Designing Action Competition Report

DESIGNING ACTION

Visionary designs for Nashville’s East Bank

Contents

04 Preface 06 About the NCDC PROJECT OVERVIEW 08 Timeline 10 The Project NASHVILLE’S EAST BANK 13 History 14 The Site 16 Site Context 17 Site Features

TOP 20 ENTRANTS 25 Response from around the World 26 Top 3 32 Finalists 46 Alternative Visions THE EXHIBIT 50 Designing the Exhibit 52 Building the Exhibit 54 Opening Day Exhibit, Unveiling, & Awards 58 Acknowledgements

THE COMPETITION 20 About the Competition 20 Requirements 21 Selection Criteria 22 Competition Jury

Preface

Aptly stated on the National Endowment for the Arts website, “Design surrounds us and has a direct impact on the quality of our lives. Furthermore, designers fuel innovation by employing creative thinking to solve problems, drive economic development, and address social issues.” The Designing Action competition embraced this understanding, as entrants were challenged with finding elegant solutions to a series of complex variables.

The city of Nashville experienced a dramatic wake-up call in May 2010, when an intense rain converted culverts into ranging rivers and the downtown riverfront into a virtual delta. But the flood also brought together the Nashville community, and was a striking reminder of our connection and relationship to the Cumberland River. This event opened a new perspective for the city and its riverfront, for entertaining new uses and new solutions.

Thus, in a search for best possible practices the Nashville Civic Design Center opened the competition to the world, and we were

04 DESIGNING ACTIONs

not disappointed. Exquisite entries were submitted from over thirty countries spread across six continents. Every single entry contained truly inspiring ideas and images – the judges were delighted with the spectrum of visionary ideas. And confirming about the quality of talent in Nashville, four of the finalist teams were comprised of or included those who call us home.

As you look through this document, I hope you will focus on the nuances that the design teams brought to their projects.

The proposed ideas are smart, fun, lyrical, innovative, inclusive and sustainable – a lot like the City of Nashville itself.

JULIA FRY LANDSTREET Executive Director

About the Nashville Civic Design Center

About the National Endowment of the Arts

The Nashville Civic Design Center “NCDC� is an independent nonprofit organization that has worked since 2000 to improve the quality of life for Nashvillians through visionary thinking, partnerships that encourage high quality design, and facilitating public dialogue on key issues that impact how we live, work, and play.

The National Endowment for the Arts was established by Congress in 1965 as an independent agency of the federal government. To date, the NEA has awarded more than $4 billion to support artistic excellence, creativity, and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA extends its work through partnerships with state agencies, local leaders, many other federal agencies, and the philanthropic sector.

The NCDC is not a regulatory institution; rather it advocates and supports the highest standards for contemporary community design. The NCDC is known and respected for its ability to bring many diverse parties together and for facilitating proactive discussion to promote positive change.

06 DESIGNING ACTION

PROJECT OVERVIEW “ Nashville’s ambition to become the

“Healthiest City in the South”

more importantly inspiring ideas that can lead to many

got a step closer to the vision

constructive conversations about

Designing Action Ideas Competition. The river that runs through it and its surroundings,

how citizens want to live in the

the plan for the city and its well

Nashville teaches other southern cities. More importantly, it will be exhilarating for the folks in Nashville to be part of the process. I’m a bit envious! ” SUSAN S. SZENASY

with the

placed buildings, together, play a role in creating a place where people of all ages can walk, bike, run, play, or just bask in the sunlight soaking up health giving

Ds and filling their lungs The competition put forth a selection of do-able, but vitamin

with fresh air.

21st

century.

I will be watching

from afar and will take note of the lessons

Editor in Chief, Metropolis Magazine

Project Timeline

2007 CDC ranks TN #49 as an active state.

2010 CDC ranks TN 4th most obese state Devastating flood throughout entire city 2011 Nashville named #16 sport city in the US. NCDC idea for alternative sports + brownfield site transformation • March NEA Grant application for Designing Action • October Shaping Healthy Communities project launches • November NEA “Art Works” grant awarded for Designing Action 2012 Promotion of Designing Action, Design + print of poster sent to all US Architecture + Urban Design Schools.

