unlv labrynth bodr

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BASIS OF DESIGN REPORT UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGAS S T E W A R T C H R I S T E N S E N “Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.” -Bruce Lee UNLVLABYRINTH September 25, 2009

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The purpose of this project is to visually improve one of UNLV’s main axes while still providing a meditative space for students and faculty. The proposed design will also enhance the existing memorial in a way that will honor the respected individual. These three elements will create a useful and beautiful location on campus that will compliment the surrounding mall corridors.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: UNLV Labrynth BODR

BASIS OF DESIGN REPORTUNIVERSITY OF NEVADA LAS VEGASS T E W A R T C H R I S T E N S E N

“Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

-Bruce Lee

UNLVLABYRINTH S

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Project Background --------------------------------------------------------------

Design Intent ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Inventory ----------------------------------------------------------------------Location --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Site Make-up --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vegetation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardscape --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Site Amenities and Furniture --------------------------------------------------------------

Infrastructure and Utilities --------------------------------------------------------------

Users -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Analysis -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Climate -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Microclimate --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Views and Sightlines -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Vegetation --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardscape Conditions -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Site Furniture --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Infrastructure and Utilities --------------------------------------------------------------

Structures --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Users -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Final Analysis --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Site Notes ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Site Inventory Plan --------------------------------------------------------------

Site Analysis Plan --------------------------------------------------------------

Concepts -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contour Labyrinth -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Vegetated Waves --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Constructed Nature -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Concept -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Program --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Project Elements -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Design Principles -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Issues and Concerns -----------------------------------------------------------------------

Final Concept Constructed Nature -----------------------------------------------------

Image Boards --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cover Sheet ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Base Plan ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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The client is looking for a labyrinth to be designed for the University of Nevada Las Vegas campus. Some of the clients goals for the labyrinth include: a focal element to a xeriscaped garden area, addressing the spiritual needs of students, research opportunities for the healthcare and education departments, community partnerships, memorial location, or a piece of art.

The client would like to provide a quiet, meditative space for students and faculty in hopes that people will be able to find a place of solitude despite their busy lives. At project completion the university will have detailed construction documents outlining the materials and methods for building a labyrinth within the specified site along the mall corridor.

Design IntentThe purpose of this project is to

visually improve one of UNLV’s main axes while still providing a meditative space for students and faculty. The proposed design will also enhance the existing memorial in a way that will honor the respected individual. These three elements will create a useful and beautiful location on campus that will compliment the surrounding mall corridors.

InventoryLocation The site lies on the the north east end of campus along the “mall” corridor. To the east of the site lies the art buildings and to the west the CEB Education building and the beginnings of the Law School. To the north of the site is a large staircase that leads to the Performing Arts buildings, and to the south the corridor continues until it meets the Student Union about 300 yards away.

Site Make-up The site is made up of three sections separated by walkways that run east/west. The northern most section is a grass area with slight mounding. This area has turf but does not have any other forms of vegetation. The middle section consists of the memorial rose garden, and this section is also devoid of trees. The third section, or southern most section is made up of large mature trees, and turf.

Vegetation The trees on and around the site are mature and provide a heavy shade canopy to the south end of the site. In

the southern most section of the site there are two Aleppo Pines, two Raywood Ashes, a Chinese Elm, Arizona Sycamore, London Plane, and an Afgane Pine tree. The sycamore tree that is located on the south east end of the site looks unhealthy and may be dying. The other trees are in good condition and appear to be doing well. There is no evidence of stress. The turf on the site is in good condition. These are a few dry patches as well as some overwatered areas in the tree covered area of the site. Overall the grounds department keeps the turf in great condition. The shrubs in the rose garden are doing fine, and the roses themselves are are fine as well. In the NE quadrant there are twenty-eight rose bushes, twenty-six in the NW, twenty-eight in the SW, twenty-six rose bushes in the SE quadrant. The center of the rose garden also has eight more rose bushes, a small boxwood hedge and the memorial stone with plaque. There were no obvious issues with the soils in the planter beds or those in the grass areas.

