interpretive areas

Old Dominion Iron + Steel (ODIS) groves Old Dominion Iron + Steel (ODIS) threshold installation

observation tower - provides for application of knowledge from the spatial models through seeing the groves from above.; it also reflects on the POW camp observation point /cannon emplacement during the Civil War

Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks (ODIN) II groves Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks (ODIN) II threshold intallation

covered educational spaces - provide areas where groups can gather for classes or events; allows for teacher/ranger led activities to have places to meet

Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks groves Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks threshold installation

ruins + relics listed on mapoutdoor educational spaces - provide outdoor gathering spaces where groups can hold classes or events

quarry pond

hydro plant

steel mill facade

ODIS reservoir

stone bldg

chrylsler bldg

rail bridge remnant

former pow cemeteryformer park bldg

transect

relics

strew

n thr

ough

out a

rea

asse

mbl

y she

d

inlet grate + mill race

0 400200


[ 42 ]

This path follows the strong visual sightline underneath the Lee Bridge. This line is the central view one sees when approaching the island via the north pedestrian bridge. The historic interpretation is concentrated along this straight cor-ten steel path, with interpretive nodes alongside. These nodes are marked by angular topographic mounds, a contemporary intervention that contrasts with the natural and organic features of Belle Isle.

Each node employs multiple constructivist approaches, including steel topographic busts/models that show how the island looked during each period. These allow direct interaction between the learners and the island’s history. The materials reflect each period of history; for example, concrete pavers delineate the area of the Old Dominion Iron + Steel node, cut granite pavers mark the Old Dominion Iron and Nailworks nodes, and river stone is used within the Native American node. The base for each model contains names and dates of the period it is interpreting – this is the extent to which text is used.

The interpretation is concentrated to this one area so that visitors can “discover” elements of history (such as ruins, groves, etc) throughout the island on their own. Having a sense of discovery creates an exceptionally rich experience for the visitor, and the visitor/learner becomes an active participant in the process of discovery and exploration. The knowledge gleaned from these nodes, such as knowing what the island looked like during the 1870s or what materials were used during that period, can be unknowingly applied later by visitors. When sitting within a grove a visitor perhaps may realize that it is in the position of a former mill, or they may realize that steel thresholds resemble doors or windows. Putting these small clues together begins to tell the story of the island. Discovering this story is a rich experience for those who wish to uncover it.

transect path

ODIS node

ODIN II node

ODIN grove

mural pillars

mural pillars

ODIN grove

bike skills course

trailhead

trailheadtrailhead

ODIN node

ODIN oil building ruin

folly garden - constructed of former park building

0 10050

[ design ][ interpretive corridor ]

[ 43 ]0 10 20

ODIN grove transect

slag (a steel production byproduct) is used as a pavement material

Lee Bridge

topographic relief sculpture shows Belle Isle as it was during the ODIS era

recycled concrete pavers (concrete from Belle Isle) + tire seating - reflects materiality of ODIS era

mounds frame the interpretive zones + provide places to sit, lay, or gather

mounds guide visitors to the trailheads, and delineate where the trails are located

granite pavers speak to the materiality of ODIN era

ODIN grove

ODIS grove in the background

pillars act as public art space for Richmond artists - murals change on a yearly basis to provide a dynamic + artistic element to Belle Isle


[ 44 ]

• an inset map within the ground provides wayfinding infor-mation for Belle Isle

• landmarks and trails are shown on the map

• a map of this type creates an engaging and interactive environment

• the map is seen from above as people reach the terminus of the pedestrian bridge

• an alley of redbuds leads from the map towards the trail along the north bank of the island

• [01] repurposed assembly shed - park facilities

• [02] ODIS grove provides passive seating spaces

• [03] transect follows bridge corridor, moving through interpretive groves and mural pillars

• [04] cor-ten steel path goes from one bank of the James to the other, with an American Beech anchoring the far end

• [05] ODIS grove is located in the former location of the steam puddle mill

[wayfindingonbelleisle] [ belle isle map ][ view under lee bridge / along transect ]

[01] [02]

[03]

[04]

[05]


[ 45 ]

• the materials of the period are used - granite + slag paving, granite benches, steel topographic sculpture, steel railroad beams

• topographic sculpture shows learners what the island looked like during ODINs occupation of the island

