Better Philadelphia Challenge: West Philadelphia - 2015

DESIGNING HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS

2016 Better Philadelphia Challenge/ International Design Competition

CAL POLY POMONA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE FALL 2016 LA 401L

YOU ARE NOW ENTERING WEST PHILADELPHIA .

EXISTING CONDITIONS

DESIGNERS Edgar Hernandez Nicole Nguyen

EXISTING CONDITIONS

DESIGNERS Sarmen Abedi Shawn Park

EXISTING CONDITIONS

DESIGNERS Jaime Flores Carlos Perez Christian Villagran

EXISTING CONDITIONS

DESIGNERS Oscar Porron Charlene Voight Amber Urena Yingi Hu

EXISTING CONDITIONS

DESIGNERS Ivan Pineda Marco Garcia Emilio Castillo

This book is designed to document the collective work of individuals within Cal Poly Pomona’s Landscape Architecture Program who partook in LA 401 and the 10th Anniversary of the annual Better Philadelphia Challenge, a competition hosted in memory of Ed Bacon.

Special thanks to Dornsife Center for Neighborhood Parternships.

“...each of these communities is designing from the bottom up, not the top down, what it is they think they need, and we’re working with them to make that happen. And each of these communities is prepared to do what it takes to change the odds for their kids. We will help them succeed -- not with a handout, but as partners with them every step of the way. And we’re going to make sure it works, and we’re going to hold them accountable to make sure it is making a difference in the lives of kids.”

Barack Obama

BACKGROUND STUDY MODELS MAPPING COMPETITION ENTRY FINAL DESIGN

CONTENTS

BACKGROUND CITY BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION

The city Philadelphia is the largest city in the state of Pennsylvania and the fifth-most-populous in the United States. Located in the Northeastern United States, at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, Philadelphia is the economic and cultural center of the Delaware Valley. The size of Philadelphia is 135 square miles and its estimated population, in 2014, was 1,560,297.

In 1682, William Penn founded the city and Philadelphia played an instrumental role in the American Revolution, as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the Constitution in 1787. In the 19th century, Philadelphia became a major industrial center and railroad hub that grew from an influx of European immigrants. It became a prime destination for African-Americans in the Great Migration and surpassed two million occupants by 1950. Following numerous civil rights protests and race riots, the city experienced decades of heavy crime and neared bankruptcy

LEFT

Starting from the ground up, programs such as the ‘Mural Arts Philadelphia’, helped the city earn its recognition as the “City of Murals”

TOP

Public displays of murals spread throughout the city. by the 1980s. Revitalization began in the 1990s, with gentrification, turning around many neighborhoods and reversing its decades-long trend of population loss.

Philadelphia is the center of economic activity in Pennsylvania and is home to seven Fortune 1000 companies. The city is known for its arts, culture, and history, attracting over 39 million domestic tourists in 2013.

Philadelphia has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city, and Fairmount Park is the largest landscaped urban park in the world. The 67 National Historic Landmarks in the city helped account for the $10 billion generated by tourism.

Philadelphia’s neighborhoods Philadelphia’s neighborhoods are divided into large sections—North, Northeast, Northwest, West, South and Southwest Philadelphia— all of which surround Center City, which corresponds closely with the city’s limits before consolidation in 1854. Each of these large

areas contain numerous neighborhoods, some of whose boundaries were derived from the boroughs, townships, and other communities that made up Philadelphia County before their absorption into the city. The scale and urban fabric of Philadelphia is much like many cities in the Northeastern United States – and unlike most in Southern California. Its urban neighborhood form is,in general, smaller/ human scaled and fine-grained. Philadelphia displays many characteristics of a small town.

Its many trees, parks and other open spaces, and its quiet pace of life reflect in various ways its Quaker heritage - bestowed on it by the city’s founder, William Penn. Lining Philadelphia’s straight, gridiron streets - the row house defines the vernacular architecture of the city. Row houses were built to fit all levels of taste and budgets, from single-room bandbox plans to grand town houses. The row house was easy to build on narrow lots and affordable to buy, and its pervasiveness resulted in Philadelphia becoming the “City of Homes” by the end of the nineteenth century. As Philadelphia

emerged as an industrial epicenter, the row house became synonymous with the city and was held up as an exemplar for egalitarian housing for all. From Philadelphia’s founding, the row house has served as an easy solution to housing the city’s residents. As ambitious colonists began to break up the big city blocks of William Penn’s “greene country towne” with secondary streets, alleys, and courts; speculative developers and builders constructed rows of houses that matched varied budgets and taste. In many Northeastern American Cities, including New York, Baltimore, Providence, and Washington, D.C.; builders, developers, and residents used row houses to solve the problems of housing demand, steep land prices, and narrow lots. However, Philadelphia’s unique combination of original city planning, expansive geography, and the simultaneous trend of speculative building meant street (or court)-front land was obtainable by builders or modest investors at an easier rate compared to other major urban centers. As a result, Philadelphia’s streets, alleys, and courts were lined with relatively homogeneous structures of

predictable form and design. By the nineteenth century, the term “Philadelphia row” not only became synonymous with the landscape of the city, but it also became a term used elsewhere to describe orderly rows of regularized houses.

The city layout The grid of streets in Central Philadelphia, the first U.S. city to be so arranged, follows the original plans of William Penn. Midway between the two rivers, Penn Square, occupied by City Hall, is the center of the plan. The building itself, opened on January 1, 1901, is one of the city’s great monuments and is the largest example of French Second Empire Architecture in the United States. City Hall contains 700 rooms and 250 architectural reliefs and sculptures by Alexander Milne Calder, including a 37-foot, 27-ton statue of William Penn that stands atop the building’s main tower; the tip of his hat— almost 549 feet above ground level, or approximately 33 stories—was for some 90 years the highest point in the city, by an unwritten “gentleman’s

KNOWN AS A “CITY OF HOMES.” LEFT

In 1682, William Penn appointed Thomas Holme surveyor-general of Pennsylvania to survey and draft the first map of Philadelphia as Penn envisioned. agreement.” Four shady, fountained squares— Logan, Franklin, Washington, and Rittenhouse— dot the quadrants. Westward from Penn Square, along John F. Kennedy Boulevard is Penn Center, and the long stretch of Broad Street, north and south of Penn Square. Broad Street has been called the Avenue of the Arts because of its numerous cultural attractions. The street is comprised of high-rise offices and hotels, with interior courts and malls and underground walkways lined with shops and restaurants.

Benjamin Franklin Parkway provides a splendid vista as it cuts diagonally northwestward from Penn Square through the grid, encircling Logan Square and leading into Fairmount Park. It is the nation’s largest landscaped park within city limits and was the center of the Centennial Exposition of 1876. Fairmount is also one of the most frequent foregrounds for photographs of Philadelphia’s skyline.