Hardscape Concrete walkways surround the site and are in good condition, but there is noticeable cracking that runs linearly along the long axis of the major walkways. The rounded inside corners of the walkways are heavily damaged with

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The site is a very flexible space that users typically find comfortable any time of year

“Labyrinths have served for thousands of years in many world cultures as symbols of hope, healing and spirit. Many who walk these paths say they discover a sense of deep peace and hope.”

Johns Hopkins Medical

Project Background

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The paths within the rose garden are made of brick pavers. The pavers that are adjacent to the grass are worn more heavily than the other pavers.

Site Amenities and Furniture A concrete bench is located along the west corridor on the south end of the site. The bench is in good condition. A small sign cart sign is located in this same corner and is also in good condition. On the NE end of the site there is a large way-finding sign. It is nine and a half feet tall and in good condition. The sign is a standard UNLV sign. The memorial stone with plaque is located in the center of the rose garden.

Infrastructure and Utilities There is a fire hydrant located on the NE end of the site. The hydrant is in good condition. Light poles are located directly off site on either side of the two north to south walkways. These appear to be in good condition. There are a few large underground utility vaults on site that appear to be in good condition as well. There was no visible damage or vandalism. The swale and catch basin on the east side is in good condition and looks to be draining the site. The turf is slightly soggy in this area.

Users The site is used by students, faculty, visitors, university carts, maintenance and other vehicles.

AnalysisClimate The Las Vegas Valley experiences four defined seasons but they are not typical of other regions in the nation. The summers are extremely hot with highs well in the 100’s and lows in the 70’s. These summer temperatures are made more bearable due to the low relative humidity, but it is an uncomfortable environment. Winters in this region are mild and comfortable with mid afternoon high’s around 60 degrees and clear skies. The city averages 24 days of below freezing temperatures but this is mild compared to other parts of the nation. The spring and fall months are ideal in this region and make outdoor activities very pleasant. Because of the Sierra Nevada and Spring Mountains the valley does not receive much rainfall and only averages 4.1 inches a year.

Microclimate The location of the site provides a great opportunity due to its proximity to nearby sheltering buildings and the large mature trees that protect this region of campus. The shade

from the trees and the fact that the Mall is covered in grass creates a very comfortable micro climate even on warm summer days. Also, some of the trees are deciduous, and during winter months part of the Mall receives a good amount of sun as well. The eastern most walkway receives the most shade. The art buildings shade this section of pathway from the morning sun and the trees provide shade the rest of the day. The western most walkway receives shade from the trees during the morning hours but is left fairly exposed throughout the afternoon. This difference creates a very flexible space and the user can typically find a comfortable path to take any time of year.

The selected site is sandwiched between these two walkways and therefore has both sun and shade factors that are found on the walkways. The south eastern end of the site is heavily shaded while the northern and westerly ends of the site receive heavy sun. Most of the site is currently grass with 8 trees located in the grass on southern half of the site. This is the most comfortable area of the site in the hotter Las Vegas months. The northern end does not have trees located directly on site but there are a few trees to the east and west of the site which provide some shade during various times of day.

The site is also fairly well situated to deal with the sometimes prevalent Las Vegas winds. The site has buildings on either side, a large elevation change to the north, and large mature trees. All of these elements combine to make a good wind barrier, and while winds will still be noticeable they will not be as powerful as other areas in the valley or on campus.

All of these elements combine to make a very effective and comfortable microclimate. Because the space is so flexible, users can find relief in both summer and winter months, and this flexibility makes the site an interesting candidate for design development.

Views and Sightlines The site is very limited in regards to viewsheds and sightlines. Because of the tree cover and close proximity to buildings there are no views of particular mention, however this is not to say that the area is not enjoyable. When looking south from the north end of the site the left (east) side is very enclosed and cocoon like, however on the right side one can see all the way down the Mall as well as the tops of the buildings on the right. This west side is very open and comfortable. When looking to the north end of the site the user has an unobstructed view to the performing arts Buildings and the large flashlight sculpture designed by Claes Oldenburg. The large axis that leads west coincides perfectly with the mall corridor. Large trees and and grass run the length of both axis creating a nice environment with intimate views.

Einstein“It is a miracle that curiosity survives a formal education”

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The main view is from the top of the stairs looking south. This view is of particular concern because in many cases it is UNLV’s introduction to visitors. This is a very strong view dominated by the strong axis that cuts through campus. Because this view is so dominate the proposed design must work with it and accentuate it.