Design of competition website • March-May Graphics, Sponsorships • May Competition website goes live • June Competition registration begins • June-Sept Outdoor exhibit design • August 13th Competition Deadline • August 20-27 Jury round 1

08 DESIGNING ACTION

• August 29 Final selection of winners and finalists • September 16 Finalists announced, featured in CityPaper magazine • September 19 Private reception for finalists, jurors & sponsors • September 20 Winners announced, featured in the Nashville Scene with cover story, “Field of Dreams” by Christine Kreyling • September 20 - October 15 Opening outdoor exhibit & public reception • October 15 Announcement of People’s Choice Award • December Designing Action booklet design 2013 Competition featured in PAISEA landscape architecture magazine March issue: Waterscapes • April Designing Action publication released

Project Distribution

DESIGNING

CHECK IT OUT AND REGISTER AT

designing-action.org

ACTION

This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Art Works.

NASHVILLE

An international design competition.

75 ACRES DOWNTOWN connectivity

floodplain

brownfield GATEWAY PROXIMIT Y

RELEVANT

ADAPTIVE REUSE

BIKEWAY

river HIGH PROFILE

INFRASTRUCTURE

Designing Action, a design competition to explore new concepts for imagining development focused on an active lifestyle and alternative sports in Nashville, sponsored by the Nashville Civic Design Center.

THINK BIG DESIGN BOLD CREATE TRANSFORMATION SUBMIT TODAY

think

ACTIVE

design

BIG

FUTURE VISION CHANGE

SPORTS MIXED USE CONNECTIVITY

ADAPTIVE REUSE

ACCESS

DEVELOPMENT

create

IMPACT

OPPORTUNITY

GATEWAY

LIVEABILITY

ALTERNATIVES

DIVERSITY VITALITY

COMPETITION BEGINS JUNE 1

submit

AWARDS

5000 SECOND PLACE $2500 THIRD PLACE $1000 PEOPLE’S CHOICE $500 FIRST PLACE $

SCHEDULE

SUBMISSION DEADLINE

AUGUST 13TH

JURY

AUGUST 2012

EXHIBITION OF FINALISTS

OCTOBER 2012

SUBMIT YOUR DESIGN TODAY designing-action.org/register

The NCDC set a goal to capture “BIG ideas” from around the world to elevate the conversation about this topic and site. To achieve a broad spectrum of submissions, the NCDC explored various avenues to announce Designing Action. Each university in the US with an architecture, landscape architecture or urban design program received a physical promotional poster to display in student common spaces. As this competition was open to both students and professionals, we reached out to a dozen online architectural and urban design resources to include Designing Action on up-to-date lists of open competitions that cater to audiences around the globe. The Designing Action website served as an additional promotional tool and resource to ease entrant usability. Covering 6 continents, the diverse cross-section of entrants confirmed a successful outreach to the US and international community.

09

The Project

Designing Action is an IDEAS competition to envision the many ways that infrastructure promoting active, healthy-living could accomplish Nashville’s desire to become the “Healthiest City in the Southeast.” The Designing Action seeks to encourage the reimagining of an industrial site along Downtown Nashville’s Cumberland River, with emphasis on creating active spaces for healthy citizens; highlighting alternative sports and related activities.

DESIGN SPORTS Sports and athletic events are big business and good for economic stablitiy. Nashville ranks in the top 20 for best sports cities in the U.S. Nashville hosts a myriad of professional, amateur, college, and high school tournaments and events: basketball, figure skating, gymnastics to name a few. What could our future hold?

“... BIG IDEAS CAN INSPIRE BIG CHANGE, AND NASHVILLE IS A CITY THAT ALWAYS LOVES TO THINK BIG! ” THINK CHANGE Design can have a powerful impact on creating built environments that promote healthy living. Nashville leaders are aggressively pursuing alternative ideas towards helping create a healthier city. A primary goal of the competition is to generate ideas for opportunites that promote active lifestyles.

10 DESIGNING ACTION

“... THE TYPICAL NASHVILLIAN IS INCREASINGLY DIVERSE; OVER 80 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, AND MORE THAN 10% OF RESIDENTS SPEAK A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH AT HOME. GROWTH PREDICTIONS FOR DAVIDSON COUNTY PREDICT THE AREA TO DOUBLE IN POPULATION BY 2035.”

