THE ASHANTILLY CENTER DARIEN, Katherine Laco_LAND 4900 _Steffens_Spring 2014 CONTEXT // Regional The mission of this project is to establish the Ashantilly Center as a culturally sen- sitive and sustainably designed destination that promotes the history of the site and uniqueness of the region through a variety of outdoor activities.

Provide educational opportunities for visitors, community members, and students. • improve existing letterpress, vegetable garden, and tabby building class DARIEN • establish productive orchard -- involve Future Farmers of America student group • outdoor classroom with connection to garden, house, and letterpress • make the entrance and parking lot accessible for buses Increase connectivity of recreational activities with the site • make a connection to the SE Coastal Paddling Trail • viewing platform for birding • greater connection with Highlander bike trail • Low maintenance and sustainable design • establish cistern to provide irrigation water • collect rainwater from building roofs for vegetable and native gardens • provide areas for increased ecological habitat • use low-maintenance and sustainable materials for pathways, roads, furnishings, etc.. • • provide spaces that support large events • outdoor lighting for nighttime activities • create spaces that promote daily use and provide interest without an event •

PROGRAM // Goals 45 miles

Wormsloe Historic Site

Fort McAllister State Park

Fort Morris Historic Site

20 miles

Sapelo Island Research Reserve

DARIEN

ANALYSIS // Regional State Park Educational Context 3.2 miles to McIntosh Academy

ASHANTILLY SITE

ASHANTILLY SITE Black Island Todd Grant Elementary Downtown Darien

Fort King George Rhetts Island

Darien River McIntosh Middle Butler River

1.3 miles

Recreational Trails Schools main paddling trail highlander bike trail spur paddling trail ANALYSIS // Local water access sites EXISTING PROPOSED REMOVED highway 99 paddle trail roads ANALYSIS // Circulation bike trail high tide spur roads roads 1

7 2 6 3 5

1_main entrance 4 8 10 2_vegetable garden 9

11

3_parking

4_print press 5_storage 6_ashantilly center ANALYSIS // Existing Conditions 7_fountain

1 8_tabby station 9_cottage

7 2 6 3 5 4 8 10_marsh 10 9

11

10_bluff ANALYSIS // Existing Conditions 11_cemetery AGRICULTURE

EDUCATION INCOME COMMUNITY SOCIAL GENERATION BUILDING INTERACTION

NATURAL SYSTEMS

PHYSICAL RECREATION EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT HEALTH HEALTH

TABBY BUILDING

BUILDING LOCAL + EDUCATION INCOME SKILLS HISTORIC GENERATION

PRINT PRESS

CREATIVE EDUCATION INCOME STIMULATION GENERATION

ANALYSIS // Key Findings main main entrance entrance main secondary entrance parking entrance native plant native plant garden garden nature market/ market center nursery open parking lawn veg. garden veg. space parking garden historic local preservation store learning site orchard center parking open parking event space space demonstration maritime parking area tree area outdoor camping demonstration exercise classroom site classes kayak parking kayak stop stop shaded cabins/ garden marsh yurts hammocking garden picnicking private birding tent camping

secondary entrance Recreation secondary entrance Agriculture Education

PROPOSAL // Concepts 21 1

4

2

3 5

12 9 10 6 8 20 11 7 16

15 19 13 14 17 18

1 Entrance 2 Market 9 Dropoff + parking 16 Tabby demonstration area Productive peach Work/study cottage 3 orchard 10 Vegetable garden 17 + parking 4 Historic colonial 11 Flexible open space 18 Terracing and lookout dock native garden 22 5 West event lawn 12 Flexible bus parking 19 Shaded waterfront lawn Trail connection to 6 East event lawn 13 central site 20 Hammocking area Hiking trail/frisbee 7 Outdoor classroom 14 21 golf course PROPOSAL // Master Plan Print press with Trail connection to 8 Bathrooms + storage 15 outdoor courtyard 22 cemetery FLEXIBLE EVENT LAWN

