Ryan Anderson Design Portfolio

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

Ryan Anderson

EDUCATION

RYAN ANDERSON

I grew up in San Francisco, where I was exposed to the risks posed by climate hazards such as wildfire, earthquakes, and flooding. Observing the growth of the Bay Area motivated me to help shape the growth of our cities towards a sustainable future. I am committed to creating beautiful spaces that will withstand future climate conditons and improve the local quality of life.

Master of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning

North Carolina State University

B.S. City and Regional Planning, Minor in Sustainable Environments

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

SKILLS

CONTENTS

THE LONG MARSH FORWARD

Location: Belville, NC

CURATIVE ECOLOGY

Location: Raleigh, NC

Project Type: Academic

INDIGENOUS AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR WEST MAUI

Location: Olowalu, HI

Project Type: Professional

3-10

11-14

Project Type: Academic 15-19

CONNECTING THE COASTLINE

Location: Morehead City, NC

Project Type: Academic

THE LONG MARSH FORWARD

SHAPING BELVILLE’S RIVERFRONT THROUGH ECOLOGICAL ACTIVATION OF THE TOWN’S SHORELINE

How can Belville’s shoreline become resilient and adaptable while serving as an iconic attraction?

Belville, North Carolina is a small coastal community located along the tidally influenced Brunswick River. The town’s location directly across the river from Wilmington imposes development pressure on the downtown core as city officials seek a method of attracting tourism while maintaining character. The future site of the downtown core lies directly along the shores of the Brunswick, requiring a seamless transitional space between the lively urban environment and the sensitive aquatic ecosystems of the river.

BELVILLE,NC

ATLANTIC COASTAL PLAIN

CAPEFEARRIVERBASIN

PATHWAYS AND NODES

BLUE INFRASTRUCTURE

GATHER CONNECT ADAPT

EDGE PARK

RIVER’S

EMERGENT SALT MARSH

EVENT LAWN

OFFSHORE PAVILION

VISITOR CENTER

SPLASH PAD PLAZA

TIDAL AMPHITHEATER

ESTUARINE POND

COMMUNITY CENTER

OVERLOOK LAWN

WETLAND FOREST GROVE

KAYAK HUB

(designed

by Hannah Clarke)

EXISTING PILINGS

TIDALCREEK

INTERTIDAL ZONE

The Intertidal zone will serve as a space of reflection and connection to the natural environment. A series of terraces, pathways, and boardwalks will create an experiential descent to the water’s edge. This zone will integrate rich wetland habitat with accessible spaces for humans, promoting ecotourism such as fishing and birding. The tidal trail will allow access into the salt marsh before eventually becoming a part of it when inundation occurs due to the sea-level rise. The Intertidal Zone’s plant palette will include salt tolerant species such as black pine, adam’s needle yucca, and smooth cordgrass.

RATE ±9 mm/yr

OFFSHORE ZONE

ARTIFICIAL REEFMODULES OYSTER SHELLBAGS

FIBERCOIR LOGS

Artificial reefs will support future oyster colonies as salinity increases in the Brunswick River, allowing for more intensive reefs to build along the shelf of historic dredging. This will work in tandem with a series of living shoreline sills that will allow for the growth of Spartina Alterniflora, capturing the Cape River River’s 4th most common pollutant: Sediment. Together, these strategies will allow for marsh accretion to outpace anticipated sealevel rise, thus building a thriving ecosystem amidst climate change.

BENEFITS OF ACCRETION BY 2060

18 ACRES OF NOVEL COASTAL WETLAND

$41,800 $41,800 BLUE CARBON CREDITS

CURATIVE

CARALEIGH PARK, RALEIGH NC

PROJECT CONTEXT

Caraleigh Park is a pocket-park located in a small residential neighborhood in South Raleigh. The Caraleigh neighborhood has become geographically isolated from ecological assets and productive open spaces by the development of surrounding thoroughfares. Amidst the burgeoning development of Raleigh, this site has ample opportunity to address nature-deficit disorder for those residing in the neighborhood. Additionally, Caraleigh Park’s proximity to Walnut Creek allows it to intercept runoff from the surrounding streetscape before entering the river.

