Urban Site Planning Portfolio

Ashley Kay Harkins

Urban Site Design Portfolio

The Roots: How the Urban Residential Environment Impacts Human Health and Wellbeing

Awarded Most Sustainable Design at the 2018 GSU

Undergraduate Research Conference

Full Research Paper avalablie on request

Introduction

Today certain building practices and materials have turned our most precious spaces into places of disease. The phenomenon, sick building syndrome, has been well documented in the office environment. A review of current trends and literature suggests a similar phenomenon is occurring inside our homes. This is especially true for urban residents. The conditions in many apartment complexes may be contributing to chronic diseases. Inner city populations, particularly low income households, are more likely to line in housing conditions that contribute to disease.

Purpose

This project explores the ways in which we can revive the once pro-health aspects of the home environment. Home was man’s first shelter, where he sought refuge from the outside world. Research suggest that proper building practices and design features can increase the health and well-being of those inhabiting the space.

Process

An appropriate building site, 713 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, Atlanta, Ga 30310, was first selected. The demographics of zip code 30310 show that many live below poverty line, putting them at greater risk for chronic disease.

Examination into the history of urban residencies and a review of precedent case studies were conducted in order to better understand what design features elicit an increase in overall health. The successful design features found in a variety of case studies, as well as features used in current trends, were then implemented into the planning of site 713 Ralph David Abernathy.

Conclusion

Urban apartment complexes should be viewed as small communities, ones that act as sustaining resources for the community at large. This not only generates a meaning of place, but helps to create stronger bonds in loosely connected communities. We know that illness costs money, how much is the building industry really costing Atlanta. The only way to truly conclude this project is to renovate the site and preform a pre and post occupancy study on those that benefit from its resources.

Existing Site

713 Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard,Atlanta, Ga

30310

Area Code 30310 Statistics

Population of renters- 61%

Unemployment rate- 17%

Median Household Income- $23,757

Median Occupant per household-3

Individuals below poverty level: 35.3%

Site

West End Mall

West End Marta Station

The Metropolitan

Proposed Site Overview

Site Program Site Circulation

The general public and even residents are encouraged to enter the site through the community park and meander towards the shared courtyard space which acts as the heart, the connector for all aspects of the project: the greenhouse, the apartment complex, the commerical buildings and restruants.

The circulation takes insperation from plant structures. That which is public, exterior, shared, is considered the stems and leaves of the plant structure and that which is private, intimate and personal is thought of as the roots of the plant.

Community Park

Information

•A parking deck is located underground, enabling exist at street level the layout

•All plants are low pollen producers, decreasing matter.

•Findings suggest that viewing trees reduces stress. correlation between increased foliage and decreased markers.

•Non-residents and residents mingle in a central social connection.

Pathway leading to Courtyard

Community Park Layout

Community Park

enabling green space to decreasing fine particulate air stress. There is a decreased bio-stress central courtyard, promoting

Entrance Into Community Park

View into Courtyard

The Greenhouse, 1st Floor Market

Information

•The Greenhouse produces enough food to feed all residents year round, using a combonation of hydroponics, aquaponics and convintial organic methods. •Residents of the apartment complex may choose to work at the co-op market, greenhouse, or culinary classroom for a reduced rent.

Section B- thru greenhouse, market and hydroponics grow room

Greenhouse Level 1

The Greenhouse, 2nd Floor Learning Kitchen

Information

•The learning kitchen offers weekly educational classes to residents and the genral public. There is also a library filled with information books pretaining to cooking, gardening, nutrion science, and gernal helath and wellness. •By making culinary knowledge more easily accessible the learning kitchen aims to help fight mal nutrition and the chronic diseases that come with it.

Culinary Learning Kitchen

Greenhouse Level 2

Apartment Complex

Apartment Complex: Level 0

Apartment Complex: Level 1

Apartment Complex: Level 2

Apartment Green Space

View Walking Down Sky Walk

Birdseye View of Sky Walk and Resident Lawn

Section D- thru Studio apartment, One Bedroom Apartments and Showing Skywalk to apartment lawn

Apartments

Information

•Selected interior materials have been shown to decrease severe Asthma symptoms by 66% compared to standard materials.9

•Kitchens are equipped with hydroponic grow systems.

•Flooring is 98% bio-based, 78% recycled content, and hypoallergenic

•Cabinetry exceeds environmental stewardship program standards

•Counter-tops are100% recycled, non-toxic, and Green Guard Gold rated

Stair Planter Detail

2 Bedroom Kitchen Elevation

2 Bedroom Living Elevation

Apartments

View of 2 Bedroom Apartment form Living Room

View of Kitchen in 2 Bedroom

The Raw Collective

Project Brief

The Goal of this project was to redesign an existing lot consisting of an office building constructed of timber and two warehouses. The client had little in mind for the lot other than wanting it to be profitable and community friendly.