DESIGN CONNECTIVITY While Nashville may have numerous obstacles to overcome in becoming a healthier city, our government and many other organizations continue to initiate progressive solutions for issues related to the built environment.

Sustainability and health impacts from new development are important driving factors for future design considerations.

DESIGNING

ACTION

CREATE ALTERNATIVES The East Bank of the Cumberland River was chosen as the site for this IDEAS competition because of its high profile location — immediately accessible and in full view of Downtown, a greenway through the site connects from Downtown to Shelby Park, one of the city’s premier public parks, and it is adjacent to the city’s newest park — Cumberland Park. The site has amazing access to regional transportation via: three major interstates, a commuter train line, close proximity to Downtown’s commuter bus service, and the Music City Bikeway, a 26 Mile bicycle commuter path through Davidson County. Most importantly, the site serves as a major gateway to Downtown, and for many people, it is the first glimpse they see of Nashville upon arriving in the city.

NASHVILLE LEFT: Aerial View of Site RIGHT: Designing Action Logo

11

NASHVILLE’S EAST BANK “ These are exactly the types of urban opportunities that are being explored in other parts of the world, that require a great deal of courage and forward-thinking from the populace that will enjoy it.

Such a long-term commitment requires the

design to perform in multiple ways to provide value throughout the development process.

This type U.S. cities

and scale of project are exactly what

need to create identity and meet the needs of their future citizens.

”

DESIGNING ACTION ENTRANTator,

Development

History

In 2010, Nashville experienced one of the worst floods in its history. In a 36 hour period, over 13 inches of rain fell in the county, causing over $2.5 billion in damages.

Conversations since the flood have focused on determning more sustainable ways the city can approach development to help prevent future disasters. Additionally, perceptions of the East Bank site’s future are being reconsidered, as two thirds of the site’s 75 acres lie within the 100 year floodplain.

TOP: 1934 Aerial View of Site BOTTOM: Site during 2010 Flood Woody Hatchett - woodfinx.net

13

The Site

Given that 25+ acres must be preserved for floodplain and stormwater purposes by any proposed development, how can we maximize the greatest use for this site?

Nashville is home to an expansive, growing public parks and greenway network, primarily comprised of open, passive spaces. With this IDEAS competition we strive to promote active, funtional uses integrated with new development. What are we missing from our current infrastructure that would transform the limitations of this site into its strengths activating the riverfront and anticipating the future of athletics and competitive sports?

The site has many challenges that confront its redevelopment. It is a brownfield site disconnected from the neighborhoods of East Nashville by an elevated interstate.

Almost the entire site was flooded; it is crucial that any proposal should consider these factors in the design.

TOP LEFT: Street Level View of Site TOP RIGHT: Aerial View of Site BOTTOM: Panoramic View of Site

14 DESIGNING ACTION

Numerous studies conducted by both the city and private groups over the past decade have reimagined the East Bank as a mixeduse neighborhood, that could better serve the city’s interest to incorporate an active 24 hour riverfront, and also helps reconnect the neighborhoods of East Nashville to Downtown. The hope is that this competition will generate ideas to help inform the future plans for the site and future healthy and active lifestyles.

15

Site Conext

CUMBERLAND RIVER: NAVIGABLE RIVER WITH ACTIVE BARGE TRAFFIC BICENTENNIAL MALL: DOWNTOWN GREENWAY EAST NASHVILLE: NEIGHBORHOOD MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM: EVENT SPACE LP FIELD: HOME TO THE NFL TENNESSEE TITANS DESIGNING ACTION SITE: 75 ACRES OF BROWNFIELD CUMBERLAND PARK: WEST BANK, PHASE 2 CUMBERLAND PARK: EAST BANK, PHASE 1 KOREAN VETERANS BLVD: SERVES AS PRIMARY GATEWAY INTO DOWNTOWN NASHVILLE DOWNTOWN CORE BRIDGESTONE ARENA: HOME OF THE NHL NASHVILLE PREDATORS ROLLING MILL HILL: NEW MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT MUSIC CITY CENTER: 1.2 MILLION SQ. FT. CONVENTION CENTER THE GULCH: FIRST LEED CERTIFIED NEIGHBORHOOD IN THE SOUTH