Vegetation The trees on and around the site are mature and provide a heavy shade canopy to the south end of the site. The unhealthy sycamore may just be under stress do to high temperatures but the tree should be looked at immediately, and necessary measures taken. An arborist may be needed to make an accurate assessment and recommendation. The other trees are doing good and create a very welcoming environment. The turf on the site has some dry areas that could use better coverage but these are minimal. There are also areas on the site that are very wet. These areas are located in the tree covered part of the site and the area doesn't receive enough sun to dry out the grass. This area should be placed on a different schedule from the rest of the site to reduce overwatering. The rose garden area is bland and needs to be enhanced with trees and additional plantings. This will make the space physically and mentally more comfortable. The open grass area on the north end of the site also need trees to tie the mall together in a more cohesive way and create a comfortable environment.

Hardscape Conditions The site is located in the older portion of campus and this shows through somewhat in the condition of the hardscape. Most of the walkways are in good condition but there are areas that are noticeably worn and need replacement. Most of this damage occurs on the inside corners of the site. It appears that rounded concrete corners were poured after the original walkway was poured. This may have been done because vehicles often cut the corners, which causes the grass to die. It looks as though the new concrete corners were brought in to fix this problem. However this same vehicle activity has caused these corner slabs to subside and crack. The best solution may be to remove these corners and replace them with something more forgiving like rock or DG. Other than these corner slabs the rest of the concrete on and around the site appears to be in good condition. The brick pavers located within the rose garden are in good condition except for those that receive overspray from the sprinkler system. These pavers are in fair condition and there is visible wear and water damage. Measures should be taken to

redirect the overspray or replace the brick pavers with a more durable paver.

Site Furniture The benches on and around the site are in good condition and do not necessitate replacement, but the standard UNLV precast concrete benches are neither comfortable or esthetically pleasing. The standard UNLV signage on and around the site is in fair condition and only needs fresh paint.

Infrastructure and Utilities The hydrant is in good condition but its location in the grass is probably a maintenance issue and as it has to be painted often. The lighting directly off site appear to be in good condition however the site was not visited at night so it is not currently know if the site receives adequate lighting. If the center of the site is to be used as a gathering space additional lighting should be added. The catch basin appears to be draining the site properly the grass is just over watered in this area. If the watering was reduced the site should not have problems with drainage and soggy ground.

Structures The buildings on both the east and west sides of the site work to inclose the area and give the site a linear form. The main building is the art department to the east, and its presence has a noticeable effect on the site, both visually, and psychologically. In conjunction with the trees the building creates a very enclosed space. The building also provides morning shade for the eastern north/south walkway. The building wall that faces the site is a large unattractive blank wall. Despite this the overall effect of the building on the site is a positive one.

Users The site is used as a corridor by students, faculty, and vehicles. It does not appear that the space is used as a resting or sitting area. On occasion art classes use the space for sketching exercises, but this is not common. Because the space is transient there is some pedestrian/vehicle conflict but this typical and not of major concern. The pedestrians are aware of the vehicles and the vehicles drive at safe speeds. Among the various modes of transportation are: walking, skateboarding, cycling, golf carts, vending machine trucks, and maintenance vehicles. The site sees the most traffic, Monday thru Thursday during class times from 8:30 am to about 6 pm. There is some use on fridays, but it is not nearly as heavy as the other week days. The weekends see minimal traffic.

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This campus, and in particular this site, is a great location for the proposed labyrinth

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Most of the traffic on the site travels north to south but there is a fair amount of cross traffic as well. Often the south to north traffic breaks off to the west at the intersection of the two axes on the north end of the site. These users are heading to the other classroom building on the NW side of campus.

Final AnalysisOverall this site is a great location for the proposed

labyrinth. The location is very visible and well used so the labyrinth will not go unnoticed.

The micro climate in this area is ideal for outdoor seating however the space is not currently used in this manner. Consideration will be made for adding a seating area in conjunction with the labyrinth to encourage people to use the space. It is more likely that people would walk the labyrinth if they were stopped or sitting in the area rather than just passing through. However it should also be noted that a seating area in this location may not be successful. Seating areas on campus often need a draw before people use them. In the sycamore grove the draw is created by the sidewalk cafe, and the student union creates a draw on the other end of campus. Without a food establishment or some other anchor the seating area may remain empty and the labyrinth largely unused.