Architecture Throughout these areas and elsewhere, domestic

architecture is characterized primarily by twoand three-story red-brick structures, fronting directly on the sidewalks and containing impressive examples of colonial design both inside and out. The Philadelphia Historical Commission has certified about 7,500 buildings and structures, ranging from 17thcentury houses to a bridge constructed in 1950.

Restoration of the old but habitable has been more characteristic than wholesale demolition and rebuilding throughout most of the city. Even in its downtown section, Philadelphia continues to be a city of shops rather than of huge merchandising outlets. For most of the 20th century the major features of the skyline were the massive contours of the city’s many banking and financial institutions. In 1987, a change was signaled by the completion of the first of a number of new skyscrapers that redefined the skyline of Philadelphia and formed part of the construction boom that took place during the 1990s and early 2000s.The long stretches of Philadelphia north, south, and west of the intersection of Broad and Chestnut streets, a city hub of sorts just below Penn Square, contain numerous distinctive sections, often identified for generations with various ethnic groups that have filled the city during its long history.

The people Though Philadelphia has had most of the characteristics of an ethnic and racial melting pot nearly from its start, it lacks the steaming hurly-burly visible everywhere in its behemoth neighbor, New York City, about 90 miles northeast. Philadelphians by and large are not a street people, and their orientation has been so traditionally toward the home that the city became known as a “city of homes.”Philadelphians are also great joiners, giving the city more social and other clubs than any other in America. Many of these are based in ethnic neighborhoods - others are city wide.

PROJECT SITE

an influx in new real-estate investments.

The 401L Studio’s Project Site lies within the Mantua/Belmont section of West Philadelphia.

This neighborhood is bordered by some of Philadelphia’s largest institutions(the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, the Philadelphia Zoo, and Fairmount Park), as well as by large industrial sites (most notably the AMTRAK rail yards).The Mantua/Belmont Neighborhoods are primarily residential properties. There is minimal industrial presence in the neighborhood. Most of Mantua and Belmont’s residential properties are two and three story row houses, although there are some twins and single units. Similar to the situation in nearby Mantua, most of the row houses were built in the mid-1940s as worker residences for nearby factory jobs. Today, the community is seeing an influx in new realestate investments. Many of the new homes are multi-units, designed to accommodate the increase in student and mixed-income dwellers. Additional newer housing units are in the vicinity of Union Street and Aspen Street - Three bed room homes with private parking.

of Technology located on Market Street near both universities. Each of these attractions are within a short walking distance of the neighborhood.

As a result, an influx of student’s, employers and empty nesters are relocating to the neighborhood.

The community is favorably located near some of Philadelphia’s most popular tourist attractions, educational institutions and center city. The Philadelphia Zoo is located just south on the other side of the 34th Street Bridge. The country’s first Zoo continues to attract thousands of visitors each week. The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is east of Mantua on the other side of the Spring Garden Street Bridge. Located on the Parkway are The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Franklin Institute, The Rodin Museum, Eakins Oval and a host of other worthwhile attractions. Also located near Mantua are Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania as well as the Avenue

Shopping

Religious institutions The community has a host of religious institutions, recreation/community centers and playgrounds:(Miles Mack Playground (36th and Aspen Street), Butch Ellis Playground (39th and Olive Street), James Wright Recreation Center (34th and Haverford Avenue). Each of these recreation locations are named after residents who are nolonger with us but devoted much of their time to improving our community. Other recreation locations are The West Philadelphia Community Center (35th and Haverford Avenue), 37th and Mt. Vernon Street Playground, 33rdWallace Street Playground, Haverford Community Center (39th Street between Mt. Vernon and Wallace Street.

The primary shopping area is Lancaster Avenue.

Located on Lancaster Avenue 40th and above are a plethora of stores. Athletic attires/equipment, furniture stores, house hold supplies, food and produce, hair salons and barbershop. Within the community are a number of businesses.

These businesses include many local stores that offer basic produce and household items.

The community also has a hardware store, barbershop/hair salons, real estate companies, child and adult care centers, and pizza shops.

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

STUDY MODELS PHYSICAL, CONCEPTUAL, EXPLORATORY

Constructing study models is a method of exploring ideas and furthering an investigation in progress. For the purpose of 401L, the study models serve to generate an understanding of the qualitative and quantitative aspects of living, working and playing within the urban and regional circumstances revealed in the initial phases. During the process, invocation of a feeling/emotion was encouraged to critically identify key features and/or conditions of Mantua/Belmont. Embedding a layer of feeling/ emotion to the study models reveal connection and relatability to richen the narrative of the piece.

Let us make future generations remember us as proud ancestors just as, today, we remember our forefathers.

Roh Moo-hyun

Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is a success.”

Henry Ford

“Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man’s life is independent.

He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self.”

B.R. Ambedkar

Trash has given us an appetite for art.

Pauline Kael

There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.”

Leonard Cohen

MAPPING STUDY, RESEARCH, REVELATION

Mapping pushes the envelope of research and investigation to assimilate the conditions and context of the site. Compiling the data and connecting the dots reveals nuances and subtleties of the site that would have otherwise not been manifested. Investigative mapping also creatively and clearly communicates the findings/issues so that the resulting work can readily inform your future design.

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

COMPETITION ENTRY 2016 BETTER PHILADELPHIA CHALLENGE Students were challenged to imagine a healthy future for the greater Belmont/Mantua neighborhood of Philadelphia, which is located just West of Center City Philadelphia and surrounded by large educational organizations and industrial sites. They were asked to address various topics in the visionary proposal including: the types of health and activity concerns the proposal addresses, the overall design of the full competition site, and how the design would impact residents in their daily lives. This competition was opened to individuals from all fields of profession, not limited to landscape architecture, economic development, public health, etc.

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Revealing the Intangible

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itive - Men

Better Philadelphia Challenge Art in many ways is similar to what food can do for the residents of Belmont and Mantua. They are both a work of art: food is an art form through the flavors within the dishes, as well as the presentation.

Art is about the process of the design to the final product. Art is a means of letting one express their feelings and their views, it can be political or cultural, or even just being a big decorative piece. It is an activity anyone can do, one does not need to be an artist to create art. A resident does

View of the outside enhances wellness.

Color to stimulate emotions.

Views that inspire.

Sight

generations for generations ago has established a foundation of life lessons, both positive and negative, for future generations to learn from and build upon their own futures. Much like art, life itself develops over time, taking over what once the standard of that specific time. Food and art are forms that help develop a life lesson for the future generations to build upon and develop over time, and for the generations after them to become a bright, healthier future.

not need a background in art to create something that they can be proud of or a way for them to express themselves.

Murals, sculpting, or even gardening can be implemented throughout the city, even though murals decorate many of the walls in the area. Food and art are both a means of expression. With both, the residents work with their hands which develops a deeper connection to the gardening, painting, or even cooking that they are doing. Like the rings of a tree, the multiple

Meditation for relaxation and relief.

Educational for all ages.

Nostalgia - a happy personal connection.

Soothing sounds can be relaxing.

Educational - listening to lessons.

Hearing Smells can create nostalgia.