16 DESIGNING ACTION

Site Features

OVERPASS COULD BE REDESIGNED TO PROVIDE MORE DEVELOPMENT LP FIELD HOME OF NFL TENNESSEE TITANS MDHA PUBLIC HOUSING RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES INTERSTATE 24 BUILT IN 1961 AVERAGE ANNUAL DAILY TRAFFIC COUNT: 125,000 + TRIPS SHELBY STREET PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE PHASE 1 NASHVILLE CUMBERLAND PARK I-24 OVERPASS INCLUDES 80 CONCRETE SUPPORT COLUMNS + 40’ CLEARANCE MUSIC CITY BIKEWAY CONNECTS DOWNTOWN TO SHELBY BOTTOMS FIVE EXISTING FUEL SILOS 50 ACRES OF SITE IN FLOODPLAIN 3,000 FEET OF CUMBERLAND FRONTAGE DOWNTOWN GREENWAY ROLLING MILL HILL

17

w

18 DESIGNING ACTION

w

THE DESIGNING ACTION COMPETITION ” The competition was a fantastic call for

ideas

for a difficult but typical industrial site so close to a downtown.

We enjoyed our work on it and Nashville Civic Design Center and its ambitious goals.” it has been nice learning about the

DESIGNING ACTION ENTRANT

About the Competition

Requirements

Extensive briefing materials were assembled for competition entrants describing the physical qualities of the site. The Competition Brief booklet included the following:

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS All submissions must be submitted digitally through the competition website or email.

Each entrant will recieve a unique, anonymous entry number to use for the submission process. Entrants will be required to submit the following:

• Information on the Purpose and Procedures of the Competition • Site Description and Location • History • Schedule • Registration/Submission Guidelines • Design Problems to Address • Alternative Sports Options • Awards WHO CAN ENTER Designing Action IDEAS competition is open to all interested entrants. Individuals, teams, professionals, students, and artists from around the world are encouraged to submit their visions and designs. Entrants may submit multiple designs, but must obtain a unique ID number for each submission.

20 DESIGNING ACTION

1 2 3 4 5

Site Plan Detailed Plan Proposal Representative Section Perspective Additional Perspective

ALTERNATIVE SPORTS SUGGESTIONS Badminton, Beach Volleyball, Bocce, BMX, Canoeing, Climbing, Repelling, Cricket, Croquet, Cycling, Field Hockey, In-Line Skating, Kayaking, Lacrosse, Lawn Bowling, Long Boarding, Mountain Biking, Oversized Chess, Parkour/Freerunning, Quidditch, Rowing, Rugby, Senior-Friendly Athletics, Skate Boarding, Trials Biking, Frisbee, Zip Line

Selection Criteria

The best public spaces allow you to be yourself — an independent human being with a unique vision of the world - while also communicating the message that you are a valued and important member of the larger community. To achieve this goal, designers and planners rely on criteria to evaluate whether a particular public space will be successful.

The Designing Action competition jury used the critera desicribed here in their review of the competion entries.

BEAUTY giving pleasure to the senses NATURAL SYSTEMS integrating natural phenomenon and systems PROGRAM creating new services, opportunities, or activities for visitors DIVERSITY increasing the East Bank’s capacity to serve a range of users CONTEXTUALITY strengthening the East Bank’s connection to its cultural, historical, or physical context

DOES THIS IMPROVE THE EAST BANK’S: CIRCULATION enabling all users to move safely and easily through and within space

ORIGINALITY/CREATIVITY bringing something new or innovative.

CONNECTIVITY providing links and easy passage to surrounding neighborhoods, and from one area to another

21

Competition Jury

MEL CHIN Mel Chin was born in Houston, Texas in 1951.

Chin’s art is both analytical and poetic. He is known for the broad range of approaches in his art, including works that require multi-disciplinary, collaborative teamwork and works that conjoin cross-cultural aesthetics with complex ideas.

Chin also insinuates art into unlikely places, including destroyed homes, toxic landfills, and even popular television, investigating how art can provoke greater social awareness and responsibility.