Statement

Multiple daylight portals allow light to pour into interior spaces throughout the site. Creative minds are meant to gather and share their raw talents, opinions, and ideas in these light filled spaces. Natural light is something that all individuals seek out and this site allows its occupants to use light to their advantage.

Inspiration

The Raw Collective: Box Car Bar

Box Car Bar

Two shipping containers are located on the lot and neither has been used in years. By converting them into an outdoor bar, office workers, artists, and others around the community have a place to come together to enjoy each others company. The Box Car Bar also doubles as a space for food trucks to serve patrons and features two boccie ball courts for people of all ages.

Box Car Bar

Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

Morning Shadow

Afternoon Shadow

Evening Shadow

The Raw Collective: Office and Cafe

Interior / Exterior

Locator Number: 279-C3

The first floor of the building features the cafe and part of the rent-able office area. The second floor is dedicated to rent-able office space.

Color Details

Color Family: Timeless Colors

RGB Value: R-53 | G-69 | B-78

Hexadecimal Value: #35454E

LRV: 6

Due to individual computer monitor limitations, colors seen here may not accurately reflect the selected color. To confirm your color choices, visit your neighborhood

Color Details

Sherwin-Williams store and

Office and Cafe Level 2

Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

Office and Cafe Section

Scale: 1/8” = 1’-0”

monitor limitations, colors seen here may not accurately reflect the selected color. To confirm your color choices,

First Floor Materials Second Floor Materials

The Raw Collective: Office and Cafe

The Raw Collective: Artist Studio’s and Gallery

There are a growing number of artists in the area, so by transforming one of the warehouses into a gallery with studio spaces, this will encourage community growth and provide an opportunity for profit.

Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

Artist Studio’s and Gallery Level 1

Artist Studio’s and Gallery Section

Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

The Raw Collective: Artist Studio’s and Gallery

Gallery Perspective

The Raw Collective: Artist Lofts

By creating a saw tooth ceiling over the artist lofts, light fills each space allowing artist to work uninhibited

Artist Lofts Section

Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

Artist Lofts Level 2 Plan

Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

Artist Lofts Level 1 Plan

Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

Artist Lofts Kitchen Perspective

The Raw Collective: Artist Lofts

Artist Lofts Studio Perspective

Project Midway

Project Brief

This project is to meant to stand midway between today’s traditional styles of living and permaculture ideals. Striving to reach the latter but knowing that midway is more attainable.

The site is adjacent to Dear Born Nature Preserve and Park making organic and ecologically responsible choices of the utmost priority. The objective of this project was to change the flow of commerce and resources. Instead of having to rely on carrying outside resources up the slope of the site, by installing edible, medicinal and native species further up the slope of the site, resources easily flow down hill. The overall layout takes inspiration from cottage gardens and is a space for exploring, experimentation and discovery.

Site

Dearborn Nature perserve aka True Zone 5

Site

936ft

Topographic Map of Site Surroundings

Topographic Map of Site

975ft

Project Midway: Base Map

Currently the site is coverd in invasive plant species and dappled with the plants of yesteryears garden like negalted hydranya’s, sunscorched Hostas and leggy azaleas. The slope is also quite steep with an elevation rise of 40 feet from the bottom of the driveway to the top of the site.

Grill area that is under utilized and quite damp

Mulched area intended for food forest.

Shed used for house woodworking tools and gardening tools

Swaled garden beds.

Front hill side is mainly ivy, which helps with erosion but doesn’t offer habitat to beneficial insects

The back porch is used nearly nightly and for gatherings

This area of the yard was dug up to replace the sewer pipe, the soil has suffered

The back half of the yard is largely untouched

Fire pit used in the winter and fall

Wedding arch installed in January 2021

This area has been graded and a Gabion wall added. Nitrogen fixing and aerating crops have sown to improve the hard clay soil.

Cold Compost Pile.

Project Midway: Investigative Diagrams

The sectors of the site are fairly non negotiable but manageable. The site receives plenty of water, and very little wind, making for a humid environment. We are unsure about pesticide useage from one of the new neighbors, it was noted that there was a significantly lower mosquito population than last year.

There is a huge run-off problem, mulch has been spread throughout parts of the yard but this still not enough to combat the runoff that flows directly into shoal creek, which runs through the Dearborn park preserve.

Zone 1 - Where 80% of our time is spent. This is where rest, relaxation, and nourishment happen

Zone 2 - This area is visitied daily and it is where the main harvest will come from

Zone 3- This area somewhat cares for it self, there is a mix of invasive & native plant species

Zone 4 - this area is practically wild but severed from the surrounding forest by the fence and surroundings neighbors fences

Zone 5- the site is located at the edge of a forest or rather a nature preserve, it is a full blown ecosystem nestled within the city suburbs. Complete with coyotes, raccoons, tons of native and migratory birds, and even the occasional river otter and minx. It is of the utmost importance to support this ecosystem

Tge site is largely considered a dappled sun plot as it is situated in a larger forest. Due to the amount of shade cover, we will have to be very selective about what plants occupy the full sun areas. Being in the southeast, humidity and the plant diseases that come with it is also a big concern but this can also be used to our advantage when it comes to seed starting in the spring.

