grace ellen parker undergraduate landscape architecture portfolio
table of contents the tunnels monsters university observational sketch translations meĂ&#x;dorfer feld materials
if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.
henry david thoreau
the tunnels wilkinsburg,pennsylvania adobe cs5,rhino,autocad fall 2013
cooperative design
Once a vibrant suburb of Pittsburgh, PA, Wilkinsburg faces infrastructure challenges which directly influence the residents of the town. Seven landscape architecture students worked with the Allegheny County Penn State Extension, the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation, and FUSE Pittsburgh to conceptualize design solutions to improve designated urban spaces. My project focused on connecting pedestrian tunnels to unify both sides of the town, which is currently bisected by a raised bus-way. I studied elements of continuity, safety, and vegetation to combat the polarization of the town and ultimately make this divide into a community asset called the Loop.
While lighting is a highly critical aspect of safety, this chosen motif serves a higher purpose. Despite the borough’s currently divided nature, the hope of this lighting motif, which features various glimpses of the town’s building footprints, is that it will encourage the residents to think of themselves not from one side of town, but as a resident of Wilkinsburg. Creating a commonality between people can often be the first step in creating unity among previously segregated groups. The intent of this motif is to remind the residents that they are of onemtown and that to support one another is to support themselves
Image courtesy of the Walt Disney Company
monsters university
orlando, florida adobe cs5,rhino,autocad spring 2013
luxury resort design
Each horticulture intern is required to submit project for the Disney’s Horticulture Department Competition at the culmination of their internship. My submission included a design for a proposed resort based on the newly released film, Monsters University. Everything from the plant palette to traffic patterns is included in this design. I won the Outstanding Idea Award.
Sketched images courtesy of the Walt Disney Company
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bus stop
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monorail stop
food services
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drop-off
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hall of grads
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registration
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croaking cafe
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magical express
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claws of fame
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cafeteria
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event lawn
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hall of grads
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laugh center
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pep rally field
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clock tower
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freaks of nature
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monster pit
restroom
horticulture internship . summer 2013 .
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+ entrance transition
located along victory way off buena vista drive, entering MU is simple with the ample amount of directional signage both along and on the roads. views into the resort are buffered by vegetation which also acts as a directional cue, distinguishing the entrance and perimeter roads.
F : pep rally field a nightly display of school spirit is displayed here at the pep rally field! dorms are encouraged to make teams to scrimage on this hallowed field which can be accessed on foot, by car, or by monorail.
+ multiple routes
providing a perimeter road around the resort not only offers easy and continuous access to guests and WDW buses, it also provides vehicular traffic with the option to by-pass the registration building therefore drawing congestion away from the parking lots (2520 parking spaces in total).
G : freaks of nature not all monsters live in your closet. this garden allows the freaky plants of the world to show off their true colors, as well as their spikes, thorns, and fangs.
+ raised crosswalks
the 4 monorail stops made around the resort are complemented by raised crosswalks. demarcated by a brick material break in the asphalt, these crosswalks are more than a visual cue. as speed bumps they enforce typically accepted speeds such as 15 miles per hour or lower.
J : claws of fame similar to the chinese theater, this area boasts great stars of the past (both in comedy and scaring!) you never know whose clawprints have graced these halls. maybe one day yours will too!
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observational sketch
Throughout my life, I have always loved observational sketch as a means to understand the world around me. My many internships afforded me to the opportunity to learn a variety of plant palettes through sketch and study. While working as an intern within Disney’s Horticulture in Orlando, Florida, I also had the opportunity to learn more about zoological design, specifically habitat creation and standards for enclosures.
translations wilkinsburg,pennsylvania adobe cs5,rhino,autocad fall 2013
copenhagen bath
This group project served as a crash course to learn AutoCAD, sketch-up, operations for our in-house laser cutter, and model building techniques. The design is not proposed; rather the Copenhagen Bath is an existing design that my group was tasked to recreate either as a whole, or in part with attention to detail regarding section elevation. The model was completed with a visual narrative of those who might occupy the space, which also serves as an indication of scale.
campus plaza design
An exercise in AutoCAD and the operation of our department’s laser cutter, this proposed design was intended to replace an existing plaza on the Pennsylvania State University main campus in State College, PA. After studying traffic patterns in the existing plaza, this proposed design aims to offer pedestrians a resting node to occupy between classes.
3d printing
An exercise in AutoCAD, Rhino and 3D printing, this model was based off the existing 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist Temple, Borobudur, in Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia. I elected to recreate this temple as a means to further my studies in an art history course I had taken as an undergraduate.
3-axis cnc router
An exercise in AutoCAD, Rhino and the operation of a CNC Router, this model was based off the existing Hargreaves Associates design for the Chattanooga 21st Century Waterfront Park. My partner and I elected to recreate this temple as a means to further our understanding of new model-making methods. For this project, high density foam was used to provide the most accurate representation of the existing topography.
meĂ&#x;dorfer feld bonn, germany adobe cs5,autocad sping 2012
the fringe
Despite the Feld’s history as a large-scale producer of agricultural crops, the demands of its urban context require the shape, size, and use of this land to consistently change. As a dynamic landscape that is in direct communication with its neighboring context, this design aims to redefine the Feld to appease the demands of the ever-growing city. Implementing infrastructure as an anchor against its creeping edge, this space is intended for both public and private users that provide areas of production as well as recreation in order to accommodate share holders as well as visitors.
So as not to neglect the history of the site, part of the land may still be used for agricultural purposes. A small portion of land will be partitioned specifically for cut flowers.
The interior of the feld will be used for community gardening plots in promotion of urban agriculture. So as not to impede on the privacy of the neighboring homes, a riparian buffer will provide a park-like setting. Additionally, it will alleviate storm water runoff from the surrounding areas.
wetland habitat This rendering depects the view from the neighborhood adjacent to the design. This riparian buffer is both an environmental aid as well as a community asset, as it is accessible and can be used as a recreational area.
fallow fields This rendering depicts a view of the fallow fields that would act as a spatial buffer in times of dormancy. Despite its passive role in agriculture, it alternatively provides a means to keep the reach of sprawl at bay.
materials wilkinsburg,pennsylvania adobe cs5,rhino,autocad fall 2013
construction drawings
An exercise in AutoCAD, the following drawings aimed to hone skills regarding topography, specifically drainage for structural elements, as well as provide a deeper understanding of built environment logistics, such as hardscaping.