Experiences of different aromas.

Smell

Edible garden - Healthy and fresh food options available.

Exposure to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.

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Taste

- Interac

Sensations of different textures/materials.

Hands-on - the interaction.

Help with motor skills.

Accessible to all.

Exploration and experiences through different spaces.

Mobility

The Senses C

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On-top of the five senses we have, touch and mobility are added to these sensory experiences.

Each sense targets different points, from the relaxation of the mind, to hands-on activities such as mural painting or gardening.

38% N ngl i 47 % S h o

H o us e

Sensory Connections to the Kit of Parts Each component of the kit of parts targets multiple sensory experiences. The experiences can happen simultaneously or individually. It was revealed that many of the components overlap with many of the same sensory experiences.

Blow-Up A

Potential intervention for NEC of 36th St. and Mt. Vernon St. Components used: • Community Garden • Murals (art) • Vertical Gardens

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Philadelphia Zoo

A: Northeast Corner of 36th St. & Mt. Vernon St.

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Fairmount Park

Railroads

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Belmont Ave

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Schuylkill River

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A Haverford

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Potential Locations for Intervention Locations of Sample Interventions

B

Phase 1 - targets roughly four full blocks. This will be the start of future inventions.

Phase 2 - 1,000 ft radius from center of phase 1. Within these areas targets open spaces for interventions.

Locations close to schools or big open lots in general.

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als - Art

Phase 3 - 2,000 ft radius from center of phase 1. Overlapping from previous phase emerge. Target locations roughly near schools or big open lots in general.

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500’

Scale: 1” = 500’

Master + Phasing Plan

Potential intervention for NEC of 37th St. and Haverford Ave. Components used: • Community Garden • Food Stands • Greenhouse Gardening • Murals • Performance Stage • Sculpture Gardens

1,500’

University of Pennsylvania

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Philadelphia Project Site

Schu yl River kill

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Drexel University

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B: Northeast Corner of 37th St & Haverford Ave

Vicinity Map Scale: NTS

Resourceful B View of Wetland Area

A Outlook View looking towards Philadelphia

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LEGEND 1 Forest Area 2 Resting Area 3 Wetland 4 Bike Path 5 Outlook 6 Plaza 7 Shared Walkway

Scale 1"=40

1 0'

2

4

6

Blow Up of Centralized Park Scale 1"=150' 150'

450'

Master Pla

LEGEND 1 Forest Area 8 Pedestrian Brid 3 Wetland 9 Rain Garden 5 Outlook 6 Plaza 7 Shared Walkwa + Bioswales

3

0'

400'

600’

Semi-Wet Ve 5

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Submerged V

B

Tall Trees

Clean access to water and maintaining water sources free of contaminants is the purpose of our design proposal. Water quality is essential to the development of healthy viable spaces for human dwelling. By allowing water to seep into the ground a natural form of filtration occurs as well as encourage wetlands to arise. Spaces that allow water to accumulate and slowly infiltrate help filter and reduce storm water pollution that flows into the Schuylkill River. By visually highlighting the three physical properties of water within the site, the hope is that it will help develop a connection between residents of Belmont and Mantua and their association with water.

Medium Shr

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Medium size

Accumulatio

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Mounds

Health Benefits: - By preventing runoff pollutants from getting into the Schuylkill river, the residents of Mantua and Belmont will have a clean local source of freshwater.

- Fresh water will help them lead better lives by allowing them to continue to use water in their daily lives.

- The re-purposed use of open space in West Philadelphia will better manage rainwater to be used in providing local food in the form of cultivated crops.

- By providing a centralized area the residents have greater options in using it for physical activities.

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Snow 7

Monthly in Inches

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3

1 0

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Rain Garden Typology Freeze

Condense Inner reflection Intimate First signs of Winter Slopes for Sleds

Freeze Infiltration Active Wildlife Ponds Streams

Heated Snow Prepare for spring Ice on trees

Edible Plants Gardening Learning

4.33 3.78

Rain

3.54

3.78

3.7 3.43

3.03

3.54

3.5 3.19

2.99

2.64

Passive Area Little Schuylkill River Tulpehocken Creek Maiden Creek Allegheny Creek Monocacy Creek Hay Creek Manaraway Creek French Creek

Tuscarora Springs

Infiltration Area Winter

Passive Area

Infiltration Area Summer

Active Area Winter

Ac

Over 1.5 million people use the river as a source of drinking water.

Pickering Creek Perkiomen Creek Valley Creek Wissahickon Creek

30% is traced to agricultural operations

Schuylkill River Delaware River 2,000 square miles of water shed

Delaware River 130 miles from Tuscarora Springs Delaware River in Philadelphia

3,500 regulated sources of pollution in the watershed

1/12th of Pennsylvania Population

Rainwater from the streets is the leading source of pollution

Over half of the streams are considered polluted

78 large sewage treatment plants are along the River

Water Master Plan

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1200'

1600'

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Vegetation

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Map - Street Type

Map - Elevation

Map - Phase

Key Map - Philadelphia

Phase 3

Phase 1

Phase 2

ctive Area Summer Neighborhood Street Secondary Access Main Access

High Point

0% Impervious

37% of the land in the watershed is used for agricultural purposes

Evaporation Runoff Infiltration

Shallow 25% Deep 25%

Low Point

10-20% Impervious

40% 10% 50%

Shallow 21% Deep 21%

30-60% Impervious

38% 20% 42%

Shallow 10% Deep 5%

70-100% Impervious

30% 55% 15%

Shallow 20% Deep 15%

35% 30% 35%

EDU CA TIO

Living Gardens

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MOTIVATE

Better Philadelphia Challenge

KEY MAP Learn propper gardening techniques

C C

Energy appreciation EE

SS

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Develope deeper understanding of where food comes from

Deeper Sense of Purpose

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30 C C

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COMMUNITY G AR

Fresh! local! food!

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Health & Nutrition Benefits from growing food

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Enrich realationships amongst community members

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Develope vacant lots

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Repurpose Material

Defeat Segregation

Inspire community involvement

HEA LIN G

Community Policing

ENS RD GA

The physical landscape and the emotional fabric of the community will rebuild itself through a series of multi-dimensional gardens that will create healthy neighborhoods and active lifestyles. The combination of Educational, Community, Healing and Sculptor gardens will be designed and built by the community members and will encourage teamwork while also providing access to healthy food for their families. Not only will members of the community have access to better food sources and safer public gathering spaces, they will also develop a further understanding of proper gardening techniques. With the set of skills they learn and a deeper understanding of where there food is coming from they will also develop a stronger sense of ownership and respect for their community and the members living within it. With these physical design interventions, residents will reactivate the abandoned open spaces found throughout the city and be able to reclaim them as their own.

