Ni_Portfolio

RUICHEN NI DESIGN PORTFOLIO ruichenn@mit.edu Department of Urban Studies and Planning M

I

T

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Floral Maker Shop: A New Model for Floral Business Cambridge, MA

Evolution of Mobility: the MIT Sustainability Summit 2019 Cambridge, MA

BBT Power Chain: Blockchain Tech Application in the Energy Sector Cambridge, MA

Leim Shodoshima, Kagawa, Japan

An Urban Grmmar of Chinese Cities Binjiang District, Hangzhou, China

Plaza On Cloud: Digitalized Info-rich City Life Bonn, Germany

Broadway Bracelet: Main Street Revitalization Concept Beechview, Pittsburgh, PA

Nido Urbana: Urban Human-Bird Ecotone Barcelona, Spain

Bird Town: Bird Conservation Strategy at Watershed-scale Spring Creek Watershed, Centre County, PA

STORYBOARD: A Plaza in the Rail Road City Altoona, PA

Visual Communication State College, PA

01-04

05

06

07-09

10

11-14

15-20

21-24

25-30

31-36

37

FLORAL MAKER SHOP A New Model for Floral Business d4.051 The Human Factor in Innovation and Design Strategy | MIT, Cambrige, MA Fall 2018 | Individual Project | Faculty: Lee Moreau, VP Design, Continuum

Why not let people determine and make floral products by themselves?

Floral maker space could create such an intimate experience that allows customers to explore their interests and then feel good about the purchase.

It is a DIY venue for customers to help them customize ideal flowers that fit perfectly to any occasions. Technology will be a facilitator that assists the customer to narrow down choices, design the arrangement and guide customers to arrange on their own.

Before or at the florist, the customer could access to an online shop program with a QR code that provides additional information about the flowers in stock, including suitable occasions, seasonal specials, symbolic meanings as well as basics like nursery origin and fragrance.

Browsing and filtering, the database helps the customer to narrow down their preference.

Besides, embedded machine learning algorithm will provide smart pairing to recommend styling advice based on images from the internet.

Customers can choose from and build upon their own with the in-stock list. Customers will be encouraged to wrap them own their own with instructions provided for the specific arrangement.

With facilitation, It empowers the customer to participate in the whole decision-making and physical-making process. With a customized product, the process helps to build up affirmation about the floral choice and sense of achievement after the hands-on experience. All of these elements will enrich the purchasing experience and build up a positive emotion for the customers.

hands-on experience with detailed instructions

4

3 2

5

smart oral and styling recommendation

1

A mobile-accessible facilitation program

To help people obtain

Assurance Specialness Confidence with the flower

Challenges

4

3

Benefits

2 5 1

flower choice

Self-affirmation

customized product

Satisfication

hands on experience

Sense of achievement FLORAL MAKER SHOP User’s Journey

02

APP Prototyping

App Prototype

FLORAL MAKER SHOP Facilitated User Experience

03

FLORAL MAKER SHOP Visual Narrative

1

3

2

4

04

THE EVOLUTION OF MOBILITY Banner for the MIT Sustainability Summit 2019 dThe 11th MIT Sustainability Summit | MIT, Cambridge, MA Fall 2018 | Marketing Team Member for Graphic, Web Design and Digital Marketing

BBT POWER CHAIN Blockchain Tech Application in the Energy Sector dMIT EnergyHack: Hack Sustainability | MIT, Cambridge, MA Nov, 2018 | Communication Lead and Graphic Designer

This challenge for the 2018 MIT Energy Hackathon was developed by Robert Trinnear of Candor Energy.

(TEA/ Candor) Problem Statement Energyhog is a country actively updating its energy market. To do this, it is implementing two-way smart meters in order to enable realtime electricity pricing signals for end-use customers and encouraging the integration of renewables, battery storage, and electric vehicles into the existing energy transmission grid. To enable its energy market update, Energyhog wants a market-based, transactive exchange between energy producers and consumers. To accomplish this, they are asking you to strategically design a transactive energy marketplace, utilizing blockchain technology, that effectively engages the country’s latest efficiency-producing efforts.