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

DORTHEA DIX PARK

WALNUT CREEK WETLAND

ADDRESSING NATURE-DEFICIT DISORDER THORUGH DESIGN

This design proposal creates a restorative haven for the neighborhood amidst the surrounding urban development. The site utilizes multiple native plant matrices to delineate sections of the park. The entrance is marked by a retention pond that also serves as on-site amenity, allowing visitors to connect to ecological systems via the entrance’s pedestrian boardwalk.

MULTI-USE COURT

B. OVERHEAD STRUCTURE

C. CENTRAL LAWN

D. NATURE-PLAY PINE GROVE

E. PEDESTRIAN BOARDWALK

F. POLLINATOR MEADOW

G. EXISITNG WILLOW-OAK

ENTRANCE BOARDWALK

INDIGENOUS & NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR WEST MAUI

OLOWALU, HI

My internship with The Nature Conservancy Hawaiʻi and Palmyra focussed on the application of indigenous and nature-based solutions in Olowalu, where a 4 mile stretch of highway is undergoing improvements and potential realignment. The Nature Conservancy was tasked with proposing the implementation of naturebased strategies as well as those that include traditional Hawaiian cultural practices across the site, located inland of one of the largest reefs in the state of Hawaiʻi. This project included the production of educational materials for different adaptation strategies, site analysis diagrams and conceptual resilience planning.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Proposed adaptation strategies ranged from upland development strategies to off-shore restoration practices that mimicked traditional Hawaiian reef stewardship. The project team determined that different indigenous and naturebased strategies must be applied across the site to restore the ecosystem functions of the watershed, preserving reefs that protect the coastline by improving the quality of water entering offshore systems.

DUNE RESTORATION DIAGRAM

PROPOSED SHORELINE ADAPTATION

CURRENT

Invasive Kiawe Trees crowding shoreline and impacting dune formation

Visitor Parking adjacent to Highway degrading onshore sand deposits

Unmanaged Invasive vegetation crowding wetland environment

Altered hydrology due to sedimentation, invasive vegetation, and disconnection from water source

Dune walkovers allowing public access while protecting sand deposits from erosion

FUTURE

Vegetated shoreline with local species providing habitat and shade

Conversion of former highway into shorleine access road with parking where appropriate

Improved stormwater water capacity and filtration ability in restored wetland

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

This design proposal unites the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) campus while creating tiers of access to maintain the integrity of the research needs of the institute. This hierarchy fosters a meaningful interations between IMS staff, students, and on-site visitors as they engage with the local ecological systems. Phase One of the design includes a boardwalk traversing the maritime forest on the east portion of the site, extending off-shore to allow for enhanced views of the sound. The understory of the maritime forest will be enriched with salt-tolerant coastal species. An elevatedobservation deck and shoreline field will accommodate group events.

Phase Two will provide opportunities for public interaction with the UNC IMS through the observation deck and tidal research pond, which will display the importance of the IMS’s research. An extended boardwalk will allow for waterfront connectivity across the entirety of the site. Additional parking on the north portion of the site will accommodate an increas in visitation and student attendance.

RESEARCH VESSEL MAINTENANCE YARD

BOGUE SOUND

CERTIFIED COUNTY SHORELINE IMS MAIN BUILDING

THE BLUFF ZONE

The site’s shoreline is dominated by the bluff zone, which uses native salt-tolerant shrubs and grasses to create a dramatic frame for waterfront views. The proposed grading creates a new upland ridge directly adjacent to the water’s edge. A pedestrian boardwalk and observation deck foster engagement with the site’s aquatic ecosystem. Low-growing shrubs, including wax myrtle and dwarf yaupon holly rise above waves to pink muhly grass and sea oats. The grass palette alters towards the water, where living shoreline interventions reduce erosion risk using saltgrass and smooth cordgrass.

Bluff Planting

Pedestrian Pathway

PLANTING DESIGN

The University of North Carolina’s Institute of Marine’s Sciences planting design showcases the unique ecology of the North Carolina coast across several distinct zones of the site. The site’s topography and proximity to the Bogue Sound was used to delineate these zones; each highlighting a different local ecosystem. These include bluff, wetland, and coastal meadow planting zones.

CONCEPT SKETCHES

Conceptual Master Plan

Bluff Planting Concept

Off-Shore Boardwalk Sketch