The Mall area is covered in turf which gives the Mall its pleasant atmosphere but it also uses a large amount of water. A labyrinth has the potential to reduce at least a small portion of turf and thus conserve water. If the project is planned well this labyrinth will enhance the atmosphere of the space despite this turf reduction.

A labyrinth on the university campus will provide great opportunities for many fields to do research on the cognitive effects of labyrinths. Currently there are few scientific studies on the effects of labyrinths. The education, psychology, and other departments can use the labyrinth to perform child development research, cognitive research, and other research associated with labyrinths. As discussed before the labyrinth will also perform as a space for students and faculty to relax and enjoy. This campus, and in particular this site, is a great location for the proposed labyrinth.

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Inventory Check listMaterial Condition Notes

HardscapeWalls N/A N/A

Walks Conc. Poor/Fair

The rounded conc walk corners on the site are damaged. Most are cracked and subsiding. It appears as though the rounded corners were installed as an after thought, probably because the grass was being killed by vehicles cutting corners. You can tell that the vehicles still cut the corners and this is the cause of the subsidence and cracks.

Walks 2 Brick Fair

The Brick walks that make up the rose garden are in fair condition. They are still pretty level and appear in good condition however upon closer inspection you can tell that there is a fair amount of water damage. The overspray from the sprinklers has caused some erosion and damage to the bricks.

Stairs N/A N/ASeating N/A N/AParking Lots N/A N/A

Planters GoodThe delineated planters in the rose garden are in fine condition. There are no built in/cast-in-place planters on the site.

Site Furniture

Signage GoodThere is a large 9’ tall sign on the NE end of the site. It is in good condition but it is in need of a fresh coat of paint.

Benches Conc. GoodThe one bench on site is in fair condition however it is dated and doesn't appear to be used. it is in an exposed area along the walk and I dont think it is inviting for the user.

Fire Hydrants GoodThe one fire Hydrant on site is in good condition. It sits in the grass and receives spray from the sprinklers so it probably has to be painted and maintained often.

Electrical Good

The main lighting is directly off site on either side of the 2 north to south walkways. The lights appear to be in good condition however the site was not visited at night so it is not currently know if the site receives adequate lighting. There were a few large underground lock boxes on site that appear to be in good condition.

Irrigation FairThe Irrigation seems to be working properly however the various boxes are subsiding and shifting. This is minimal and not a real issue.

Sewer N/A N/AGutter N/A N/ASeptic N/A N/ACatch Basins Good Catch basin is in good condition and looks to be draining the site properly. Flood Channels N/A N/AMan holes Steel Good

Vegatation

Grass GoodThe grass on the site is in good condition. There are some areas that are slightly diseased and dying but overall its in good condition.

Ground Cover N/AShrubs Good The shrubs in the rose garden are doing fine. The roses are are fine as well. Soils Good There were no obvious issues with the soil.

Trees Good/FairThe trees are very mature and in good condition except for the sycamore tree on the east side of the site. This tree looks diseased and is dying.

Topography Slight mounging on north end of site. Environmental

SunThe north end of the site has no trees and receives full sun exposure for most of the day. This includes the rose garden which also receives full sun.

Shade The southern end of the site has multiple trees and most of this area receives full shade.

Wind

The site is fairly sheltered by the various buildings, trees, and the elevation change to the north. These conditions make the site fairly calm however high winds will still be vary noticeable on the site.

Structures

Buildings

The buildings on both the east and west sides of the site work to inclose the area and give the site a linear feeling. The main structure it the art department to the east and that building presence has a noticeable effect on the site both visually and psychologically. The building also provides morning shade for the eastern north to south walkway.

Shade Structure N/A N/ARestrooms N/A N/A

Other

Uses/Users

The site is used as a corridor by students faculty and vehicles. It does not appear that the space is ever used as a resting or sitting area. On occasion in the past I have seen a class or two using the space while sketching but other than that I don’t see people using the site. There is some pedestrian/vehicle conflict but it is typical and not of major concern.

