2024 Portfolio

Master of Landscape Architecture

Portfolio 2024

DANIEL ROBERT GRATTAN

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL DESIGNER

Denver, CO (916) 749-9549 dgrattan@formadp.com

Link to portfolio: issuu.com/danrgrattan

EDUCATION

Master of Landscape Architecture

August 2023

University of Colorado, Denver

B.A. Environmental Studies

May 2017

St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN

SKILLS

ArcGIS Pro, AutoCAD, Client Relations, Illustrator, InDesign, Enscape, Photoshop, Sketchup, hand sketching, visualization, disc golf course design, defensible spaces, Mars architectural design, community engagement

EXPERIENCE

Associate Landscape Designer

2023-Current

Forma Design Partners, Boulder, CO:

•Design lasting landscapes in resort and high-end residential projects in tropical environments

•Utilize sustainable practices for large and small scale planting design, site plans, and materials.

Landscape Designer

2022

University Technical Assistance Program, University of Colorado, Denver, CO: Provided design solutions to rural communities across Colorado.

Field Sampling Technician

-

Cannalysis, Santa Ana, CA

Performed off-site representative sampling for cannabis compliance testing for California

Technician

- 2018

Confluence Environmental Inc, Rio Linda, CA:

Performed groundwater and surface water sampling using a variety of extraction methods for Aerojet Rocket-dyne

Lands Curator

St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN:

Identified and eliminated invasive plant species on 350 acres of forest and prairie lands under college management

2016 Visiting Research Assistant

2015

University of California, Davis, CA:

Analyzed data collected under the California Irrigation Management Information Systems across California

Personal sketch from model created from pulp board 2020

Selected Works

ALMANAC

Bonneville Salt Flats

This immersive studio began with visiting the salt flats in the Great Basin of Utah and Nevada. Our trip was designed to understand and interpret such a barren place. Through observation, analysis and sketching, I designed a place that represents the passing of time from a specific moment in time. Almanac is a land art structure that perfectly frames a total solar eclipse that will be visible on the salt flats on August 12th, 2045.

Site Selection

2045 will be the next total solar eclipse visible in the US after 2024. It just so happens that the path of totality will cross the southern part of the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, the site location for my graduate immersive studio in 2023. Using solar pattern data from NASA, we can determine exactly where the path of totality will follow. The center of Almanac is placed directly in the middle of totality down to the nearest foot. The center of the totality will be the spot where viewers can experience the maximum time of totality.

The salt flats are a unique place for its endless horizons. The otherworldly place makes visitors feel like they are on another planet. But most importantly, the landscape is minimal and not chaotic. The eclipse is an experience of a celestial event. Visitors will be free of surrounding distractions for an eclipse experience. The is minimal visual distractions, making the eclipse experience more immersive.

Great Salt Lake

Salt Lake City

Wendover

Eclipse Viewshed Frame Staircase

Framed Perspective

The grand staircase is angled to guide visitors in direct azimuth and altitude of totality, The top of the stairs are met with a framed view, and is calculated to converge to a point, and on August 12, 2045 at 9;28am this point will be in the middle of the total eclipse. Every year on August 12th at 9:28 am, proceeding and following the eclipse, visitors can experience the alignment. This allows visitors to have an experience even if they are not present for the eclipse.

desert

Partial Eclipse Begins: 8:19am

Totality: 9:24am

Partial Eclipse Ends: 10:40am

Inside the cathedral, the solar aperture creates a crescent shadow and follows the path of the eclipse marker. The marker is precisely designed to match the size and movement of the shadow for the duration of the eclipse event. Visitors can watch the progression and regression of the eclipse and visitors can even witness sunspots on the changing shadow.

The Analemma is a figure eight graph that shows the path of the sun in the sky at a given time of day. The path is calculated to the suns locattion everyday at 9:28am, the time of the eclipse. This path is translated onto a marker inside of the cathedral. The main triangle entrance to the cathedral also serves as a sun pointer. At 9;28am every day, the entrance will point a triangular sun beam directly on a point of the marker. The point will show the viewer the exact day and month of when they are observing it, This piece creates a daily experience that will be interactive for centuries.

NEW HORIZONS

Majestic View Nature Preserve

This studio was designed to provide a new addition to the city of Arvada, Colorado at the Arvada Nature Preserve. My design provided a new opportunity for the community to learn and use a new food system in harmony with the natural environment. Through the latest innovation in food production, this project provides solutions based on food research for future manned Mars missions.

New Horizon’s Greenhouse

Outer Shell

At 2,500 ft², the greenhouse is designed with a cooling system that is powered through solar energy. Extra power generated can be sent back into grid

Dynamic Terrace

Stacked design provides efficient use of space. Nutrient-rich water is recycled and fed through vertical growing systems

Artificial Light Grow

Indoor growing inside of terrace is designed to grow food with more control and precision

Natural Light Grow

A diversity of foods that cover the necessary dietary needs is grown.

Foods that struggle to grow vertically are grown in horizontal beds

TIGERS DEN

Star K Ranch

Located in Aurora Colorado, this project aimed to help the declining tiger salamander population. Through extensive research, this design creates a better opportunity for thriving salamander habitat.

Setting The Stage

a.Existing conditions

b.No Spray Zone

d.Heal with Time

c.Remove social trail

Nursery:

Burrow Design:

Hybrid Shelter:

Plan For Success

A low-impact platform is built for visitors to observe the thriving salamander habitat. Extra shade adds to the cool and moist environment

New growth of aquatic plants adds additional protection and more opportunities for females to lay their eggs

Salamanders create their own burrows

Salamander population eats mosquito larvae which balances out their population

New pollination provides for more for salamanders

WEWATTA GATEWAY

Downtown Denver

The Auraria Campus at University of Colorado Denver is disconnected to the rest of downtown. This project aimed to create a new Innovation District designed with better activation through three major gateways. My team designed the Wewatta Gateway, a pedestrian access point from downtown to the Ball Arena, naming it the Fan Mile.

Urban Context

THE FAN MILE OVERPASS

TIME PIECE

The aim of this project was to design a space in response to extreme change. The East Troublesome fire decimated 21,000 acres of Rocky Mountain terrain. The stark landscape created a research opportunity for a design to reduce water erosion and accelerate regrowth.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Experimental Plot Control Plot

Ever-Changing Adaptation