Howe worksamples

R Charles Howe Land Arch, Harvard GSD Work Samples constitucion 4170, ciudad autonoma de buenos aires charleshowe@post.harvard.edu skype <charlie_howe>

Landscape Toolbox

Re-thinking Defense

Cardon del Riachuelo

LANDSCAPE TOOLBOX, ARQUITECTURA 911.

While landscaping appeared in nearly all of Arquitectura 911’s renderings, many of these projects were not at a scale to justify an outside landscape consultant; as a result, the firm had to invent small plantings for their architecture and urbanism projects, something they did not feel comfortable doing. Working as a landscape designer for two months with this firm, I developed a landscape toolkit to meet a variety of architectural environments with unique, structures, weight, or solar exposure. This information formed a booklet, Caja de Herramientas Paisajistas, that describes use of each component and lists common landscaping shortfalls in the region, along with, potential solutions.

I applied these components in a landscape design for the firm’s competition-winning entry for the Centro de Artes Escénicas (CAE), a theater complex at the University of Guadalajara. For this specific application I developed a grid based on the rectilinear patterning often found in Mexican modernist architecture, specifically the work of Mario Pani, with the addition of a parametric gradient within the grid to assist in pedestrian way-finding.

The Centro de Artes EscĂŠnicas theater complex with landscape components positioned in a grid, with gradients.

A publicly-accessible south terrace.

The front stairway providing a main entrance and outdoor gathering space before and after theater events.

The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;geographyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of the CAE architecture provided opportunity to use nearly all of the components of the kit.

Re-Thinking Defense.

The decommissioned South Weymouth Naval Airbase sits 30 miles south of Boston, bordered by the residential neighborhoods of Weymouth and Rockland.. Once slated for residential development, plans for this base have been stagnant since 2008 due to a drop in housing values. This 2009 studio asked us to propose alternative futures for this 1,400 acres of federally-owned land.

Our team of three identified transportation and water infrastructure as presently unstable in eastern Massachusetts. Surprisingly, this water-rich state is constructing desalination plants. Also, Bostonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Logan International Airport is functioning at capacity. Re-Thinking Defense: Air and Water relieves air traffic at Logan by repurposing the South Weymouth Naval Airbaseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exceptionally large runways to create a new regional airport. It then reconstructs the drainage system to ensure the long term viability of the untaped, high-yield, aquifer that lies beneath. Through a series of hydrologic interventions the project finds a source of drinking water in the most unlikely of places, a former military base, and provides a prototype for the development of the many untaped aquifers in eastern Massachusetts. Charles Howe, Li Sung & Yenlin Chengg, 2009, with instructor Pierre Belanger.

This historic timeline describes the development and decline of the 1400-acre base.

Communities outside the MWRA system look to local aquifers or new desalination plants for growth .

Untapped aquifers (top) and construction of the Tauton River desalination plant (bottom).

The reconstruction of the baseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hydrological landscape will occur in stages and target zones vital to the longevity of the Frenchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stream Aquifer.

The Frenchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Stream Aquifer sits above granite bedrock and is open to infiltration from the land above.

Retention and detention systems will help recharge the aquifer as surrounding communities benefit from the new water source.

The new hydrological landscape would contribute to growth of vernal pools within the base.

Cardon del RIACHUELO.

Cardón del Riachuelo se presenta como un proyecto integrado y conformado por diversos núcleos que funcionan de manera independiente.

Cada uno de ellos se materializa en forma de barrios con características diferenciales unos con otros funcionando en forma autónoma pero interconectados y relacionados en la totalidad del proyecto por un recorrido en forma de cinta que va cociendo los distintos puntos estratégicos de la urbanización. Conceptualmente los barrios funcionan como entidades independientes que poseen a su vez particularidades permitiendo así dotar de características diversas a los espacios generados y por ende también a sus habitantes; de esta manera las condiciones particulares de cada núcleo interactúan con las personas generándose por parte de ellas un sentido de pertenencia y apropiación del sitio que dota a la urbanización completa de una población diversa y que habita en armonía.

Charlie Howe, 2012, with Braslavsky Associados and Estudio B4FS.

Each distinct neighborhood is an integral part of the larger urban development.

Masterplan maximizes lots of 2000, 3000, and 4000 m2 while respecting coastline setbacks.

Masterplanning included numerous environmental studies to appropriately site the, golf course, polo fields, vineyards and marina.

Birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye perspective from above the bay, Rio de la Plata.

View from the golf and vineyards neighborhood, with associated activities and stats.

View of beach neighborhood, with associated activities.

R Charles Howe constitucion 4170, ciudad autonoma de buenos aires charleshowe@post.harvard.edu skype <charlie_howe>