Landscape Architecture Portfolio

EMMA ROSE GRAY LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO @_flerg // green fingers and green toes

Emma Rose Gray Education MLA Landscape Architecture, University of Sheffield 2019-2020 1st Class BSc Landscape Architecture & Ecology, University of Sheffield 2015-2018 2018 // Landscape Institute Yorkshire and Humber Branch Undergraduate Prize 2017 // Rosie Reynolds Prize for Creativity in Design

Experience Assistant Landscape Architect, Planit-IE Manchester, 2018-2019 2018 // TRADA student multidisciplinary undergraduate competition. Urban Buzz 2017 // Volunteer at Chatsworth Flower Show, ‘RHS Garden for a Changing Climate’ 2017 // Work experience at Southern Green Ltd. Landscape Architects, Gateshead 2015 // Arc Environmental, geoenvironmental work experience, Durham

Skills Adobe Creative Suite Vectorworks Hand Drawing and Model Making Sketchup Microsoft Office

A Graduate University of Sheffield student who is a creative, outdoorsy individual seeking a career in Landscape Architecture.

I am interested in the longevity of landscapes and sustainable problem solving. Dynamic maintenance and management are key issues of interest, how to design for the future? I thrive in a team environment and love the buzz of studio working!

Postgraduate Work // Bridging the Gap Stone Sessions

Year in Practice // Design Project Visuals Construction Detailing Bridgefield Pocket Park

Undergraduate Work // Tapestry

Hand Drawing //

Assets // Extraordinary location - dramatic topography and world famous views

BRIDGING THE GAP

Proximity to internationally culturally and historically significant UNESCO World Heritage Site Wooded riverbanks forming an integral part of the journey and setting of the World Heritage Site Radical redevelopment opportunity at Milburngate, with good transport links

Challenges // Grey urban fabric, devoid of valuable green space Undervalued, lost connection of North Western Durham City to the River Wear Attitude to flooding Fragmented pedestrian journey, involving the navigation of busy road junctions

Design Drivers

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Milburngate Flow Strategies

Water Flow KEY //

Flood water storage Zone Attenuation Zone

Lido Protection Zone

Vegetation Flow KEY //

Bioswale containing plants with a wide range of ecological tolerances

Circulation Flow KEY //

Step free access to buildings and pedestrian routes

Open mixed woodland with textural ground flora & copper beach hedge

Access to buildings from multiple levels (internal lifts fitted)

Tapestry naturalistic successional perennial planting with evergreen notes

Vehicle servicing & delivery, drop off and emergency access routes

Extensive, species rich urban wilderness green roof Mounded naturalistic mixes of wildflowers and grasses Grassy lawn with water storage hollows

Site car park (shared with Raddison Hotel)

Milburngate Gateway Gardens Axo

Milburngate Gateway Gardens Masterplan

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May 11am

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July 2pm

October 6pm 3

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February 8pm

THE POOL Milburngate Lido is Durham’s first natural public swimming pool, entirely chemical free and found at the heart of Durham in the Gateway Gardens. A 25m long swimming area, and varied pool depths offers an invigorating experience for serious swimmers and those that just want to have a quick splash.

Curved Screen Skimmer

Removes floating particles from pool water at a controlled rate, helping to keep nutrient levels low

THE PLANTS A range of aquatic filtration plants naturally absorb nutrients from the water preventing an algae bloom, suppored by the skimmer and filter system. The plants also hold great ecological and aesthetic value. The bio-filter system allows for around 150 swimmers a day.

Deep rooted Nuphar lutea and Nymphaea alba.

Elodea canadensis, Lagarosiphon major and Myriophyllum spicatum

Submerged

Wetland marginals & bog

Phragmites communis and Iris pseudacorus

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Submersible Pump Chamber

Recycles the cleaned water back into the pool through pipes

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T

Separation

Top of wall to sit 100mm from water surface, allowing free transfer of water between the regeneration and swimming areas, whilst protecting the aquatic plants from trampling

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Bio Compact Filter

Water flows from top to bottom, biologically cleaned by microorganisms as it passes through the filter removing organic compounds and impurities

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SWIMMI N

ION POOL GENERAT

pl an t

ing

POOL

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Pond meadow marginals and

POOL

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Provides a boost flow of carbon dioxide for aquatic plants.

Bio clay and filter grit used - limiting plant growth and controlling algae.