Times

The site sees the most traffic from Monday to Thursday during class times from 8:30 am to about 6 pm. There is some use on fridays as well but it is not nearly as heavy as the other week days. Th weekends see minimal traffic.

Ingress/Egress

Most of the traffic travels North/South but there is a fair amount of cross traffic as well. Often the south to north traffic breaks off to the west at the large intersection on the north end of the site. These users are heading to the other classroom building on the north/west side of campus.

Views

Looking S the tree cover blocks most of the views to the SE however the SW angle is not blocked by trees. The building obstruct the views but you can still see the tops of the buildings, down the corridor, and there is a much mor open feeling.

Site Notes

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Tree Height Width Trunk Height T. Width - 3’

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17’ 12’x13’ 5’8” 6”

27’ 20’x15’ 9’ 1’

33’ 37’x28’ 20’ 1’ 6”

49.5’ 63’x61’ 11’ 3’

33’ 32’x36’ 10’ 1’ 8”

35’ 28’x32’ 11’ 1’ 11”

44’ 22’x34’ 6’ 1’

49’ 33’x41’ 7’ 1’ 9”

Site Notes

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Contour Labyrinth The contour labyrinth is designed to create a personal, quiet, and almost invisible experience. The concept comes from the idea that walking a labyrinth is a very personal and meditative journey. Most labyrinths are very public in their layout and location. This public display may deter some users and may distract those that do use the labyrinth’s. The contour labyrinth is pegged out among rolling mounds. This pegs are small and lie flush with the turf. From the casual observer these dots may appear more as contour lines rather than the layout for a labyrinth. The labyrinth would be accessible to everyone but may not even be know to everyone. In this way it is symbolic of labyrinths in that only those who understand and appreciate them see them in a special way. Furthermore the user will have a somewhat private experience walking among the trees and rolling mounds, rather than in the center of a public plaza. The mounding would also be surrounding the goal with the center of the labyrinth at the lowest point to create a feeling of enclosure and privacy.

Vegetated Waves This concept is a response to the desire to create a design that has more visual impact and speaks to the context of the whole site, including the spaces beyond the designated site. This concept address the scale differences from the north end of the site to the south. The design consists of long linear retained mounds that fluctuate in elevation. These waves create a ribbon effect of different forms of vegetation and make a strong visual statement from the north end of the site. The design creates a smooth scale transition from the stairs to the south of the site and make a statement about the university. The retaining walls also create a very private setting for users to experience the labyrinth.

Constructed Nature Constructed nature has grown out of the previous concept. The concept shows that a constructed and forced nature can still be serene and comfortable. This concept provides many of the benefits of the previous concept but in a more cost effective way. The primary goal of this concept is to make a powerful statement to those that enter the campus from the north while at the same time providing a comfortable space to enjoy from within. The strong forms and sharp angles are in direct opposition to the concept behind labyrinths with no sharp corners. This juxtaposition of angles creates a visually interesting space without compromising the labyrinth experience. The structured swaths of strong plant palates will contrast the monotone carpet of turf. From the north end of the site the labyrinth will be the focal point but the structures will pull the eye up and into the distance to the south. Even though the labyrinth is the focal point those within the labyrinth will feel protected and enclosed. Only from the top of the stairs is the whole labyrinth visible. When on the ground-plane the constructed mounds partial conceal the labyrinth and its users. The mounds will also act to ease the transition from the stairs to the large canopies to the south.

Final ConceptI chose the Constructed Nature concept because it has the most potential for creating a powerful yet peaceful landscape. The structures are not to rigid (like in the vegetated waves concept) as to make the space uncomfortable from within. The concept is also not so minimalist (as in the contour labyrinth concept) as to be virtually lost in the landscape. The constructed nature is a powerful visual concept that will reflect well on visitors to the UNLV campus. It is a dominate design that will update and complement the existing mall corridor through strong design and vegetation.

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The structured swaths of strong plant palates will contrast the monotone carpet of turf.

