Topographic Timeline: An original idea that uses juxtaposed maps to graphically reveal personal landscape histories. The x-axis (time) is measured in years and the y-axis (elevation) is measured in feet.
Margaret Ann Herndon MLA completed Spring, 2010 Virginia Polytechnic and State University Washington Alexandria Architecture Center
A Secret Garden in Old Town Winner: Outstanding Landscape
Fagus sylvatica ‘Asplenifolia’
ipe storage boxes
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Washington Spaces Magazine Fall 2008
granite block patio recycled concrete tile walk
ipe landing cantilevered pergola tsukabai fountain
Prunus laurocerasus ‘Schipkaensis’
Acer palmatum ‘Sango kaku’
Figure 1. Concept Plan cantilevered pergola
ipe storage boxes Figure 2. View from walkway towards wall at western edge of property
Figure 3. Northeast view from ipe “stage”
Figure 4. Axon illustrating pergola, stage with lights, and storage boxes/seating
“The parents of two active girls wanted to create a multi-tasking garden in their tiny Old Town Alexandria backyard that would host rugged soccer practices as well as elegant dinner parties. Meg Herndon complied with a blend of plantings and hardscaping. The custom built pergola acts as a transition from the walkway to the garden and also forms a contemporary proscenium over a stage of ipe wood. In addition to LED lights that bathe the area at night, the owners went green with recycled cement tiles which are integrated into the garden walk. (Washington Spaces Magazine. Early spring 2009, p.75)” Herndon 1
Linear park across Daingerfield Island
Overlook to Monuments
Ramp at 10% Slope
MLA Studio project Spring 2009
GW Parkway Southbound
Pedestrian Suspension Bridge
Scale 1/8”=1’-0”
Wetland Well
Figure1. A suspension bridge over the existing north-south travel lanes and uneven terrain allows universal access from Del Ray and Rte. 1 to the Potomac river.
b.
c.
a.
Figure 4. Clearing, pool, and walking path in section. Pool reveals tidal ebb and flow.
Daingerfield Island: Del Ray and the Potomac
Figure 6.
Local Trade and Smuggling/ Tobacco Rollers and Freight Containers.
Daingerfield Island: Del Ray and the Potomac
Figure 5.
Agricultural Plantion Economy/Ridge and Furrows.
Figure 3. Walking path and steps in a clearing overlook a rill and pool.
Daingerfield Island: Del Ray and the Potomac
Industry and dredging/ Cut and Fill
Figure2. The design intent for this project was to provide visitors with cultural and environmental perspectives on place and time. Circular clearings across the park house forms from past land uses including freight (a), agriculture (b), and dredging (c). Water rills and pools along the path connect visitors with tidal rhythms (see Figures 3 and 4 below).
Figure 7. Fig. 5: The historic land use of dredging along the river is reinterpreted using pools and mounds. Fig. 6: Agricultural heritage in the coastal plain is shown using ridges and furrows. Fig. 7: Freight (at a slightly higher elevation) is revealed using containers and tobacco barrels.
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Scale 1:50
Redevelopment proposal: Mcmillan slow sand filtration plant
former grade
MLA Studio project
N Figure 1. The sand filtration plant is composed of a grid of columns underground which supported a flat sod roof and housed a bed of sand which cleaned Potomac River water for the city at the turn of the century. The proposal begins by returning the site to its former topographic condition by removing much of the underground structure and exposing the columns at varying heights.
Section a-b. The geometry of the columns inform construction for rowhouses, garages, streets and alleys. Irrigation pipes, a rain tank box, and bio-swales are the “new� filtration plants.
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a.
c.
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Fall 2008 The site of the filtration plant is slated for redevelopment. This project illustrates a proposal to preserve the historic and environmental character of the place while providing for the needs of a new human community.
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Section c-d. Farther north, the columns and arches remain intact and create a unique double-decker urban park.
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“Summer House�
Macarthur Boulevard Washington, DC Fall 2007
By turning the lawn into a positive shape and using a self-defined, strong, curving bed line, the landscape embraces and helps to situate multiple architectural forms. A relatively simple mix of Crape Myrtle, Boxwood, Oakleaf Hydrangea, Roses, Miscanthus, Liatris, N Russian Sage, and Gaura provide classic color and texture throughout the summer months. Herndon 4
Where the Wild Things Are Children’s Garden and Wildlife Habitat Washington, DC
Figure1. Parents of three boys in NW Washington requested an imaginative play place, vegetable garden, and native plantings. The resulting concept, inspired by the book by Maurice Sendak, creates space for exploration and discovery by children, birds, and insects.
Figure 3. A mesh tunnel leads to an under-deck playhouse. Above the deck planters contain herbs and vegetables.
Figure 2. A serpentine pergola and grape arbor winds its way over boulders, a fire pit and patio and down across constructed play mounds
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Resilient Improvisation
Parking lot explorations of the human relationship with time. Center City Parking in Chinatown, Washington DC is an 11 acre parking lot and a temporary event space. In the past year it has hosted a tennis tournament, a Chili Cook-off, a Walk for Cancer wellness village, and a trapeze school. This project examines the role of design at the intersection of the durable and the instantaneous. Is it possible to design armature that is rigid enough to provide traditional park-like hierarchical spaces while being flexible enough to accommodate multiple uses and rotating events?
Figure 2. View looking west from entrance. Site is graded to direct water into holding tanks at its southern and eastern edges.
“flying” students
pedestrian path snacks judges
competitors
b
competitors
b
major pedestrian axis
b
parking lane
b
two way traffic
ring road
a
wellness tent
wellness tent
pedestrian path pedestrian path
a
tennis court
b
stadium seating
b
parking lane
two way traffic
b
ring road
Trapeze School: Blue Walk for Cancer: Pink Chili Cook off: Yellow
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Figure 1. Four parking configurations are laid out across the site based on two underlying grids. Two are facing N-S and two are at a 45* angle. Each configuration is painted a different color. Car parking is oriented based on the specific event and cars themselves gather to define event space.
Tennis Tournament: White
entrance
major pedestrian path
Figure 2. Trees are planted Figure 3. Events are assigned a specific parking where four colors converge. color. During the event that color is the only one that is “read” by people parking their cars.
Figure 4. The armature of painted lines, trees, asphalt, cars, snack trucks (a), and porta-johns (b), combine with people and events to form a constantly changing mosaic that is both temporary and enduring. Herndon 6