TION RA

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345m2

25m

325

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25

Carbonator & Growing Medium

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Closed-loop system

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The Pool // 670m2 mim. pool depth 0.4m

mim. bathing depth 1.2m

max. pool depth 2

SEASON SPRING

SUMMER

5m

KEY MANAGEMENT TASKS • Vacuuming of swimming pool bottom & sides using a silt vacuum • Annual cut of reed plants.

• Removal of dead wetland plants, and cutting back of remaining plants using secateurs and scythe.

• Vacuuming of swimming pool bottom & sides using a silt vacuum • Removal of dead lily leaves before shedding leaves • Clearance of proliferating plants using scythe • Removal of dead leaves from pool surface • Topping up of water level when required (using rainwater from cistern)

AUTUMN

• Vacuuming of swimming pool bottom & sides using a silt vacuum • Removal of dead lily leaves before shedding leaves • Clearance of proliferating plants using scythe and secateurs • Removal of dead leaves from pool surface

WINTER

• Removal of dead leaves from pool surface • Vacuuming of swimming pool bottom & sides using a silt vacuum

TASKS WHEN REQUIRED // 3-5 YEARS FULL SERVICE // Maintenance work in Autumn 2

The Milburngate Gardens maintenance team

The lido requires lifeguards at all times that the pool is in use.

It’s a great part time job for university and college students.

• Assemble pool-sludge suction cleaner kit (pebble strainer, pool vaccum, triangular brush, waste water hose) • Brush floor and walls of swimming pool with triangular and paddle brushes

2. Clean Curved Screen Skimmer:

• Using brush, clean the inside of the skimmer • Use underwater scythe to cut back pool plants • Use submersible pump to partially drain regeneration pool • Use rake to remove submerged plant cuttings, and dip net for surfaces • Rinse zone using water from swimming area (saves water and maintains the balance!) the silt is loosened and pumped off The regeneration zone water will then be clear again, ready for another year!

A small team of locally employed people are responsible for the maintenance of the entirety of the Gardens, including the lido... keeping things looking spick and span!

The lifeguards

1. Removal of pool-sludge from walls and floors:

3. Regeneration Zone:

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Milburngate Swim & Splash Club

THE WILDLIFE

Ideal aquatic habitat for Newts to thrive The natural swimming pool will cater for the lifecycle of amphibians, invertebrates and other small aquatic animals, by providing foraging opportunities and sheltered habitats. The newt is an amphibian that the aquatic plant species of the pool and rock piles, dead wood and log piles within the marginal POOL TION planting will provide RA for.

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ANNUAL TASKS //

5m

2.3m

THE PEOPLE

Pool Management

Habitat life cycle of a Newt

The people of Durham are feeling the buzz that an invigorating plunge gives... the perfect way to wake yourself up before a day in the office

Emergent/floating vegetation cover Submerged vegetation cover Lack of shade on southern margin

tration Pool Fil

Aquatic plant species will require an average of 300mm of Bio clay and filter grit agregate

Species to include: • Ragged robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi) • Soft rush (Juncus effuses) • Cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis) • Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) • Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) • Water forget-me-not (Myosotis scorpioides) • Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia) • Water crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis) • Willow moss (Fontinalis antipyretica) • Mare’s tail (Hippuris vulgaris)

Reg en

eration Pool

Making bird feeders is a great winter activity for early years, easily brought indoors to the learning studios on a cold day!

For older children bird feeding can inform discussions about the needs of different species, the importance of consistent management and the impact of food shortages.

Volunteer ornithologists will observe and record bird numbers and nesting activity on site throughout the year. They will lead the Gardens’ annual Big Schools’ Bird Watch, contributing to the national picture of bird species distribution.

Throughout National Apprenticeship week Durham County Council will host a number of drop in events for local college students, showcasing how council apprenticeships can create career opportunities, and advertise summer internships.

For

sit af r co

Hedges and trees on site are in a three-year rotational management plan, with trimming/pruning/repairs carried out between November and February, before the nesting season.

The gardens have a ‘Springwatch’ programme, with cameras linking bird boxes across the site to screens in the café.

March

National Storytelling Week provides an opportunity to welcome the local community to events at the Gateway Gardens, utilising the outdoor Square and indoor café/studio spaces.

June

The site’s mini beast trail is altered annually, to minimise overall disturbance to those areas.