CHRISTINE KREYLING Christine Kreyling is a freelance writer and the architecture and urban planning critic for the Nashville Scene. Her articles for the Scene have received three awards from the American Planning Association for best writing in the nation. She is a contributing writer to Architectural Record, Competition, Nashville City Paper, NFocus, Planning and Preservation. Kreyling is a citizen activist as well as a journalist. She was one of the found-

22 DESIGNING ACTION

ers of the Nashville Urban Design Forum and the Nashville Civic Design Center. Kreyling is the former chief curator of the Cheekwood Museum of Art and has an M.A. in art and architectural history from Vanderbilt University.

TODD ROGERS Todd Rogers, an Olympic Gold Medalist and Professional Beach Volleyball Athlete, began his career teamed with Dax Holdren, winning eight titles in seven seasons. He holds a degree in Religious Studies and a minor in coaching from UCSB, where he was the assistant men’s volleyball coach for five years.

ANNE DAVIS Anne Davis is the Managing Attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center. Working in all three branches of government and with more than 100 partner groups, this nonprofit organization shapes, implements, and enforces the laws and policies that determine the quality of the air you breathe, the water you drink, and the landscapes and communities you love.

PATRICK PIUMA Patrick Piuma is the Director of the Urban Design Studio and the Associate Director of the City Solutions Center at the University of Louisville. Patrick has a Master of Urban Planning degree from the University of Louisville. His main concentration is on issues of sustainability and how the design of the built environment can improve the quality of life for its inhabitants. Before transitioning to the field of urban planning and design, Patrick worked as a multimedia, web and graphic designer for a local ad agency for the better part of seven years.

SUSAN SZENASY Susan S. Szenasy is Editor in Chief of METROPOLIS, the award-winning New York City based magazine of architecture and design. Since 1986 she has lead the magazine through decades of landmark design journalism, achieving domestic and international recognition. She is internationally recognized as an authority on sustainability and design.

CYRIL STEWART Cyril Stewart is the Director of Facility Planning at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and was elected to the American Institute of Architects National Board of Directors.

Stewart came to Vanderbilt in 1983 and has led the medical campus through tremendous growth. His major projects include The Vanderbilt Clinic, Eskind Biomedical Library and Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks.

23

TOP 20 ENTRANTS “ Designing Action tackles many environmental, economic and

social pressures facing today’s

American contemporary city.

Beyond the notion of simply generating ideas, the competition provides a productive platform for citizens and civic leaders to have conversations on how future generations might benefit from an improved quality of life in

Nashville. It was truly

a humbling

experience to take partake in such an initiative…the

Nashville

City of

truly has an incredible

opportunity ahead of them!

MICHAEL ALBERT AND VICTOR PEREZ AMADO

Winners

”

ator, Development

Response from Around the World

Participants: 133 teams, professional + student 300 individuals 29 countries 6 continents 90 cities worldwide 27 US States Total Hours Spent: Approximately 17,000 hours (that’s about 2 years)

25

1st Place Winner theBEND

MICHAEL ALBERT & VICTOR PEREZ AMADO CAMBRIDGE, MASS While celebrating the site’s industrial heritage, theBEND reinvents the once-brownfield and redefines Nashville living in a mixed-use urban setting. Inspired by patterns synonymous with the Cumberland River, an iconic pedestrian promenade weaves throughout the district, immersing individuals in an active-based, recreational experience while addressing flood issues.

26 DESIGNING ACTION

2nd Place Winner The Yard

JAMES MOORE, KAREESMA ALI & JEFFREY B. GOODMAN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA The Yard creates spaces for healing, growth, and change by embracing a multifaceted view of health that extends beyond the physical body to the mind, city, and landscape.

By combining physical, natural, and programmatic systems, The Yard nurtures the well-being of Nashville. From waterways, forests, and gardens to active sports fields to community-based classes and art, different approaches to healthy converge in The Yard.

28 DESIGNING ACTION

3rd Place Winner Floodplan

PATRICK HEYDA, JENNIFER MICHALISZYN & SHEN NI ST. LOUIS, MO Floodplan is the intentional flooding of the site to bring water-friendly recreation areas to an undeserved area and community. At least 75% of the floodplain is maintained to embrace the water ‘event’ as a permanent condition that supports recreation and both active and alternative sports for all Nashville citizens.