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Sensory activation

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Promote better mental health practices

Promote physical activity

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S S

Inspire Seniors to be more active in the community

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FALL PLANTING

+

GARDEN S URE PT UL

Establish Strong volunteer database

Showcase local artists & musicians

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SOW SEEDS IN GREENHOUSE

400

SCALE: 1”=

+ TRANPLANT

SEEDLINGS TO GARDEN

Establish forum of self expression

Create a stronger appreciation of art

DIRECT SOW SEEDS

SPRING PLANTING

+

Artistic exploration

SOW SEEDS IN GREENHOUSE

+ TRANPLANT

SEEDLINGS TO GARDEN

Art workshops Encourage artistic expression

DIRECT SOW SEEDS JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MAR

Reclamation:

Programs and Activities:

Recycle materials from piles of debris

25% vacant lots

glass and plastic

Programs and activities will be added to our seasonal gardens so the communities can have diverse activities year round. Year round gardens ensure that the communities will have a variety of programs to do throughout the seasons, both day and night. A combination of different programs will provide activities for the community members, thus allowing them to have a healthier and more active lifestyle.

brick

wood

TRANSFORMED REUSED

gabion wall from brick

greenhouse made from plastic, glass, & wood

community members working together

raised planter beds recycled wood

planting gardens

mental health

vegetable & fruit gardens

new usable spaces that are meaningful and safe to the community

WINTER Christmas Trees Lots Christmas Cards Snowman Building Caroling Food Drive Gift Exchange Baking Cookies Craft Fair Cooking Classes

EDUCATIONAL GARDEN 35% 11 Gardens 38,500 SQ. FT.

COMMUNITY GARDEN 25% 8 Gardens 28,000 SQ. FT.

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28%

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The first phase of the project will be led by the botony students at Pennsylvania State Univerity. An after school program let by the Botany students offered to K-12 students will allow the educational Gardens to become a continues program. Students will learn and develop basic principles in gardening as well as horticulture and be able to pass their knowledge on to members of the community.

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Eඌඝඋඉගඑ඗ඖ *ඉකඌඍඖ

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sඋඝඔ඘ගඝකඍ *ඉකඌඍඖ

13%

23%

1 mile Radius

S

S

C

C඗ඕඕඝඖඑගඡ *ඉකඌඍඖ

ASSOCIATES DEGREE

SCULPTURE GARDEN 20% 6 Gardens 21,000 SQ. FT.

Phase 1

C

E

C

Hඍඉඔඑඖඏ *ඉකඌඍඖ

HEALING GARDEN 20% 6 Gardens 21,000 SQ. FT.

S

H

H

Kite Flying Community BBQ Farmers Markets Easter Egg hunt Harvesting Workshop Music Festival

SUMMER Parades Bird Watching Firework Shows Farmers Markets Beer Gardens Coffe Gardens Propagation Workshops Outdoor Movie Screenings

E

21% E

C

SPRING Pruning Workshops Picnicing Outdoor Painting

Phasing Diagram:

Educational Attainment

HIGH SCHOOL

Thanksgiving

Creating connections through the garden will introduce diverse opportunities for the local residents in both Belmont and Mantua.

The advantage of having hybrid gardens is that locals will be able to do multiple activities and programs which will help them and other locals. These gardens are open to all ages as well as anyone who wants to contribute and be able to reap the benefits.

The idea is to collaborate as a community and produce a better living area by improving health, education, and healthier lives.

Mural painting

<HIGH SCHOOL

FALL Trick or Treating Pumpkin Patch Fall Festivals Bonfires Corn Mazes Leaf Art Apple Picking

E

Schools Gardens

S

BACHELOR’S DEGREE

Phase 2

C

E

S

S E

Hඍඉඔගඐ උඉකඍ ඎඉඋඑඔඑගඑඍඛ

C

C

The second phase of the project will be to introduce community members to gardening.

With the launch of the educational gardens, members of the community will be encouraged to share the knowledge they have acquired in the educational gardens with the members of the community gardens.

E

H

H

C

E

H

E

C

sඋඐ඗඗ඔ

C E

10%

MASTER’S DEGREE

E

S E H

S

C

E E H E

E

C H

O඘ඍඖ ඉකඍඉ

1 mile Radius

S

S

C

C

C

E

S

C

C

C

E

Residential Housing Gardens

C S H

E

800

1200

3%

PROFESS. SCHOOL DEGREE

2%

DOCTORATE’S DEGREE

S

1600

=400’-0”

RCH

Phase 3

C

E

S

S E

C

C

E

H

H

C

E

H

E

C

C E

E

S E H

S

C

E E H E

E

C H

Phase three is meant to take gardening to the next level by targeting your physical and mental health. By turning the focus away from gardening technique and food production, the healing gardens not only feature edible plants but also activate your senses. The healing gardens are not only for the ill and elderly, but also for the people trying to heal themselves emotionally.

1 mile Radius

S

S

C

C

C

E

S

C

C

C

E

C

S H

E

Health Facilities Gardens

S

Phase 4

C

E

S

S E

C

C

E

H

H

C

E

H

E

C

C E

E

S E H

S

C

E E H E

E

C H

The fourth and final phase is what brings all the gardens together by introducing art into the many different types of gardens.

Sculptural gardens will not only allow members of the community to be able to express themselves through different forms of art, but also allow them to protect the area that is theirs.

1 mile Radius

S

S

C

C

C

E

Art Galleries

S

C

C

C

APRIL

MAY

E

C

S H

E

S

Gardens

Why Use Green Infrastructure?

A collection of data from around the country that looks at the benefits that Green Infrastructure can have on Climate, crime, health, and reducing energy cost

B

10%

A 196

heat-related fatalities could be avoided over a

40

yr. period through the use of green infrastructure.

1.45

billion saved in 2006 in reduction of urban heat island related fatalities in Ph.

1-3

premature fatalities &

700

cases of respiratory illness avoided per yr in Ph.

GREENWAYS

EXISTING PARKS

RIVER

GREEN SPACE

CITY BLOCK

RAIL ROAD

LEGEND:

increase in tree cover would be associated with an

12%

decrease in crime rate, all else being equal

52%

reduction in total crimes in public-housing with high levels of vegetation.

42%

reduction in crime in public housing with medium levels of vegetation.

25%

reduction in domestic aggression & violence when residents where nearby natural landscapes.

FAIRMOUNT PARK

B A

$130 million projected health care cost saved over 40 years.

Climate

Health

$69M saved in 07 in avoided medical expenses in PH park systems. $865 saved annualy in medical cost by inactive adults who began to exercise regularly.

GIRARD AV

Reduced Energy Cost

C

D

91°F

Maximum average for green roof.

35°F

and summertime heat flow through roofs by 80%.

102k

single-family homes can be powered for one full year.

PHILADELPHIA ZOO th ST

green roofs with minimal vegetation reduced summertime temperatures by

million megawatt-hours of electricity per year saved in CA with the adoption of widespread green infrastructure.

N 34

2

of the Citys rooftops.

