sv STUDIO VANTAGE 1.0 - PARADOX University of Guelph SEDRD Landscape Architecture + Rural Planning + Capacity Development 2016 - 2017 par·a·dox /ˈperəˌdäks/ noun: paradox a situation, person, or thing that combines contradictory features or qualities. “the mingling of deciduous trees with elements of desert fora forms a fascinating ecological paradox” Studio Vantage from the University of Guelph School of Environmental Design and Rural Development is a student run journal that is published annually. This is the frst Issue and explores the idea of Paradox. In the context of design, landscape architecture & planning, Paradox is an idea that inspires designers to think outside the box, challenge norms and queston the way we think. “There are many paradox in nature, art and literature. Paradoxical thinking investgates boundaries between abstracton and representaton, fact and fcton, order and chaos. Throughout history, designers have been compelled to explore the contradictons of ambguity and truth (Art Magazine, 2010)” Studio Vantage provides multple vantage points to collaborate a multtude of professional disciplines and gives the opportunity for students to share their work, inspire and learn from one another. Issue 1 was created by Stef Baker and Emily Bowerman, BLA 17’ CONTENTS STUDIO VANTAGE 1.0 2016 - 2017 i-ii Introducton 1-14 Bachelor of Landscape Architecture 15-17 Master of Landscape Architecture 18 PhD Rural Studies 19-26 Faculty 27 Final Remarks Bathurst Quay, Toronto, ON 3 Reclamation Reclamation SelenaMasterplan- Liu, Design 4th Year Description BLA, Capstone Project The masterplan consists of a thoroughly thought-out circulation system connecting the main nodes on site: the entrance to the proposed civic centre and swimming pool, the To entrancereclaim to the Canada is to Malting take office historical back and naturesomething museum, and the L thatshaped connecting has beenwaterfront corridor. lost, or that was once yours. TheBased Bathurst on evaluating the Quay Bathurst Quay Reclamaton community Less than 3% project of Ontario’s native in tallgrass downtown prairies remain The existingToronto water edge connecting centres corridor isaround in disrepair secondary plan proposal and gaging the community because of horticultural use: in a sense, the prairies were and a large section is currently fenced off for safety and thewants taking and needs, thisback masterplan of proposes three a new civic things: sacrificed for theirThe fertile culturalgrounds, to feed theheritage growing structural of reasons. the In the actCanada of reclaiming nature, Maltng the new Maintaining and community centre to be built on site, incorporating population of Canada and fill up silos such as this one on water edge is proposed to be organically shaped and existing paths Silos,the newer the half of naturalthe historic silo building heritage and reusing the ofsite. Inthe a symbolic natve calling to this tall sacrifice, grass the masterplan prairies curved, with extruding that pockets once for encouraging thrived visitors to in existing structure of the heritage site. The older half of the proposal calls for the large space in the centre of the site stay look east, where a rare complete sight of the Toronto and artwork southernheritage silo is in Ontario,poor condition and isand unsuited thefor reuse waterfrontto be re-planted as a native public tallgrass prairie space ecosystem that Skyline canbelongs be admired. This to shape the is also people,reminiscent in a commercial sense. The proposal calls for this half of the where modern urban dwellers can explore. Tallgrass of the natural wave of water, and can remind visitors of notsilo to to be parkingcontinuously re-taken lots. by the processThe of paradoxnature, prairies can of grow the up to 2 metersdesign in height, isand inthe push how the nature both of the water’snature edge only and a few meters culture away, letting vines and plant material climb the sides, and for a for educating the public will help to call more attention to creating a stronger sense of place for Bathurst Quay. cannumber reclaim of grass berms the to lean againstsame the bottom space edges groups at currentlythe conservingsame and tme: saving the small One patches such way that this came to of the silo to create contact between pedestrians and the of prairie remaining. A paved stage and activity centre is proposed next to the site. These berms will lessen the difference in scale and sidewalk between the main buildings on site, to increase be allowis infor users the to interact symbolic with the intimidatingly plantng looming of tallgrass prairie on theconnectivity silo to thesite: Eireann Quaywhere road corridor, once generate us silos, making the site a more comfortable place to stay. interest to passer-by’s, and become a versatile space for humans took away the prairies for its fertle farmland,events orto activities get to take grain place on site. which was stored in the silo, now we give it back by educatng the