RESTORED NORTH PATIO

TO NATIVE GARDEN

TABBY PAVERS

EXISTING COVERED PORCH MAIN HOUSE EXISTING STAIRS

STAIR LANDING

FLEXIBLE EVENT LAWN SOUTH PATIO

EXISTING COVERED PORCH SHADED SEATING

TO ORCHARD FORMAL AXIAL PATHWAY PROPOSAL // House Site Plan CODE QUANTITY BOTANICAL NAME COMMON NAME SIZE SPACING TREES MV 21 Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia FG 8'-12' 15' O.C. OV 7 Carpinus carolinana American Hornbeam FG 2-5" C 15' O.C. PB 11 Persea borbonia Swampbay 15G 20' O.C. PC 3 Prunus caroliniana Cherry Laurel 7G 10' O.C. RC 3 Rhus copallina Winged Sumac 3G 8' O.C. GRASSES MC 126 Muhlenbergia capillaris Muhly Grass 1G 2' O.C. SC 48 Schizachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem 1G 3' O.C. SB 27 Spartina bakeri Cordgrass 3G 4' O.C. SHRUBS BH 15 Baccharis halimifolia Saltbush 3G 5' O.C. SS 47 Solidago sempervirens Seaside Solidago 1G 3' O.C. GROUNDCOVER MR 99 Mitchella repens Partridge Berry 1Qt 18" O.C.

HOUSE // Planting Plan Swampbay Sweetbay Magnolia Cherry Laurel

EVERGREEN Persea borbonia Magnolia virginiana Prunus caroliniana

Winged Sumac Hornbeam

DECIDUOUS Rhus copallina Carpinus caroliniana

CANOPY

Cordgrass Little Bluestem Muhly Grass

GRASSES Spartina bakeri Schizachyrum Muhlenbergia capillaris scoparium

Saltbush Seaside Goldenrod Partridge Berry

SHRUBS Baccharis halimifolia Solidago sempervirens GROUNDCOVER Mitchella repens

UNDERSTORY HOUSE // Plant Palette HOUSE // West Event Space HOUSE // South Patio 1 tabby stair + patio detail 2 tabby patio + seatwall detail 2 scale: 1/2” = 1’ 2 scale: 1/2” = 1’

HOUSE // Construction Details FLEXIBLE WATER- FRONT LAWN

KAYAK LOADING ZONE

EXISTING TREES

FORMAL AXIAL PATHWAY

PRIVATE COTTAGE TERRACED SEATING SPACE

RAMP

METAL GRATED LOOKOUT DOCK

BENCHES

EXISTING TREES SALTMARSH

PROPOSAL // Waterfront Site Plan CODE QUANTITY BOTANICAL NAME COMMON NAME SIZE SPACING TREES MV 14 Magnolia virginiana Sweetbay Magnolia FG 8'-12' 15' O.C. GRASSES MC 32 Muhlenbergia capillaris Muhly Grass 1G 2' O.C. SC 32 Schizachyrium scoparium Little Bluestem 1G 3' O.C. SB 16 Spartina bakeri Cordgrass 3G 4' O.C. SHRUBS SS 44 Solidago sempervirens Seaside Goldenrod 1G 3' O.C.

WATERFRONT // Planting Plan Sweetbay Magnolia

EVERGREEN Magnolia virginiana

CANOPY

Seaside Goldenrod

SHRUBS Solidago sempervirens

Cordgrass Little Bluestem Muhly Grass

GRASSES Spartina bakeri Schizachyrum Muhlenbergia capillaris scoparium UNDERSTORY WATERFRONT // Plant Palette FORMAL PATH TERRACES AND RAMP LOOKOUT DOCK SALTMARSH

WATERFRONT // Terracing+Lookout Section WATERFRONT // Perspective from Marsh 1 pathway + terracing connection 2 terracing + lookout connection 2 scale: 1/2” = 1’ 2 scale: 1/2” = 1’

WATERFRONT // Construction Details • Begin interactive demonstrations for tabby construction • Implement day camps and classes for visitors • Use the products to construct proposed tabby site components PHASE 1_ TABBY

PHASE 7_ PHASE 2_ NEW DEVEL- BASE CON- OPMENT STRUCTION • Build permanent market structure • Construct pathways and patios to • the orchard and provide the site an • Repurpose storage building into ‘entrance building’ bathrooms + maintenance • Market/cafe will provide year long income by selling local produce, plants, and art from print press

PHASE 6_ PHASE 3_ GARDENS AGRI- CULTURE • Implement paths for garden • Involve nearby schools for class credit • Place plants with supplemental educational • With volunteers, plant orchard and begin markers developing vegetable garden • Use plant trimmings to sell at on-site market for • Sell produce at market located on-site in future income generation new-development space • Generate income for construction from market proceeds

PHASE 5_ PHASE 4_ REC- PRINT REATION PRESS • Clear trails for walking + frisbee golf • Provide classes that generate income for • Encourage use of new SECT paddle trail spur to site materials and construction • Implement waterfront terracing + lookout for • Develop adjacent outdoor courtyard space for increased productivity • Implement artist work/study to increase interest IMPLEMENTATION // Phasing+Funding Plan