1.2

AVE BELMONT

Maximum avg. day temps for conventional roof surface

10%

N 40th ST

C 130°F

E

D

Crime

$30-$111 million estimated savings every year based on estimated economic benefits of greening

A

76 EXPY

N 41st ST

Case Studies of Green Infrastructure in Philadelphia

A C

17%

Homicide

Public Drunkeness

A

N 38th ST

14%

B PHILADELPHIA

23%

19%

12%

Narcotics Manufacture

Narcotics Possesion

Narcotics Sales

SPRING GA

Reduction in crimes in the city of Philladelphia. In a 5 mile wide radius through the use of green infrastrucutre.

NARRATIVE

Healthy communities are not only those who exercise the body. In order to create healthy communities the entire city and people need to become healthy, and this is were green infrastructure comes into place. It will not only create places for people to be healthy physically, but also provide an opportunity for the neighborhoods to become healthy, by having greenery that will clean the air and water through multiple weaving green belts and nodes. It will give the people places to gather and this would create a weaving of people of all ages, cultures, social status, a weaving of different ideas and points of view which in turn will create a solid neighborhood.

LA NC A

$130M

Saved over

1 - 2.4 premature fatalities avoided per year

40yrs in avoided health care cost

Impacts of Green

ST ER

RDEN ST

AV E

AVE POWELTON

Infrasctructre on Health Equal to Removing 3400 cars off road.

250

deaths due to excessive urban heat avoided in Over

700 cases of respiratory illness days avoived per year.

20 yrs.

1.5M

250 fewer work or school days avoided.

1 car = 1K cars

=

20

pounds of CO2

lbs

absorbed annually by G.I.

Asthma deaths avoided in 07.

INTERWEAVING WEST PHILADELPHIA

PHASE 1 Green Ways to Interweave Belmont and Mantua

PHASE 2 Using Vegetation to clean Air and Water

PHASE 3 Green Belt as main Artery

PHASE 4 Green Nodes for gathering

SCHU YKIL

L

R IV

ER

A SCH UY KIL

R IVE LR

MA NT UA

AV

E

B

MARKET

C

ST

N 1” = 400’ 0’

400’

800’

BIOSWALE

BIOSWALE

OVERFLOW DRAIN

PERMEABLE PAVERS

BIKE LANE PERMEABLE PAVERS

STORMWATER DRAIN

SECTION A-A NTS

FINAL DESIGN BUILDING A NEIGHBORHOOD . . .

In teams, students further developed a portion of their Master Plan submitted for the competition.

Student teams each chose an aspect, revealed from Phase/Project 1 + 2of particular interest- to develop a further, more specific neighborhood place design, within a set contextual framework of the Mantua/Belmont neighborhood site.

The studio project was divided into three(3) integral project components–all together, inter-dependent upon each other – which led to a site-scale urban design investigation.

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

“There is a crack in everything That’s how the light gets in”

REV E A LING T H E I NTAN G I B LE Through research and reading news article, life in Belmont and Mantua is a struggle with high poverty rates and low education levels. The area is primarily made up of residential housing, with the train, the Philadelphia Zoo, and Fairmount Park surrounding the northern and eastern boundaries of the neighborhoods. The Schuylkill River runs on the eastern side where the main freeways are.

Despite high poverty rates or low education levels, there is something still makes Philadelphia the city it is, and it is the food and the murals.

Short videos about the different neighborhoods of Philadelphia revealed the wide variety of food and cuisine. The second is art, which is a general term to describe the different mediums that make up art as a whole. Art can be paintings, to dance, to even food and cooking.

In Philadelphia, murals, that are a painting or work of art that is executed directly on a wall, decorate hundreds of walls in the various neighborhoods that make up Philadelphia.

What was revealed to us was food and art can bring a community or a group of people together. For many cultures, family gatherings revolve around food. Even with a busy life style with everyone constantly moving from home to work or to school, coffee shops have become many people’s go to places to meet up, a third place, a place for gathering. In Mantua and Belmont, there are a few community gardens, and even though not everyone knows how to

garden, it is a small step in bringing a community together. A community garden provides a variety of health benefits, such as access to healthy foods or a bit of physical activity in terms of maintaining the garden itself, and it is an activity any resident can participate in.

Art in many ways are similar to what food can do for the residents. Art is a means of letting one express their feelings and their views, it can be political or cultural, or even can just being a big decorative piece. It is an activity that anyone can do. A resident does not need a background in art to create something that they can be proud of or a way for them to express themselves. Murals, sculpting, or whatever other mediums of art can be implemented throughout the city, even though murals decorate many of the walls in the area.

Food and art are both a means of expression.

With both, the residents work with their hands, which develops a deeper connection to the task or activity they are doing. By working with their hands, they, in a small way, are giving back to their neighborhoods. Like the rings of a tree, the multiple generations from decades ago has established a foundation for the future.

Much like art, it develops over time, taking over old work. Food and art are forms that help develop a foundation for future generations to work off on and develop over time, and for the generations after them to become better.

Yellow

• Very common in flowers • Stimulates mental activity and generates muscle energy • Sunshine, joy, happiness, energy, cheerful

• • • • •

Blue

Color of reverie and dreams Sedating color Calms the mind and body; cleanliness Suppresses appetite Depth, stability, trust, wisdom

Red

Green • • • •

Restful in all its variations Neutral with warm yellow and cool blue Does not tire the eye; great healing power Nature; constant through the growing season; long-lasting • Growth, harmony, freshness, fertility, safety

N 41st St

• First color seen • Quickens heart rate and helps to produce adrenaline • Bold color, can tire the eye and mind • Energy, strength, power, determination, love

SIGHT La

nc

as

te

rA

Orange • Challenging color • Looks best with purple • Combines the energy of red and happiness of yellow • Joy, sunshine, happiness, creativity, warmth

TOUCH Key Senses for Light Art

Light is a visual element. And by incorporating textural elements, touch can be implemented as well.

Purple • Very rare color in nature • Considered to be artificial • Combines the stability of blue and the energy of red • Ambition, independence, creativity, magic

Model Sit

Mainly made up o different areas mapped in to sho else, to explore

Pink • Warm and inviting; can be bold as well as soft • Harmonizes well with other colors • Restful effect (especially when paired with grey) • Color retains into the evening • Love, friendship, passiveness

Color Theory

Exploring color theory to see how color influences sensory experiences.

Twenty-five murals overlay the “branches” that are found in Belmont and Mantua.

The tree is representational of the diverse communities that are found in the Belmont and Mantua neighborhoods.

Light A

This is des particular the lot ge most of th children e site, but m

Human Senses + Experiences Tree rings are representational of the multigenerational families that stayed year after year.

Much like color, our senses are gives a variety of experiences.

Tree to base represents the connection between art and the residence. Art or the murals specifically, depicts their past, present, and future.

Foundation of Design Concept

(Experience model from P1)

Upon further exploratio becomes much more th of art on a vertical wall. multi-dimensional and i This allows the user to art their own way, witho define what the experie be. Senses are intangib

Revealing th I vimeo.com/146684388 1020 South St. Philadelphia, PA 19147

Investigation Video at the Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens How the garden influenced our senses through art. This further our exploration and understanding of how art can influence all in the senses one way or another. Not necessarily triggering all our senses at once, but key elements or experiences that reveal the intangible.

