Lizzie Falkenstein's Architecture Portfolio

Project: Rockwood Boulevard Site: Burnside + SE Stark: Gresham, OR Studio: Fall 2009 This studio focused on community place making in the unique setting of Rockwood, Oregon. The six-acre parcel of land sits on the outskirts of Portland and on the edge of Gresham. Unclaimed by either city, this site lacks its own identity but has the potential to be a town center for a community in need. Much of the surrounding neighborhood consists of residents of Latino and Russian decent as well as people that have been pushed out of Portland due the rising housing prices. The majority of these community members are hard working and desire a neighborhood center that they identify with and be proud of.

We were challenged to create our own program combining social and community goals to transform an isolated and distressed site into a vibrant neighborhood. At the heart of the six-acre site is Rockwood Boulevard, a street lined with local businesses creating an atmosphere bursting with activity and unique flavor. The street is small in scale with numerous opportunities for shop owners to customize their storefront, creating a sense of ownership. The design mixes inspirations from other successful community spaces with elements that are uniquely Rockwood to create a meaningful urban center. Rockwood Boulevard facilitates a growing sense of pride among the residents in something as simple as a place to call their own.

Rockwood Boulevard is the spark that will initiate the transformation of this area into a community and economic driver. The flavorful and varied architectural aesthetic is paired with environmentally sustainable features creating a Rockwood regional style. The site design facilitates the many functions necessitated by the community and creates a space for interaction between visitors and community members alike.