February

January

The pond dipping programme helps to inform the continued management of the lido, with seasonal species counting.

The lido provides a protected habitat for wildlife including amphibians, insects and dragonflies.

The use of an Austrian gravel lawn means the species rich lawns on site are free draining… but heavy showers create some puddles for the kids to splash in during a charity Muddy Puddle Walk around the riverbanks, starting and ending at Gateway Gardens.

April

May

August

A YEAR AT MILBURNGATE GATEWAY GARDENS

EDUCATION PROGRAMME

The educational programme at the Gateway Gardens ensures the site stays active and dynamic throughout the seasons, the presence of excited children and happy families gives the site a buzz of energy… brightening up the days of the Council workers gazing out of the office windows.

The site provides a compelling blend of leisure and office space, a place to work and to spend time outdoors! Many activities in the educational programme are designed to help with the management needs of the site.

A great way to jolly up the site during winter when the deciduous trees have lost their leaves, fitting in with school and college art and design programmes.

Remember to hug a tree – it makes you feel great!

Dynamic habitat features will be maintained and monitored by local primary schools with an annual competition during late autumn when plant material on site is plentiful. Each year the criteria changes, keeping the programme dynamic.

November

December

July

The key to the longevity of Gateway Gardens is the continued interest and provision of events on site, to embed it at the heart of Durham City as an essential part of life in Durham. The site must engage with national and international events and the sporting calendar as a way of generating revenue, which can be put back into the site to fund management tasks.

The Gateway Gardens will rehome the DLI Collection, following the closure of the Durham Light Infantry Museum in 2016. The collection has a special place in the history of County Durham and forms a fantastic resource for local schools and the community.

Hives are located on “permitted access only green roofs”, with just one storey to climb it’s not far to carry the beekeepers equipment.

Bees on site will be used as part of the Geography curriculum for schools, a local case study for sustainable urban farming.

October

rest School Groups will be involved in management tasks across the te – bulb planting, tree planting and ftercare. Coppiced branches will be removal for use in den building and ontrolled fire lighting. Leaf litter will be collected for mulching.

The lido is Durham’s only outdoor swimming pool. A pool entrance fee funds management tasks required for the upkeep of this fantastic community resource… and tourist attraction!

The Durham Beekeeper’s club hold their monthly meetings and provide courses on site. They have a rota for looking after the hives and preparing honey for sale in the Café and look after interpretation boards around the site – we need bees!

September

Flower cutting for pressing encourages the continual blooms of perennials on site throughout the summer

70m

Average Precipitation / Rainfall (mm)

Precipitation graph data taken from Climate-data.org Data: 1982 - 2012

Water Flow Soft, permeable surfaces cover 75% of the site. Two main categories, dynamic storage zones - dealing with overflow river water, and water attenuation areas, utilising water as it moves down through the site.

60m

Dynamic Flood Zone 50m

30m

The accumulation of water on site will fluctuate throughout the year, with the ground saturated and wet underfoot in the winter and the more likely occurrence of a flash flood in the summer and autumn.

40m

35m

August

30m

Flood Risk Map information taken from GOV.co.uk, provided by Environment Agency

Water Flows at the Gateway Gardens // August

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Maintaining access through the site during fl use of the site. Flash flooding may occur in school holidays when footfall on site will be allows for continued use of the gardens thr vegetation utilises water, limiting surface nature of rainfall will be visible on the site in the swales and lawn hollows... and the rainwater harvestin

February

20m

Zone 2

The average annual rainfall in Durham is 641 mm, and the wettest month is perhaps unexpectedly, August. This highlights the varying nature and characteristics of rainfall events throughout the year. Winter can bring prolonged spells of misty, damp, drizzly weather, whereas summer often brings evening thunderstorms, when there is more energy in the atmosphere – clearing quickly to bring sunshine the following day.

10m

Zone 3

Proposed Topography The proposed design designs with the existing topography of the site. The 35m contour will be altered to protect the freshwater swimming lido from flooding. The highest level recorded is 33.83m, the lido will sit at 35.2m. A cut and fill approach will be implemented.

DESIGN with NATURE

Month

The banks of the river are breached when a 5-10 year event occur causing damage to infrastructure.

The design philosophy aims to reduce the impact of pluvial flooding events, by creating a synergy between water and the urban environment, a landscape that embraces change and celebrates the presence of water!