• the name + date of the period is shown

• from this point the knowledge gained can be applied throughout the island

• the grove provides a shady, comfortable, semi-enclosed space to sit or gather

• steel railroad beams provide playful ruins on which to balance

• the benches are placed in multiple configurations, allowing individuals or groups to comfortably sit

• the topographic mound provides a sense of separation from the adjacent trail, and also provides a place on which to climb, play, sit, or lay

• the node is a good place from which to watch others walk by along the transect

[ node as a place ]

[ design ][ odin II node ]

[ node as a learning environment ]

[ 46 ]

• these are a reference to the former industrial buildings that are no longer visible on Belle Isle

• the materials are representative of materials from the respective time period, such as steel and copper

• these sculptural elements change over time as the materials weather

• the restored assembly shed building is used as both park facilities as well as educational and gathering spaces

• the northern section (left in the above image) is enclosed and repur-posed as park facilities - housing park offices, restrooms, storage, and an attached maintenance facility

• the southern section is used for educational and gathering space; these spaces are covered, though open on the sides

`• Trees break up the large spaces, allowing for smaller and more

intimate learning and gathering environments

[ thresholds ] [ park facilities / learning spaces ]

[ design ][ assembly shed + groves ]

[ 47 ]

• these groves allude to the location and spatial structure of former industrial buildings

• the colors, textures, and forms of these trees (ironwood and horn-beam in the ODIS groves) reference the steel industry

• these groves provide spaces to sit, relax, and gather`• the seating uses sections of steel tanks, a product that was produced

on Belle Isle

• relics/former materials used and produced on the site are placed within the groves

• this pipe is similar to the pipes and tanks produced on Belle Isle by Old Dominion Iron + Steel

• these materials invite people to walk and play within them`

[ groves / gathering spaces ] [ material interaction ]

[ design ][ assembly shed + groves ]

[ 48 ]

why’s there a cannon in the middle of the woods??

The observation tower sits on the former location of the observation point that overlooked the POW camp during the Civil War. Since that time the forest has taken over, so there is no longer a view towards the POW camp location. This tower reinterprets this view—a historic cannon at the base of the tower hints at this hills prior use. Seeing a cannon in the middle of a forest may cause people to wonder why a cannon would be in such a place; this inquiry, combined with knowledge gained from the interpretive nodes, would clue people to this site’s history as a military observation point.

The observation tower in not solely an interpretive element. It is also a place to simply view Belle Isle and Richmond. 360 degree views make this an excellent place for photography, and its location within the forest canopy provides a place for bird watching.

[ design ][ observation tower ]

[ 49 ]

forest edge acts as wall - defines space

iron ore pig iron iron

“chimney” form provides clue to mill site

iron ore gabion seating wall

coal gabion seating wall

pig iron seating wall

cast iron seating wall

apple + pawpaw grove - production oriented much like ODIN

The Nailworks Grove + Clearing uses a constructivist framework to represent the Old Dominion Iron + Nailworks mill which is no longer visible. The surrounding forest walls create a sense of enclosure, speaking to the built form of the mill. The grove of apples and pawpaws are representative of that era of industry (as explained in the constructivism definition), and provide a destination for visitors. The harvests of these fruits can become annual events, and the walls are designed to allow utility vehicles access for maintenance purposes.

The walls are reflective of the process of production, with the materiality changing based upon the stage of the process. These walls provide places to sit within the grove; the forest edges are also comfortable places to rest or gather.

The thresholds within the grove abstractly reflect the structure of the mill, hinting to the doors and chimneys that once stood there.

[ old dominion nailworks clearing + grove ]

[ process of puddle milling/iron production ]

[ blast furnace, cast in molds ]

[ heating + stirring + oxidation ]

[ design ][ nailworks grove ]

[ 50 ]

The hydro-electric plant is repurposed as a climbing education center, providing Richmond with a place for people to learn the basics of climbing. The concrete walls and steel structure are ideal for this use, and this re-use takes a vacant and dangerous building and turns it into a community asset. The quarry pond also serves as a climbing space, providing the opportunity to climb on natural granite. Richmond continues to demand active outdoor recreation spaces, and the opportunities on Belle Isle for climbing, biking, hiking, and kayaking/rafting make this the premiere location for active recreation.

