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Urban Projects............................................................................1Lower Ninth Ward..............................................................................3I-10 Treme Corridor..........................................................................7Urban Living System *.....................................................................9

Planting Designs.....................................................................11Swamp Planting................................................................................13Speer Blvd. Median *......................................................................15

Internship.....................................................................................17The Chicago Art Field.....................................................................19Flower Art District...........................................................................23

Undergraduate Capstone..............................................27Rail with Trail.....................................................................................29

Drawings......................................................................................33

* Graduate work

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in the end of August, 2005. This storm devastated the city putting most of it underwater. An example the worst destruction was seen in the Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood.

The Lower Ninth Ward is located on the east side of New Orleans downtown area along the Mississippi River. Water boarders the neighborhood on three sides. The Mississippi River on the south, Industrial Canal on the west and Bayou Bienvenue the north. North Claiborne and St Claude Street. Split the area in halves from east to west, housing many commercial buildings.

During the historic hurricane the levee along Bayou Bienvenue broke on the north west side. This allowed water to flood the neighborhood. In the lowest areas waters reached up to 10 feet deep, causing many houses to lift off of their foundations. Houses were

floating in the water and were sprawled all around once lowered.

This studio project looked at the destruction from the storm and considered how one could change the current infrastructure to make the Lower Ninth Ward into a thriving place. These implementations were explored through many topic of analysis. This project address trash in the neighborhood. The final proposal contained a recycling center and recycling program for the community.

The function of the recycling center was to create jobs within the community, since the majority of the neighborhood residents do not have cars. After the Hurricane all recycling programs within New Orleans area were canceled. Introducing the program will hopefully influence the rest of New Orleans to reinstate their old programs.

Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Louisiana

Trash is taken out of the Lower Ninth Ward to landfills through out New Orleans. Also

located near this area are many reclamation companies that take reusable goods and sells them. This model explores these sites and how trash is moved out of the neighborhood and to

these various sites. This model was made in collaboration with Laura Handschumacher.

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The time line explores the history of the Lower Ninth Ward neighborhood through section. Major events are placed along the section in succession showing how the street evolved through time. Starting from a marsh and eventually turning into a destruction playground. Various floods are depicted through dashed lines.

Time Line

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The diagrams show the recycling centers system details . Below specific trees (Pecan trees) were selected to phytoremediate the soil because of

all the toxic chemicals found within.

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The green roof gives the community a pseudo park space for children to play. On the edge

of the building a water collection system was designed to catch rain and run off water for

future uses, making the center more sustainable. The photographs are of the model and

inspirational paper folding study that lead the final design of the site.

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The Treme neighborhood is located with New Orleans, Louisiana. This neighborhood has gone through many transformation because of big events. The instillation of the I-10 extension through the neighborhood on North Claiborne Avenue and the devastation of hurricane Katrina. This studio discussed economics, history, transportation and zoning within the area to decide the best design outcome.

The I-10 corridor separates the neighborhood into two halves. This has caused problems within the area creating a barrier. For this project the removal of the interstate infrastructure above North Claiborne Avenue was considered. Historically North Claiborne Avenue

housed a large median. This median was planet with large oak trees creating a place for the people to picnic and play. Once the large interstate was built all this friendly activities subsided.

I proposed to destroy part of the I-10 infrastructure and leave a part of it to be programed for views of the city and event space to create more connectivity and embrace the history of the neighborhood. To reactivate the cleared median area a walking trail is designed and connects to the interstate relic. Where on and off ramps once occupied open green space is design to give visitors and residents places relax outside year round.

The separation of the Treme Neighborhood

Analysis of the North Claiborne Avenue Site within the Treme Neighborhood. The analysis

looked at the building uses, what kind of zones were created by the usage, the interstates infrastructure and how it operates. The last

two maps show the proposal for the removal and preservation with the designed focus areas

detailed out on the next page.

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The amount of runoff, specifically from roofs is excessive and contributes to polluted natural habitats downstream from the city. Taking Living City Block as a prototypical situation within Lower Downtown we are addressing this issue of urban runoff in a highly impermeable environment. Implementing passive storm water catchment through continuous tree trenches creates the opportunity to increase vegetation and thereby improve the urban environment.