Folsom St

BELMONT CHARTER SCHOOL

Project Site Olive St

PLAYGROUND

Church

Sc hu

Melon St

St Sight + Touch

Potential Smell + Taste Site

SITE

Corner Market

La

N 42nd St

Art Site Plan

N 39th St

of residential homes, we pinpointed key or within the model site area. Potential areas are ow a bigger experience for students, or anyone e art through their senses.

nc

Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program

1729 Mt Vernon St., Philadelphia, PA

as

te

rA ve

N

Scale: N.T.S. Drexel University

N 0

C

Mapped out are the public and charter schools, as well as universities within and around the site. Our target group are students of all ages and getting them engaged with art by revealing the intangible: their senses.

Fall

Sun & Shade Studies

Through this study, we found that our selected site for our light art will benefit majority of the year with direct sunlight.

This gives the site the potential to have changing color light throughout the day.

Spring

N.T.S.

be revealed through our experiences and that can be done so by art. Art takes form in a variety of mediums: painting, film, music, and even food.

Art, or the murals, in Philadelphia becomes the culture of the city. It is representational of their past, present, and future.

he Intangible

Edgardo Hernandez + Nicole Nguyen

Prof. Ray Senes Cal Poly Pomona Dept. of Landscape Architecture LA 401 Lab - Fall 2015

Light Art : Mobility + Sight + Touch

By maximizing the sunlight throughout the day, the structures are fixed with color glass that when the sun shines onto it, the light reflects onto a surface or onto the ground. Tunnels and pathways allow children, young adults, parents, and the elderly to explore and wander around the site. The structures are low to allow children to get a different levels to experience. Vertical walls have interactive activities for all ages to enjoy, along with movable vertical walls that can be constantly changed, giving a new experience with every visit.

S

SITE

Legend: 10 AM

Charter School

1 PM

Public School

U

4 PM

SITE

Summer

University

Model Site Area

Project Boundary

SITE

Winter

2,400’

Legend:

Belmont + Mantua Site Plan

SITE

800’

Scale: 1” = 800’

University of Pennsylvania

signed specifically for this r site to maximize the amount of sun ets throughout the day, and through he seasons. Multiple pathways let explore and wander through the mind your heads!

on, murals han just a work . It becomes intangible. experience out having to ence should ble, but can

N.T.S.

e

Potential Hearing + Cognitive Site St Mt Vernon

N Union St

te Area Close Up

Commercial Retail

N 40th St

N

n

to

es

Pr

St

Vicinity Map

d Av Haverfor

Wallace St

Mantua Haverford Community Center

Commercial Retail

ll R iv e

e

Commercial Retail

ylk i

r

Church

Corner Market

Av Belmont

Commercial Retail

Fairmount Ave

Schu yl River kill

Cognitive + Mobility + Sight + Touch Site

N Sloan St

N Preston

Av e

Philadelphia

Aspen St

C ONN EC TIV E C OMMON S In a world structured by temporality, our settings are poised to either evolve or devolve as series of events unfold. Oftentimes neighborhoods experience setbacks or reach its slump economically, socially, and/or environmentally resulting in the slow yet steady degradation of the quality of life for the inhabitants. This is the reality of Mantua / Belmont and its struggling occupants due to existing conditions such as high unemployment rate and food scarcity.

And because of the deficiency of a sense of community and an inadequate connection amongst the populace, the neighborhood currently lacks the drive for recuperation.

Notwithstanding the incongruity of the urban fabric at large, many social initiatives remain intact, reminding people that “there is a crack in everything [and] that’s how the light gets in” (Leonard Cohen). The city of brotherly love as a whole continues to exhibit hope due to many people willing to serve the community; Mantua / Belmont is no exception. There is a need for the choreography of hopes and ideas to anticipate the greater picture, a heterogeneous, yet connected urban fabric. We envision a community restructured on the basis of a calculus of relationships and relational ecology through

nodes, intersections, and junctions. These points of connections embroidered onto the street fabric serve as a primary network that instills a sense of community regardless of geographic boundaries.

In communities of rich connections and relational opportunities underlie loci that spawn relationships as individuals exchange ideas and share experiences. Imagine a network of ‘third places’ where people coincide to uphold a sense of brotherhood that continues to extend beyond geographic confines bounded by a vision of a hopeful and healthy community. By utilizing the empty network of vacancies that exist, we propose the birth of a new connective tissue integrating open space and community hubs with streetscape. Directly addressing the scarcity of parks, community spaces, and open space, this network of third places maximizes the potentials of existing vacancies to create an urban system solidifying the neighborhoods of Greater Mantua / Belmont. We envision this strategy to be analogous to the first domino piece that triggers the positive domino effect resulting in the suppression of other civil concerns. Ultimately, the outcome is an adaptable prototype that possesses the potential to aid other broken neighborhoods.

In a world revolving around a network of complex relationships, developing connections and forming communions is an essential part of a person’s life.

Communities are cultivated within the connective network, providing people with a sense of belonging and purpose, motivating members to create stronger bonds with the community and enabling them to call it their home. Therefore, we believe that the foundation of a healthy neighborhood derives from the basis of strong communal relationships. Personal associations are formed under different conditions and take place in various settings; however, many associations are born in third places, which can be described as public places of informal gathering, aside from home and work.

Connective Commons defines third places as an extension of home, on a more personal level with the Mantua / Belmont neighborhood of West Philadelphia. This area lacks the fabric of third places that serve as the framework of a healthy neighborhood, resulting in the residents utilizing the most available space for informal gathering, the street. Informed by this pattern, Connective Commons bleeds the characteristics of home onto the street, transforming it into a third place, shared by both residents and students.

Functioning as a prototype of future neighborhood improvement plans, Connective Commons aims to establish better connections between members of communities and better relations between neighborhoods.

B

A

Planting Strategy

Envelop the streets with tree canopy that acts as a ceiling giving a variety of sun exposure. Strategy on narrow streets creates a hallway inviting passersby while canopies on main streets open up near nodes to reveal different characteristics of the rowhouse.

Street Strategy

Transforming realms that once acted as an invisible border between communities creating public third places that are extensions of home.

Nodal Strategy

Utilizing existing nodes as points where characteristics of a rowhouse is expressed through various modular parklets.

SITTING ROOM Type: Private Quality: Poised for relaxing + contemplating

2ND FLOOR

BEDROOM Type: Private Quality: Poised for intimacy + isolation

BATHROOM Type: Private Quality: Poised for privacy

Dining Room

Congregating + Conversing

KITCHEN

Type: Public Quality: Poised for observing + gathering

1ST FLOOR

Kitchen

Observing + Gathering

DINING ROOM Type: Public Quality: Poised for congregating + conversing

HALLWAY Type: Public Quality: Poised for meandering + transitioning

PARLOR Type: Public Quality: Poised for entertaining + socializing

Hallway

Meandering + Transitioning

STREET

By extending the qualities of home outwards, third places take place on streets.