Rainfall in Durham

0m

Existing Flood Risk Zoning

Free draining Austrian Gravel Lawn (schotterrasen)

DESIGN with the RIVER

flood events is key to the continued n the summer and autumn, during higher. The green design approach roughout such rainfall events. The water run off. The changes in the e – with the varying levels of water e increasing level of water in the ng cistern!

Water Attenuation Zone

Section Location Plan

VEGETATION

Galvanized Steel Cistern Green Blue Urban Arborsystem Harvested rainwater filtered and used to top up the pool when required

Austrian Gravel Lawn (schotterrasen) can be established

by a single layer of gravel/compost mix 30cm deep. A mixture of gravel particles (from very fine materials up to larger stones between 32mm and 45mm in diameter) and compost (approximately 15%) Gravel lawn mix key species: Fesctuca rubra, Achillea millefolium, Lotus corniculatus, Prunella vulgaris, Lolium perenne, Medicago lupulina, Bellis perennis and Platantago lanceolata

KEY MANAGEMENT TASKS

Austrian Gravel Lawn (Schotterrasen)

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Conventional mowing regime (fortnightly cuts at 80mm during the growing season) suspension of mowing for a few weeks to allow more flowering.

Green Blue Urban Arborsystem

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Clean out of aeration/ irrigation inlets (annually)

Swale & Terraced perennial planting

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Removal of accumulation of litter, leaf foliage and dead plant debris (Weekly) Cut back of herbaceous forbs down to crown (February) Clear dams and domed inlets of SUDS when clogged (Monthly) Weed invasion at the edges. (marginal effect) Removal of weeds by hand and topping up of gravel on bare patches - eg after heavy rainwater events when gravel is transported and deposited (Monthly)

Green Roof

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Clear drainage system of debris (twice annually)

Woodland

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Cut back of herbaceous forbs down to crown (February) Trimming/pruning/repairs to trees/ hedgerows(between November and February, 3 year cycle)

STONE SESSIONS

During this project I examined and observed elements of stone landscapes. A combination of individual and group work, with a responsive studio group allowed me to look at stone in an entirely new light. The project concluded with a group exhibition, where I had a week long residency in DINA Gallery, Sheffield.

Stone Sessions is a residency space documenting the process of exploring stone through deconstructing, reconfiguring and distorting scale. I used the act of drawing as an exploratory tool, working with a mixed media approach. I documented my journey on my Landscape Instagram account - ‘_flerg.’ The use of Instagram stories was a successful immediate medium for me to continually record my journey of exploration.

To view my Artist’s Booklet, documenting the process of my Stone Sessions project, please click on the link below // https://issuu.com/emmarosegray/docs/stone_sessions

Combining colour and lines of three separate photographs // reconstructing the form

Distortion of the view// altering the scale of the stone

YEAR IN PRACTICE at Planit-IE, Manchester

Design Proposal Graphics // First Street, Manchester

Construction Details // Circle Square, Manchester

Bridgefield Street Pocket Park, Stockport It was great to be involved in such a forward, future thinking initiative Manchester’s ‘Bee Network’ connecting up Greater Manchester. The initiative targets walking and cycling potential across the city, with the introduction of parklets and pocket parks as inviting spaces to stop, rest, socialise and park up a bike.

As year out students Ash and I jumped at the chance to take on this amazing opportunity.

I don’t think that you ever forget the first project that you see go from first sketch to official opening! We were the first point of contact with the client, liaising with people from all sides of the design team, whilst problem solving along the way.

UNDERGRADUATE WORK

TAPESTRY ENTRANCE IN SUMMER

CLOUD WATCHING CLEARING IN SPRING

Tapestry Inspired by the textural history of the site, the concept will complement and enhance the original character of Friar Gate Goods Yard, creating a visual tapestry. The landscape will have a strong functional link to the Department of Therapeutic Arts faculty building, where restorative creative practices are studied, demonstrating that green outdoor spaces and planting have a positive impact on health. The woven planting design and circular paths highlight the journey back to happiness and wellbeing that sufferers of mental health are on, creating a stimulating environment where multifaceted social rehabilitation is possible. Birch tree threads are key to the vision, acting as stitches across the canvas as the Tapestry vision aims to interweave different social groups together.

WANDERING

REFLECTING

FACULTY OF THERAPEUTIC ARTS ENTRANCE IN WINTER

SHARING

HAND DRAWING