This project is a collaboration with Allison Mendes. This diagram illustrates the amount of water falling on this specific block and where

the water goes once it falls. New way to use urban runoff in downtown Denver

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This planting plan explored space through topography. The design is situated within a imagined scenario in the Louisiana swamp land. On the hillside French Mulberry and Oakleaf Hydrangea are placed to create a contrast with textures and forms. They will thrive here because of the well drained soils. Beside the marsh area, a path curves along where visitors may experience the space from its interior. Along the trail Large Cypress trees and Dwarf Palmettos grow.

Exploring Planting Design Through space 1

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21. Hydrangea querquefolia, Oakleaf Hydrangea2. Callicarpa Americana, French Mulberry3. Taxodium distichum, Bald Cypress

4. Sabal Minor, Dwarf Palmetto

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Hydrangea querquifolia Hydrangea querquifolia

Taxodium distichum

Callicarpa americana

Sabal minor

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Oakleaf Hydrangea Oakleaf Hydrangea

Bald Cypress

French Mulberry

Dwarf Palmetto

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The concept for this planting plan was derived from the native Colorado landscape. Mounds celebrate the topography of the state and the planting material exhibit the beautiful grass prairies that grow in Colorado. Ponderosa pines add height while showcasing the trees species of higher elevations. This median will be exciting for the people who drive by it, giving visual variety to the monotonously flat drive of Speer Blvd.

Native Colorado Planting

Native Seed Mixes

Ponderosa Pine

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1. Pinus ponderosa, Ponderosa Pine2. Native Seed Mix, Prairie Grasses

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Scale: 1=20-0

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PlanScale: 1=40-0

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These graphics were created for Chicagos North Grant Park Renovation Competition in 2009. They are a sample of the work that I produced during my internship with Turenscape in Beijing, China.

For the project, I worked along side a talented design team. Together we created graphics to convey the proposed design. The proposal was to create a large corn field in the park to celebrate the agricultural history of Chicago.

Chicagos North Grant Park Renovation Competition

Art Boxes create spaces of exhibition through out the year. They are located within the corn field and help represent the artistic culture of

Chicago , Illinois.

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Ice/frozen

Liquid

Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec.

Crops: Corn & Winter Wheat

Crops:Corn

Weather

Water Art Exhibition

Bird Watching

Ice Skating

Sowing of seeds

Fitness

Harvesting

Winter

Spring

Summer

Fall

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These are the diagram I produced for the competition entry. The diagrams on the left show preexisting movement and transportation

patterns in the North Grant, Chicago area. On the right, the diagrams show the different aspects of site. They are split into four different

categories: pedestrian movement, important areas, plant light and water on the site.

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Monroe Drive

E. Randolph Street

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Monroe Drive

E. Randolph StreetE R

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Sky Walk Bridge

Sky Walk EntrancesRotating Bridges

Pathways

Pathways

Monroe Drive

E. Randolph Street

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Green Open Space

Field Crop

Orchard

Crops and Open Space

Monroe Drive

E. Randolph Street

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Childrens Play Ground

Bird watching Platform

Art Box

Ice Skating Rink Vegetable Garden and Farmer's Market

Activities

Monroe Drive

E. Randolph Street

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Water

Wetland

Water Pathway

Fountain

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This site is located in kunming which is in the Yunnan province of China. Kunming is a city enriched with many different cultures and is the home of various minority groups of China. This city is also known for its unique climate and beautiful flowers.

This park celebrates these aspects of Kunming by allowing the people to express their cultures through the arts and providing a grand flower field for people to explore a plethora of flowers. I propose that this space not only be used year around for art displays but also for a festival that will express why Kunminig is a unique and exciting place in china.