public about the natural resource that was once lost. Coming full circle, the nature reclaims the land and we reclaim the heritage of the silos: this is the paradox that has been solved. Waterfront Elementary & Seconday School and Harbourfront Civic Centre New connecting pedestrian paths Driveway to underground parking Silo Community Recreation Centre: Adaptive Little Norway Park Aquatic & Fitness Reuse Eireann Quay Naturalized Tallgrass Prairie Stage/ Activity pad Silo Grassy berms Naturalized Reclamation Boardwalk Expansion & water edge stabilization Repurposed Museum/ Green Roof Grassy berms Billy Bishop Downtown Native plant garden Airport & Ferry Expansion of walkway to airport connection 1:150 0m 15m 30m 1 2 The Google Exploratory Stef Baker, 4th Year BLA, Capstone Project The Google Discovery Park and Discovery Gardens is the frst site to be redeveloped as part of Google’s future Corporate Campus located in the City of Sunnyvale. This project has been driven to set a prototype for future high-tech company campuses within Silicon Valley to create highly fexible outdoor spaces that contribute to worker creatvity, health and happiness while also improving the local ecological adaptability. The paradox of this design is that it provides seamlessly transitonal indoor and outdoor spaces for work and play by combining technology and people with the diverse natural processes surrounding the project site. GOOGLE DISCOVERY PARK 3D CONCEPT PRINTS The concept for this project has been inspired by the local drainage channel network’s fractal paterns and sponge-like qualites. The design of this project re-interprets these natural paterns in a contemporary way that follows the theme of exploraton and discovery. 3 WORK NESTING PODS Hidden throughout the Discovery Gardens are several work nestng pods. They almost look like tasty Easter eggs that provide Googlers with an outdoor ofce space away from the ofce building. These nests are meant for restng and incubatng ideas in a more laid back, private and open atmosphere. GOOGLE DISCOVERY GARDENS 4 From Midnight to Dawn Hillary Eppel, 4th Year BLA, Capstone Project Although the most important locaton in the city of Owen Sound, ON, the harbourfront has been lef neglected and undervalued for years. At the same tme, a litle known fact about the city’s history is its positon as the last stop along the historical route of the Underground Railroad. From Midnight to Dawn is a design concept for a linear park along Owen Sound’s eastern harbourfront which commemorates the Underground Railroad, creatng visibility for both the city’s most important locaton and this incredible piece of its cultural history. The design concept portrays a journey. Through a series of nodes and transitonal stretches, the linear park uses concepts of serial vision and sculptural symbolism to create this journey-like experience for park users. Nodes and transitons feature sculptural elements, design materials, and site furnishings which allude to diferent as- pects of the Underground Railroad, educatng and invoking emotons in users as they move through the park. The fnal node, the Northern Lights Plaza, is the destnaton of the journey as travelers’ routes to freedom along the Underground Railroad were northbound. Through colourful glass sculptural elements, the plaza represents the Aurora Borealis and the hope and joy of a difcult journey’s end. 5 6 The River Run Center Julia Crane, 4th Year BLA, Capstone Project MASTER PLAN 7 It has to be one of the most interestng buildings in Guelph. For those who are unaware, it’s the only remaining building with a machine-stamped façade le in Canada, and was originally used as a pharmacy. It’s been boarded up and neglected for a good chunk of tme, but is currently covered in sca olding and is all set to host new tenants. While I love that the Petrie building is being refurbished, I adored it as a spooky abandoned storefront in the heart of the city’s downtown. It looks like something straight out of a Scooby Doo set, which is why I had to throw in some tacky 80’s 3-D efects. RIVER RUN This is a small selecton from my capstone project, dealing with the redesign of the park outside the River Run Centre in downtown Guelph. The paving patern was inspired by the way that water moves around rocks in the rapids of the adjacent Speed River. It also was used as a means of addressing the steep grading on the site, as some of the paving strips step down gradually towards the river. The perspectve shows of the ambient night lightng, mainly in the inground strip lightng that follows the ow of the lines. The spot is supposed to be casual, unprogrammed and fun. 8 BIG BEAR CREEK Emily Bowerman, 4th Year BLA, Capstone Project City of London,ON Proposed Big Bear Creek Community Thames River Regional Context SITE SUMMARY TRANSITION TRANSMIT The approach taken to landscape architecture .5km recoversThe BearTraditonal Creek EcologicalUrban Reserve Knowledge is located and appliesin ait infood a modern plain.