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The concept shows that a

constructed and forced nature can still be serene and

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ProgramThe selected design accomplishes many of the goals that

were originally outlined buy the client as well as the goals that were discovered during analysis. The labyrinth will become the focal point on this axis. This focus will create interest in both the design and the Labyrinth. A main goal of the project was to improve the visual impact of the site when looking from the south. The design overcame the challenge of creating a public space that feel secluded and private. The memorial stone from the original rose garden was placed in the center of the new design. This placement is strong because the stone will be the only vertical element within the labyrinth. The stakeholders wanted a place for gathering and research and the labyrinth with its adjacent seating provide these opportunities. The design is a mesh of art, design, and nature.

ElementsThe proposed design will be made up of traditional

plants like those currently found on the site as well as arid xeriscape plants. The juxtaposition of textures will create a place of interest and beauty. The Xeriscape plants will exist mainly on the north end of the site where they will receive plenty of sun. As the plantings move further south the palate will shift slightly to shade tolerant plants, however these plants will still be conservative water users. The planter beds will be structured mounds of soil with strong angels. Some of these mounds will be retained by concrete walls that will act as seat walls as well. The labyrinth will be located in the same place as the current rose garden. The labyrinth is a standard labyrinth design on a flat plane. The base material will be red clay or dg. The path of the labyrinth will be constructed of black steel or dark stone to match the color of the flashlight.

A seating area is provided among the large shade trees. This seating area is recessed into the ground where the swale is currently located. The drain inlet will still be located in this area and the group area will not be usable during times of heavy rain but most of the year this space will be pleasant. A concrete ADA ramp will decent into the 30” depression to allow universal access. This space will also be surrounded by slight mounding to increase the sense of enclosure. A walkway will also cut through the site in this area. The walkway will be composed of the same material as those used under the labyrinth.

Signage and interpretive materials will also be located on site to help people understand the purpose of the labyrinth as well as the memorial.

A few new trees will be planted on the north end of the site and will be similar to those used on the south side, ie. Raywood ash and London plane.

Principles The design uses color and sharp gestures to focus the eye on the labyrinth and then lift the eye up and to the south. Although the proposed site is not symmetrical it is visually balanced. This balance creates a comfortable experience for the eye even though there are competing elements. The design will use plant materials to accomplish harmony and rhythm. The planters will be planted with large groups of the same vegetation and these structured plantings will be used to create a rhythm and balance of form, texture, and color.

When looking from the north the current sites scale makes an abrupt change at the mature trees. The proposed design will even out this change by gradually building the topography and tree canopy. The design creates a uniform scale without the need for more large mature trees.

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these structured plantings will be used to create rhythm and balance of form, texture, and color

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Issues and Concerns The proposed design has raised a number of issues that must be addressed in order for the design to be successful.

First is the issue of mounding. Often mounding will cut-off water and oxygen to tree roots that are just below the surface. In order to avoid this careful consideration must be made around the mature trees. More information will need to be acquired as to what trees can tolerate and if there are any measures that can be taken to improve the likelihood of success. One idea that needs further research is that of creating subsurface irrigation at current grade. This irrigation will be buried under the mounding but it will provide water to the existing tree’s roots.

Conflicting plant material is a real concern that will have to be carefully managed. A xeriscape plant palate will not do well in the moist and shady conditions on the south end of the site. However these plants are wanted in this area. As stated before the plant pallet will have to shift as it moves south but more research is need to discover exactly what plants will be able to grow there. The new irrigation system will have to be carefully designed to prevent overspray and limit the amount of water received by the drought tolerant plants. Proper drainage and well amended soils will also be key.

Another concern is safety. The proposed area should be lit well for those that may be encountering the space at night. In particular the recessed group area will need general lighting as well as lighting on the ramp and steps.

There are many utilities, especially on the north end of the site. The are not of major concern but they will need to be designed around. The mounding will have to be reduced in these areas and brought back down to grade. Some of the utilities may need to be extended or moved but this will be a last resort.

The group use area will need to be excavated to a depth of 30” (about 20” from where the grade currently rests). This again is a real problem for the health of the surrounding trees. Some roots will defiantly be damaged and removed and this damage may kill the trees. The stressed sycamore is one of the trees in this area and it is already under stress. Additional council from an arborist is need to asses the best strategy. The sycamore in particular may have to be removed and replace with a new tree. As design development continues additional concerns will most likely be discovered.

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