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Kunming is the Largest Flower exporter in China

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0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160meters

north scale: 1cm = 35m

flower garden

courtyards

grass lawns

grass lawns

flower market

galleries

storage building

parking

parking

parking

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Site Plan

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trees --> tree grid

complete site --> grids compiled

flowers --> flowerbed grid

hardscape (courtyards and walkways)

buildings

grass feilds

site peices grid system

-->

-->

-->

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0 5 10 15 20 30 meters

parking lotswale

swale swale swaleparking lot parking lot grass

0 5 10 15 20 30 meters

flower bedgrasstree

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Every year active outdoor recreation generates $730 billion within the US economy and supports 6.5 million jobs across the country. Recreational trails are a part of this huge industry. Rails-to-trails is a program that gives people the framework and tools to turn active and inactive railroad corridors into recreational trails. In the US there are over 1,400 rail-trails. Rail-trails benefit communities by promoting natural beauty, health and recreation while helping the local economy and creating jobs. They also can do ecological work by preserving nature.

Tangipahoa Parish is located in Louisiana along the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. This parish has a long history of Italian heritage and strawberry farming. Bisecting this parish from north to south is a railroad. This railroad was the Illinois Central Railway and connected New Orleans, Louisiana with Chicago, Illinois. In 1999, the Canadian National

Railway acquired this railroad system and now uses it for transportation of goods. Also running north and south through Tangipahoa Parish is the Tangipahoa River. This river has recently been taken of the State Impaired water bodies list and is now open for recreation.

I propose creating a rail-with-trail along the Illinois Central Railroad between Amite and Hammond, Louisiana. This trail will be open to bikers, hikers, joggers and walkers, creating a path for alternate transportation and recreation. It will also connect the Tangipahoa River through off shooting trails. These trails will bring visitors to places for camping, and water recreation along the river. The purpose of this trail is to promote health and recreation while connecting the small towns with each other and the newly clean Tangipahoa River.

Tangipahoa Railtrail

In 1851, the state of Illinois charted the Illinois Central Railroad. Thirty-one years later in 1882 this railroad reached from Chicago, Illinois to New Orleans, Louisiana. Ever since that year the Illinois Central Railroad has been connecting people across this country

through commuter and freight trains. Tangipahoa Parish is located north of Lake Ponchatrain and south of the Mississippi River. The

Illinois Central Railroad splits this parish in half and has influenced town development along it.

Tangipahoa Parish Railtrail

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Tickfaw

Independence

Amite

Hammond

Ponchatou la

Tang ipahoa R iver Scen ic and Greenbe l t Tra i lRa i l t ra i l

Indust r ia l

Agr icu l tu re l

Commerc ia l

Inst i tu t iona l

Res ident ia l

Tree Canopy l

Key

0 5 10 miles

North

To the left: This this site is very diverse. Each small town has its own unique character with the space in between being different as well. The factors that make each space special are justified by the different types of land use and tree canopy. This map is

a compilation of all the land uses and tree canopy analysis done during this project.

To the right: There are many different groups of users for this trail. They come from the towns on the site and from far away. One of

the main groups is the Southeastern University faculty and students. Another major on site user group is the girl scouts that camp at

Camp Whispering Pines located near the proposed greenbelt trail.The other main groups are the residents of the small towns that the

railtrail runs through and the visitors of those towns. Many people come to these towns for their unique character and southern charm.

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Small Town Urban

Small Town Urban

Open Agriculture &Forestry Succession

Small Town Urban

Forestry Succession

Forestry Succession& Riverine nature

Forestry Succession

Small Town Urban

Small Town Urban

Open Agriculture

Open Agriculture

Greenbelt TrailScenic Highway TrailRailtrail

Major Site EntriesIntersections

Amite

Independence

Tickfaw

Hammond

Ponchatoula

0 5 10 miles

From all the analysis I came to the conclusion there are multiple different distinct types of areas. Small town urban are found

within the small towns. Open agriculture is found at the north end and middle area of the site while the rest of the trail area is

about forestry succession. To fully explore this part of Louisiana I have proposed to create connecting trails to the Tangipahoa river

using existing scenic highway corridors. I also propose a greenbelt trail along the Tangipahoa river for people to explore the riverine

landscape. This gives the trail various loops for one to explore and variety.

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Experiences along the Railtrail

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