Parlor

Entertaining + Socializing

Connective Commons Narrow streets transformed into corridors, serving as public hallways for passersby.

B Invisible boundary no longer acts as a line of division, but a place of informal public gathering.

Commercial

Dining Room + Kitchen + Sitting Room

Institution

Dining Room + Parlor + Sitting Room

0

N

40 80

160’ A

1 inch = 40 feet

B Transportation

Dining Room + Kitchen + Hall + Parlor + Bedroom + Sitting Room + Bathroom

60o Vision

Bedroom

Intimacy + Isolation

PARLOR

Sitting Room

Relaxing + Contemplating

Bathroom Privacy

RES OURC EFU L WAT ER B. R. Ambedkar, a people centered politician once stated “Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean, man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives. Man’s life is independent. He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self.” Between 50­75% of our body is made up of water, a substance that is vital to the existence of life. Without water our existence as humans would not have occurred, for this reason clean access and availability is an essential component in creating self­-sustaining productive neighborhoods. Residents use water for hydration and in daily household tasks, it is an essential component in growing and maintaining outdoor vegetative spaces. Water is a constant changing element within a landscape, it physical cycle can be related to the daily lives of residents in West Philadelphia. Similarities between the physical states of water are a reflection of the residents and their involvement within the outside world.

Water in its liquid form is always moving and is in a stage of constant absorption. Residents have a bounty of daily tasks that create situations of them being in a constant stage of movement. Seeking completion of these tasks makes residents become engaged in situations where social involvement is a key component. Social involvement includes two people coming together to come up with a solution as well as a moment of mutual exchange. Water in its condescension phase can be associated with these types of interactions, often many and unmeaningful actions that just

are important to the completion of daily tasks.

Water in its solid state can be associated with being the foundation that allows residents to be able to have social involvement within their local community. Our design concept is to visually highlight the three physical states of water, by providing spaces where residents can have social interactions and communal meaningful experiences.

Seeing water as an economical natural resource as well as an indicator to the quality of life among local residents is the overlapping purpose for this design proposal. Creating a plant based local economy will contribute to the overall identity of the site. By allowing water to seep into the ground native plants are encouraged to thrive, boosting natural habitat will provide opportunities of learning and observation for residents. A simple water based movement can create opportunities in strengthening the intimate association of water and the inhabitants of the Manta/Belmont neighborhoods. By allowing spaces were natural and culinary based plants can thrive, will create places where residents gather and produce meaningful community centered experiences. Ultimately an appreciation towards natural self­ -sustaining ways of living can begin to develop within the residents. By giving an identity of the site this will helping bridge together the resident’s owns identity with their relationship with their outside space.

L I V ING G A RD EN S Abandoned lots and vacant areas in this community allow an opportunity to create a landscape of gardens that will act as a healing and an educational area for the community reestablishing the message of hope.

Community involvement with building and maintaining the gardens is essential for the educational and healing process. Therefore, residents should be allowed to be part of the hands on process. This project can bring the whole community together for a positive purpose. They will have the opportunity to learn by doing the work themselves.

Educational gardens will be within walking distance from the schools. Volunteers from the children’s homes are highly encouraged to be part of their child’s education and further their appreciation of gardens. Together the parents and the students will learn responsibility, pride, purpose, self worth, sustainable practices such as permaculture, and produce healthy fruits and vegetables for their families.

Healing gardens will be located within a quarter mile of all health care facilities and will be open to all community members; young, old, healthy and ones with illnesses. This garden will aid in the healing process for the mentally and physically ill. It will be a vibrant garden with a multitude of bright flowering plants which will serve as a place of meditation, relaxation, and exercise.

Sculptor gardens are placed in areas that are located in between school and hospitals

reaching out to both students and ones with medical problems. Sculptor gardens will be a place of creativity, play, hands on activities, music, mural painting and mosaic wall art.

During the evening the space will transform to a lively outdoor musical venue with the art work from the week being displayed for all to appreciate one another’s talents.

Community gardens will be located near the densely populated areas in Belmont and Mantua.

Together all members of the community will have a designated plot for their own gardening needs.

Volunteers from the nearby colleges that have a horticulture and or agriculture department will be available to teach and work with individuals to help achieve the resident’s goals on growing healthy foods since there are no neighboring grocery stores to purchase organic vegetables and fruits. On the weekends there will be farmers markets for people to sell their homemade goods and sell fresh organic fruits and vegetables. Every other weekend in the evening cooking classes will be available to teach and share recipes.

By revitalizing the abandoned and vacant lots with purposeful gardens, the physical landscape and the emotional fabric of the community will rebuild itself. In conclusion, by rebuilding the community through changing the physical landscape, teaching the community to work together, and educating the children and adults that there is a better way of life will revitalize Belmont and Mantua.

Living Gardens

“The city of brotherly love and sisterly affection” -Dornsife Center staff

Yingyi Hu, Amber Urena, Charlene Voight, Oscar Porron

These Living gardens provide a place for members of the community to not only grow food but also gather. These two vacant lots are adjacent from the Church of God, one of the largest congregations in the city, and dense residential housing. Although the two lots are fairly small, they do leave opportunity for food production, art, gathering space and recreational activity.

Pathway with Quotes

The Narrow streets, row housing, community gardens, murals and mosaics played a large role in designing this garden. By incorporating elements like raised planter beds, narrow pathways and slight changes in material this garden becomes a celebration of what you find in Mantua and Belmont. Furthermore, by temporarily closing the street for events, either in the community or with the church, the space becomes much more pedestrian friendly and encourages users to step outside of the typical boundary of the existing lots. A linear pathway cuts straight through the lots not only creating two separate points of entry into the garden but also, uniting the surrounding vacant lots and leaving them open for future garden growth.

“Harvesti a profoun in the sum winter. Ho -Alexis

Apple Trees Pear Trees Pallet Garden Trellising with shaded seating

This garden not only meets the needs of community members but also unites the community through activity and quality food production. By sharing the land with the church on site we are able to keep this garden functioning throughout the year. Not only does this mean that community members will have access to local food but they have an opportunity to make the garden their own personal project, one that is specific to their needs. By eliminating the standard garden plot rule, this garden focuses on encouraging community member to share space rather than own their own. With our seasonal planting palettes some areas of the garden are open different times of the year for different events and local art exhibits. The row housing creates a perfect canvas for West Philadelphia artists to showcase the murals they are famous for and be able to personalize the garden to their specifications.