30 DESIGNING ACTION

Eco-Active

MIKE BARKER GUELF, ON, CANADA Eco-Active is a catalyst for change through a multi-layered strategy of sports facilities, spaces for open-ended recreation, along with hybrid spaces of infrastructure and ecology. This site becomes a social condenser, which aims to break down perceived ‘ecological condenser’ as the designed, synthesized landscape assists in providing habitat, protecting the site against flooding and prividing a healthier environment for the city of Nashville.

32 DESIGNING ACTION

Restore Park

ANN ROTHOVE, JAKE VACEK, REID MOSMAN, JORDAN SNITTJER & MILAGROS ZINGONI FOUNTAIN HILLS, AZ Restore Park was developed with the concept of improving conditions for both the site and its users. The proposal for the park is organized in a sequence of terraces to control the changes in the river level, avoid erosion in the river bank and organize the different programs of the site: sports, health, community spaces, cultural events, services, restaurants, and an artificial lake for many different activites.

33

Sense of Place

NGUYEN CAM VAN HANOI, VIETNAM The community can gather and participate in many active sports, art, or leisure. Activities while individuals can find their own ‘zen’ space that they need for their reflection, their meditation, their recall of the past. Daily and weekly activites together with occasional events are all arranged on the site to ensure a lively urbanscape and exciting atmosphere for all those who visit public spaces.

32 DESIGNING ACTION 34

Reprise

MEGAN TYMESKO, JOANNA SCHWEVENS, CARRIE RAINEY & DANIEL BIGGS SILVER SPRING, MD A phased design approach that brings remeditation, reconnection, and revitalization to this site. The proposed phasing heals the site, drawing in community interest, and crescendos to a complete design solution that responds to the challenges facing this site and the Nashville Community.

35

Mirasol Park

MICHAEL AVERITT & LAUREN FASIC HOUSTON, TX Mirasol Park is a proposal for an adaptive urbanized landscape that will serve the city’s varied needs over time. The proposed infrastructure reintegrates the area with the adjacent East Nashville neighborhoods by turning the interstate into a signalized parkway. In addition, the exisiting fragmented network of streets will be streamlined and a tram will take people through the whole riverfront area. The whole system is structured around a roundabout with an ampitheater created of recycled steel and concrete from the existing site. This structure will serve as a striking reminder of the former site by organizing all future development around it.

36 DESIGNING ACTION

The Hill

SHAWN M. BALON & GREGORY T. KAEUPER WASHINGTON, D.C. The Hill’s main feature is a large man-made hill, which sweeps across the entire site. Its top is covered in active recreational activity while its underbelly teems with cutting-edge green infrastructure. It is here at The Hill, that Nashville becomes a model city of physical and mental health.

37

Cumberland Corner

EDWARD KRAFCIK BOSTON, MA As a thriving community and precedent for brownfield redevelopment, Cumberland Corner Nashville is envisioned as the new, hip destination centered on recreation and health. In blending a culture of fitness enthusiasm with sport, living, working, dining, healthcare, food production and a vibrant water front, the neighborhood becomes a truly revolutionary space.

32 DESIGNING ACTION 38

Sustainable Landscape

YOUNG-AE CHUNG MARIETTA, GA The design vision is to create a successful place that promotes active living, cultural diversity, and environmental stewardship. The site plans has five components that fulfull this vision; creation of a space that fosters civic engagement, the creation of an authentic place, creating useful interconnectivity, fostering diversity on all levels, and the most fundamental component to the site is environmental sustainability.

39

River East Park

SABA HAMIDI, PAUL DRUMMOND, KATIE VOCKE & JOHN MCCARTHY BALTIMORE, MD The sculpted earthwork and viewing mount, which defines the newly constructed River East Park, is a celebration of the Mississippian culture that once dominated the region. The large earthen mound located along the river edges is the focal point of the site providing walking, hiking and biking opportunities to the elevated outdoor viewing platforms.