James River

mill race trail

mill race trailhead- historic inlet grate

quarry pond

climbing wall

hydro-electric plant climbing center

nailworks grovenorth

trails on the interior of the islandbridge to Manchester

[ hydro-electric plant ] [ quarry pond ]

[ design ][ hydro plant + quarry ]

[ 51 ]

While much of the island is used for active purposes, this memorial is meant to be a space of solitude and reflection, where one can understand the weight of the events that happened on Belle Isle during the Civil War. Even though these atrocities happened long ago visitors can make a connection with these events and people imprisoned on Belle Isle. Recognizing a date, being from the same state as one of the dead prisoners, or simply having an association with one of the names forges a connection between the visitor and the Prisoner of War camp on Belle Isle.

During the Civil War over 30,000 union soldiers were imprisoned on Belle Isle, 1,000 of which perished. These deaths were for numerous reasons. The prison conditions were terrible, with the prisoners living in tents and outdoors in the elements throughout all seasons. Conditions were cramped, as the camp only occupied six acres. Many died of disease and starvation, while others were shot while attempting to escape. Others that made it past the guards drowned while trying to cross the treacherous rapids of the James.

The 1,000 soldiers who died were buried on the island. After the war these bodies were removed and buried in federal cemeteries throughout Richmond. There are no remnants of the cemetery visible today. All that demarcates the cemetery is a small granite cross that is inset in the ground.

The design intervention is an abstraction of the former cemetery – inset concrete and steel plaques list the name, state of origin, and date of death of the Union soldiers that were previously buried on Belle Isle. These off-sized plaques are reminiscent of grave sites, though their smaller size and the multiple names on each plaque ensure that people see this place as a memorial rather than a graveyard. The memorials taper off into the forest, and the southern edge is bounded by amelanchier (serviceberry), a native tree that historically been associated with funerals. These trees bloom at the beginning of spring after the ground has thawed, marking the beginning of “burial season” when graves could be dug. Amelanchier is also known as shadbush, due to its blooming also taking place during the shad migration (the period in which Native Americans inhabited the island).

[ Belle Isle POW cemetery ] [ memorial to the union dead ]

[ design ][ POW cemetery ]

[ 52 ]

The point provides views to downtown Richmond. This is one of the most photographed points in Richmond—the reflection of downtown’s iconic skyline is reflected in the stillness of the dammed James River. The point provides a destination space where people can sit, relax, reflect, and enjoy the views.

[ design ][ the point ]

[ 53 ]

The north shore of Belle Isle is one of the main attractants for people coming to Belle Isle. People come here to swim, fish, sunbathe, gather, and watch people kayak and raft past. Improved access to the river’s edge allows more people to experience the river while also minimizing the “cattle paths” where people have blazed their own trails to the river. Minimizing these cattle paths limits erosion and sediment entering the James River.

Selective clearing of undergrowth and understory trees as well as invasive groundcover creates a stronger visual connection between the river’s edge and the loop trail that follows the edge of the river. This

vegetation management leads to a healthier forest, greater ecological diversity, better habitat for native fauna, and a more visually attractive and safer forest.

A kayaking/rafting loop allows people to repeatedly complete the whitewater circuit along Belle Isle. This provides a place where beginning kayakers and rafters can learn the basics of the sport, and repeatedly train on these rapids. Richmond is the only city in the United States that has class III and IV rapids within its downtown area. Having a training area within the central city capitalizes on this major asset.

[ design ][ the river’s edge ]

[ 54 ]

Through this project, I have come to better understand how a site’s many histories, memories, and narratives can be used as instruments of placemaking. A park does not have to be only a historic park or an active urban park blind to its past—through constructivism these two typologies can be combined. It is possible to explore and interpret a site’s history while also maintaining an urban park’s role as a place of gathering, recreation, and public expression.

Constructivism allows historic interpretation to be a dynamic layer of a park’s systems. Interpretation does not have to be limited to static signs that present a limited view of history. Rather, learners can be

actively involved in the discovery of the past, and in constructing their own meaning of the site as an integral participant in the park’s ongoing narrative. This is an approach that can be used throughout other projects; it is not limited to just Belle Isle.