“You Seat Wall and Planter

“Community and squatter gardens in Philadelphia take many forms, grow many things, and involve all sorts of people” -Sally Mccabe

Wooden Decks Wildflower Garden Water Feature Sculpture

Belm

t

“The Cit

y of

Bro th

ly L

e an

d Sis t ly A

ffec ti

”

Man tu

a

0

10

Scale: 1

ing bounty from our garden with my daughter is nd joy. We made jam from our garden’s berries mmer, and ate it all up on the first snow day this ow cool is that?!” s Buss, Chester Avenue Community Garden

“Don’t cheat Jesus with time” -AOH Church of GOD

Quotes from locals

u can walk anywhere in Mantua” -Dornsife Center staff Pallet into a Garden Top area is an optimal space for plants that are sun lovers.

Pack soil tightly in pallet to keep soil and roots contained

Stacked sequence allows for planting options and conserves ground space in dense populated areas allowing more plots to be available to residents.

Existing Trees Pallet supports vertical stacked structure off ground.

Different

Vertical Green

Permeable paving

20

1” = 10’

40

60

Vertical Green Wall

Horizontal Planting

Plant with typical ground cover under pallet to minimize mud during rainy season

Vertical

Vertical Garden

“Work days bring volunteers and gardeners together for a great time and getting things done, that keeps the garden looking good.”

-Winter Summer Garden

IN T ERWEAVI N G WES T PHILAD ELP HI A In order for a place to work, it needs the people who occupy it. The people who call this place home, need to come together and make things happen, since no one else understands the place better than them. We want to make the people not only come together but stay together and maintain those bonds they can create through the interactions they will have with our designs. We want them to come together, create connections, maintain those connections, inter weave them, and make them stronger, becoming one solid community.

So they can have a place they can call their own, a “backyard” they can feel proud of it owning and maintaining.

Places where they can gather and be creative and productive, not only will it help them individually but helps them all as a whole.

It will make them engage with each other to achieve common goals; it can also help them with finding people that can represent them as a community. Everything needs a foundation that can hold them and keep them standing as one.

Green infrastructure is also a plus in a neighborhood where most of the things are buildings with an excess of hardscape. It will also promote health as it can act as a center where people can

come and learn good healthy habits, such as eating right and getting more organic products.

It can be a learning experience not only with the vegetation, but also as a center of a collection of cultures and backgrounds that could enrich the place with them.

Learning how horticulture and sustainability can help them not only with food, but help them keep their bodies and minds occupied while doing it. It is a stress reliever.

It can also create strong relationships between different neighborhoods and extended towards different blocks, where people might not know each other.

It can make them come together to share not only their culture but also their history which might be similar to one another. Getting to know each other more, while doing something constructive for the community, such as planting a seed and caring for it while it grows to collect the fruits or the product afterwards. Which is why this is a community, they have to take care of each other and watch the neighborhood with their community not only grow but blossom into something beautiful.

Phasing Diagram PHASING DIAGRAM

a

b

Fairmount Park

Green Belt

c

Philadelphia Zoo

a c b

d

e f

40th St.

d

Pocket Parks/Parklets

e

Green Roof

f

Pocket Parks/Parklets

Deployment of Green Infrastructure Network.

A

Interweaving West Philadelphia attempt to bring together and interweave the major elements that surround this neighborhood in 3 different phases. Each phase would be a subsequent progression in this space.

Phase 1

Phase 2

Phase 3

Phase 1 design involves the fusion of the important spaces surrounding Jannies Place. This includes the green roof, transportation centers, vacant lot, and community church.

During Phase 2 these elements would already have found a stronghold within this community. The next phase would include the extension of this community hub towards the blocks and streets presently surrounding it.

The third and final phase of the phasing plan would involve the extension of the green infrastructure (green walkways, parklets, bioswales) into the other significant infrastructures of the city.

Block Scale Design

Neighborhood Scale Design

Interwoven Philadelphia

BUS STOP WAITING AREA GREENROOF

Mantua and Belmont are both neighborhoods located in Western Philadelphia. These two neighborhoods resemble the

same characteristics and qualities that can be used to describe The City of Brotherly Love, “pride, resilience, hardworking, and courageous”. Additionally, these neighborhoods are also situated at midway points in the city, being within close proximity from all of the major institutions and significant landmarks of the city.

However, given all these aspects, there are still citizens within these communities that rely on the help and support of their neighbors to help meet their needs.

Interweaving West Philadelphia

seeks to create a community hub within Mantua that will help

B Section AA

Scale: 1”= 10’

to empower single homeless women and children. Jannie’s

Place, a multi-family housing complex in Mantua currently serves

as sanctuary for the women and children in need, where

Interweaving

interweaving the important infrastructure located around this site; transportation centers, community gathering areas,

Section BB

Scale: 1”= 10’

B

they can find refuge, help, and assistance.

West Philadelphia aims to expand upon this idea of helping and assisting single women and children through our intervention. By

religious institutions, and environmental centers (Green Roof on Jannie’s Place, parks), children, women, and citizens from this

neighborhood would be able to feel empowered and to live healthier and more prosperous lifestyles. Important ecological aspects from the green roof located on Jannie’s

LA

NC

Place would be brought to the ground plane, where they would have the same traits and conditions which focus on water and energy efficiency. Additional aspects from a newly conceived

AS

and game changing green roof, Cira Green, would help to drive the design and look of theses spaces. Creating pockets and spaces where children and women can feel empowered, by having a space of their own, where they can feel like they

TE

R

AV

E.

own something, even if it is just a space where they can grow

their own vegetables or even meditate in a tranquile space, while at the same time helping to alleviate ecological issues in the community, this neighborhood can begin to prosper and grow with the help, of contributions and support from the community.

Cira Green Personal investigation, that is a state of the art green roof that utilizes modern technology that is site specific for the North East. The same environmental characteristics from Cira Green are going to be implemented into the design of the site such as collecting rain water and filtering through green infrastructure.

Interweaving West Philadelphia

Emilio Emilio Castillo Castillo + + Ivan Ivan Pineda Pineda + + Marco Marco A. A. Garcia Garcia + + Fall Fall 2015 2015 + + Prof.

Prof. Ray Ray Senes Senes + + Cal Cal Poly Poly Pomona Pomona Department Department of of Landscape Landscape Architecture Architecture

SITE PLAN

0

10’

20’

SCALE 1”-10’

N

BIOSWALES

GREENROOF, JENNIE’S PLACE

40TH STREET, BIOSWALES INTERWEAVING INTO THE SIDEWALK AND STREET.

DECIDUOUS TREES

n St.

BIOSWALE

rno Mt. Ve

PERSPECTIVE / SECTION, PAVERS AND BIOSWALES

A

Community Center

Site Investigation Infrastructure Culture Green People SITE VIEW RENDER, CORNER OF LANCASTER AND 40TH STREET

CONNECTIVE COMMONS

REVEALING THE INTANGIBLE

INTERWEAVING WEST PHILADELPHIA

OUR VISION TOWARDS A HEALTHIER, BETTER NEIGHBORHOOD.

LIVING GARDENS

RESOURCEFUL WATER

A city is not gauged by its length and width, but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dreams.

Herb Caen

Fall 2016 West Philadelphia Studio CAL POLY POMONA/LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE/FALL 2016/LA401L