Project Midway

In the Final Design of the site, plenty of edible, medicinal, native and ornamental plants will be added. A new composting and waste systems will be incorporated, as well as new structures that will aid in overall flow of the site. The site will an example for others in the neighborhood as well as help educate the community that an environmentally friendly space can still be a beautiful space.

Diseased Gumball tree & invasive Japense Privet removed

Bokashi Composting used to compost meats, oils and bones

& Ornamental Garden

Lower Food Forest

Rain Barrels Mounted to Gutters, to be used for watering the garden

Hillside planted with perennial ornamental and medicinal plants

Upper Food Forest

Garden Office with rain barrel and pond used to water

Upper Food Forest

Pond fed via rain barrel with tilapia, water is used to fertilize Upper Food Forest

Hillside planted with perennial ornamental and medicinal plants

Felt and plastic pots used on the driveway to capture the sunniest spot on the site

Annual Pollinator and cut flower “row”

Shade garden with native ornamentals and space for a hammock

Winter interest natives and ornamentals

Dog Waste Compost “black hole” Method.

Chicken Coop and Compost pile

Native

Project Midway

Front Yard Planting List

Solomon Seal

Winter Green used as Ground Cover

Azalea Varieties

Oak-leaf Hydrangea

Camellia Bush

Bulb Flowers

May-night Sage

Ladies Mantle

Blueberry Bushes

Hosta Varieties

Butterfly Milkweed

Hydrangea

Gold Dust Aucuba & Ferns

Black Eyed Susan Hosta Varieties

Hardy Geranium Echinacea

Cat Mint

Lambs Ear

Annual Cut Flowers New Fencing

Dwarf Peach and Pear Trees Honey Bee Pasture

Project Midway

Japanese Plum Shed

Grill Area & Rain Barrels

Creeping Jasmine

Space for annual cut

Hosta Varieties

Black eyed Susan’s

Patio with Pergola

Blue False Indigo

Foxglove

Astilbe Space for annual cut flowers

Japanese Gold Dust Acuba

Christmas Fern

Fire Loropetalum

Japanese Pieris

Gardina

American Holly Passion Flower Vine

Creeping Jenny- Ground Cover

Annual Cut Flower Row

Oak Leaf Hydrangea

Crossvine

Project Midway

Azaleas, Hostas , Ferns

Witch Hazel

Paw Paw Trees

Rosemary, Lavender, Echinacea, Black Eyed Susan’s, Arjuga, Creeping Phlox

Crossvine & Passion fruit over wedding arch

Mulberry Tree- Underplanted with Comfrey, Calendula & Valerian Blackberry Vine

Blueberry & Elderberry

Pomegranate Tree- Underplanted with St. Johns Wort

Swaled Garden Beds

Room for Annual edible plants

Asparagus & Strawberry

Medicinal Plants- Bergamot, Hyssop, Chamomile, Evening Primrose, Mullein

Dahlias, Mugwort, Globe Thistle

Echinacea, Creeping Phlox, Coreopsis, Blanket Flower, Rosemary, Lavender

Fig Tree

Contorted Filbert

Project Midway

Fish Pond and Water Collection system connected to a n ephemral creek that is used to water the food forest below

Semi-pre built shed Kit by SummerWood. to be used as a work from home office space.

Coral Bell, Wood Anemone, Ferns, Toad lily, Hellabora, Epimedium, Astilbes

Location for Shade Hammock

Chicken Coop & Compost Pile

Envisioning Baroque Rome: Quirinale Palace

Project Brief

Envisioning Baroque Rome is and ongoing digital humanities project that aims to give the public an online, 3D, walkable reconstruction of rome ca. 1676. I have aided in this project by recreating Giovanni Battista Falda’s Quirinale Palace and I intended to continue aiding in this project by recreating more of Falda’s buildings in the future.

To view the Envisioning Baroque Rome Portal Please visit-https://www.baroquerome.org/

Envisioning Baroque Rome: Quirinale Palace

Courtyard Perspective

Bell Tower Elevation

Courtyard Elevation

Perspective from the Courtyard Stairs

Historical Reconstructions

Project Brief

Students were asked to recreate the plans of historical architecture using the program AutoCAD. I was assigned the Baroque work, Johann Balthasar Neumann. Scale is not been included in order to best display drawings

Johann Balthasar Neumann Residenz in Würzburg Section at Imperial Hall

Johann Balthasar Neumann Residenz in Würzburg Section at Grand Staircase

Johann Balthasar Neumann Residenz in Würzburg Plan

Historical Reconstructions

Pilgrimage Church of Vierzehnheiligen Plan

Johann Balthasar

Pilgrimage Church of Vierzehnheiligen Section

Johann Balthasar Neumann

Neumann

Ashley Kay Harkins

PHONE: 678-993-7397

EMAIL: ashley.k.harkins@gmail.com