Through this constructivist approach Belle Isle becomes a defining element of Richmond and the city’s return to its riverfront. It is a place where people can come to reflect on Richmond’s rich, dynamic, and sometimes troubled history as well as gather, recreate, and connect with the James River. The James is the heart of the city, and central to the James is Belle Isle.

[ conclusions ]

[ 55 ]

Books:

Ham, Sam H. Environmental Interpretation: A Practical Guide for People with Big Ideas and Small Budgets. Golden, CO: North American, 1992. Print.

Hayden, Dolores. The Power of Place: Urban Landscapes as Public History. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1995. Print.

Heat-Moon, William Least. PrairyErth: (a Deep Map). Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1991. Print.

Jackson, John Brinckerhoff. The Necessity for Ruins, and Other Topics. Am-herst: University of Massachusetts, 1980. Print.

Longstreth, Richard W. Cultural Landscapes: Balancing Nature and Heritage in Preservation Practice. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 2008. Print.

Potteiger, Matthew, and Jamie Purinton. Landscape Narratives: Design Prac-tices for Telling Stories. New York: J. Wiley, 1998. Print.

Stegner, Wallace. Wolf Willow; a History, a Story, and a Memory of the Last Plains Frontier. New York: Viking, 1962. Print.

Trout, W. E., James Moore, and George D. Rawls. Falls of the James Atlas: His-toric Canal and River Sites on the Falls of the James with a Special Supplement on the Tuckahoe Creek Navigation. Richmond, VA: Virginia Canals & Naviga-tions Society, 1995. Print.

Articles:

Must Landscape Mean? (1995), Theory in Landscape Architecture: A Reader. Marc Treib. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania Press (2002)

Iain A. Biggs. 2010. ‘“Deep mapping”: A brief introduction’ in Karen E. Till, Ed. 2010. Mapping Spectral Traces (volume and exhibition catalogue), Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Tech College of Architecture and Urban Affairs) pp 5-8.

Thesis:

Norden, David. “A Constructivist Model for Public War Memorial Design That Facilitates Dynamic Meaning Making - David Norden.” Thesis. Virginia Polytech-nic Institute + State University, 2003. Print.

Organizations:

United States Library of Congress ArchivesUnited States Geological SurveyValentine Richmond History Center ArchivesVirginia Tech Special CollectionsCity of RichmondNational Park Service

Websites:

www.davidrumsey.comwww.documents.stanford.edu/michaelshanks/99www.facebook.comwww.yelp.comwww.foursquare.comwww.southernrailfan.netwww.mdgorman.com

Publications:

Richmond Times Dispatch

Design Firms:

Hargreaves Associates – Downtown Richmond Riverfront PlanOffice of Cheryl Barton – Constructing Memory

Individuals:

Dick Gibbons, FASLACarlton Abbott, FAIAMarc Stern, PhD.Ralph WhiteLynn Crump, ASLA

Image Credits:

Cover: Images from the Sanborn Map collection at Virginia Tech, the Library of Congress, the Valentine Richmond History Center, and personal photography

Page 01: personal drawing of Belle Isle hydro-electric plant

Page 02: Original map data from City of Richmond + Bing Imagery. Maps adjusted by author.

Page 03: Map from US Geological Survey

Page 04: Data from City of Richmond, adjusted by author.

Page 06: Maps from Library of Congress + City of Richmond, adjusted by author.

Page 07: Images from Library of Congress + personal photography, adjusted by author

Page 08: Images from Sanborn map collection at Virginia Tech and Library of Congress, adjusted by author

Page 10: Images from Valentine Richmond History Center, RW Dawson, + personal photography, adjusted by author

Page 11: Images from Sanborn map collection at Virginia Tech + personal pho-tography, adjusted by author

Pages 12-13: Images from Valentine Richmond History Center + personal photography

Page 17: Images from Valentine Richmond History Center, Library of Congress, + personal photography, adjusted by author

Page 24: Personal photography



Page 51: Image from Library of Congress

[ sources ]

[re]constructing Belle Isle: Using Memory + Constructivism as the Foundations for a Dynamic Urban River Park

Benjamin W. Turpin

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture - 2013

School of Architecture + Design Virginia Polytechnic Institute + State University

thesis: [re]constructing belle isle

Documents

historic landscapes

historic site

current analysis

historic preservation

dynamic public space

analysishistoric analysis

commonwealth of virginia

interior of virginia