40 DESIGNING ACTION

Music City Loop

CHRIS GREEN, PAUL LEGAN & ERIC MCGINNIS NASHVILLE, TN The Loop activates a post-industrial site by populating the periphery with high-speed activitites and opening the center to a wetland to mitigate harmful ecological shifts. Sinuous forms engage the city and the users to promote continuity among civic spaces and the healthful places.

41

Sportive Floodscape

WONG HOI KEI, KADY LIU KA CHUEN, KONG LOK LAM & TINA CENTRAL DISTRICT, HONG KONG Waterfront is a valuable asset to the city and its citizens. Returning the waterfront to Nashville citizens for enjoyment and relaxation is the primary goal of our proposed design. Taken into account the risk of flooding, the proposed design shall be capable of alleviating the impacts of flooding. Hence, our design aims to establish a green development model for future riverfront development.

32 DESIGNING ACTION 42

Eco-Social Urbanism

DAVID LOSE, CHRIS CAMP, MARY VAVRA, MICHAEL PAVIN & JAY EVERETT NASHVILLE, TN By creating a walkable community with complete streets, mix of uses, diversity of housing, energy efficiency, environmental responsibility and recreation opportunities - The East Bank will be transformed from a polluted site into the healthy heart of the city.

The design provides healthy habitats within the social framework of the architecture of the community, strengthening the mind, body and soul and reinventing the East Bank.

43

Nashville Riverside Academy @ The Lagoon IAN WALE FALKIRK, UNITED KINGDOM Nashville Riverside Academy @ The Lagoon is a new sports and outdoor pursuits academy in downtown Nashville. Focused around a new man-made lagoon, the terraced landscape provides a multitude of activities while perfoming key functions such as flood alleviation and increasing biodiversity.

44

DESIGNING ACTION

Sports Harbor

JUNHAO JIANG GAINESVILLE, FL The project operates at a site level to develop a vibrant open space that promotes active lifestyles at a city-scale. Sports Harbor envisions the Cumberland River as a corridor and connector that brings new recreational, economical, and social opportunities to Nashville’s riverfront. The site is made of modular fields that accommodate a variety of sports types. Each field is built on a floating structure, making it movable along the river.

45

Alternative Visions

46

DESIGNING ACTION

47

48

DESIGNING ACTION

Designing the Exhibit

The concept of the Designing Action exhibit was to create an interactive, engaging exhibit that responded well to the site. Located at Rolling Mill Hill, this outdoor space had an excellent view of downtown Nashville as well as a view to the competition site on the East bank. By orienting the exhibit panels west, viewers were able to experience the competition site while reviewing the finalists’ proposals.

Large triangular panels displayed the finalists and allowed the exhibit to become more three-dimensional. The three winners each were given a double-sided panel in a separate “winners’ circle”. Other finalists each had a single-sided panel to display their projects.

The colorful, active scale figures made the exhibit exciting and energetic while reflecting the overall concept of the competition.

50 DESIGNING ACTION

51

Building the Exhibit

The exhibit consisted of 10 triangular, steelframed pods. They were assembled and secured into the ground with concrete footings, as well as on-grade ballasts. The graphics were printed on heavy-duty vinyl and attached to the frames with industrial strength Velcro. The exhibit was constructed in two days with about ten volunteers, and remained open for one month.

TOP: Metal frames constructed on site.

LEFT: Graphic panels at NCDC office before assembly.

52 DESIGNING ACTION

RIGHT: Volunteers attaching a graphic panel to the frame.

TOP LEFT: Front panel for a finalist attached to the frame.

BOTTOM LEFT: Top three finalists’ panels in winners’ circle.

RIGHT: Back panel attached to the frame with NCDC logo.

53

Opening Day Exhibit, Unveiling, & Awards

TOP: Viewers on opening day in the winners’ circle.

LEFT: Viewers on opening day walking through the exhibit.

54 DESIGNING ACTION

RIGHT: Individual proposals being discussed by viewers.

LEFT: First place winner Michael Albert of “theBend”.

TOP RIGHT: Second place winner James Moore of “The Yard”.

BOTTOM RIGHT: Third place winner Shen Ni of “Floodplan”.

55

Opening Day Exhibit, Unveiling, & Awards (cont)

56 DESIGNING ACTION

57