Smart Contract with BBT Chain -Smart Appliance Control -Decentralized Exchange -Source Tracking

Leim - Living to engage in the moments Ideating to Bring the Spirits of Japanese Pilgrimage to Daily Life dTokyo Innovation Summer Program, i.school, the University of Tokyo | Shodoshima, Kagawa, Japan Summer 2018 | Project Facilitator

Organized by i.school at the University of Tokyo, Tokyo Innovation Summer Program (TISP) is an ideation camp for business restructuring and local placemaking. During the two-week intensive plan, we worked with students from Japanese universities and high schools at Tokyo and the countryside in Japan to help local businesses to extract compelling stories of their business and generate new product ideas to reinforce that.

The project we had in the countryside of Japan was located on the Shodoshima island, which is a sacred place for practicing Henro, Shikoku Pilgrimage. We were working with a monk, Mr. Kobayashi, who has dedicated to spreading the spirit of Shikoku Pilgrimage. Five high school students from Kagawa Prefecture also joined us as the leading product designer for the project.

Throughout the process, a Japanese university student, a student from Thailand and I were working as facilitators that guide those high school students walking through the fieldwork, analysis, ideation, prototyping, and presentation process. The product we facilitated is a diary, called Leim (Live to engage in the moments).

It consists of daily questions for reflection that would guide people meditate and insights of Pilgrimage spirit. With this, we hope to bring the practice of Henro to people who are too busy to care about themselves, helping them focus on their own life.

i Mr. Kobayashi, a business man @ Osaka

ii became a monk and came to Shodoshima

iii practiced pilgrimage on the island

iv encoutered many obstacles

v enlightment: being able to focus on the present matters the most

vi spreading his thoughts by hosting workshops on pilgrimage on the island

Leim

Storytelling: Hero’s Journey

08

Leim

Team and Ideating Process

09

An Urban Grammar of Chinese Cities Monitoring China’s City Expansion in the Urban-Rural Fringe: A Generative Grammar for Binjiang District in Hangzhou* dLarch 497 Introduction to Shape Grammar | Penn State, State College, PA Fall 2017 | Independent | Faculty: Dr. José P. Duarte * Presented at the Eighth International Conference on Design Computing and Cognition (DCC’18).

Published as a book chapter: Ni R., Duarte J.P. (2019) Monitoring China’s City Expansion in the Urban–Rural Fringe: A Grammar for Binjiang District in Hangzhou. In: Gero J. (eds) Design Computing and Cognition ‘18. DCC 2018. Springer, Cham

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330228884_Monitoring_China‘s_City_Expansion_in_the_Urban-Rural_Fringe_A_ Grammar_for_Binjiang_District_in_Hangzhou

[Urban Induction Pattern (partial)]

PLAZA ON CLOUD Digital Urban Venue in 2030 d4-5th year Advance Design Studio | Bonn, Germany Spring 2017 | Individual Project | Faculty: Prof. Bruno Röver

mass info website chat app

block info website

how we

social

cyber sport

speciality website

multi-sensua l website

Fort the future life, individualism would become a new measure of value in society.

Personal encountering is decreasing in the public spaces. In a sharp contrast, convergence around the internet has been growing. “Internet commensality” really stirs formation of ideas, with a role in the process of social development. we should not neglect the new social and economic structure, and vibrant energy that facilitated by the internet. Instead of preventing internet in the public space, why not maximize the function of the internet for physical activities?

Is there any way to move the online living model onto the physical spaces?

This project deals with those questions in the context of 2030. It provides a versatile and vibrant plaza idea with insights of future social pattern and technology development. Equipped with AI system, interactive screens, and AR/VR projection, and information archive, the cloud plaza is not only a venue for happening, but also an assistant with social service programs, which is built for the community for a better living. The plaza cloud makes it possible to link individual spaces together, either within the city or globally, promoting conversation between communities and cultures.

Collaborative Consumption As public awareness on resource scarcity is increasing, collaborative consumption is likely to become a trend. People will start to use new technologies to facilitate community trading, sharing and lending process, which will have positive effect on local economies. An alternative solution to resource scarcity is the popularization of 3D printing and home manufacturing. The digital manufacturing scene is centered on a growing number of enthusiastic amateurs with open-source computation equipment. This realizes a highly automated process for people to produce complex goods within the community. (Which?, 2013)

Individualized Working Pattern Part-time working and self employment are likely to become increasingly common across the age range. (source: Which?, 2013). Change of working pattern makes the term “work� become blurry with individual creation time. Many companies/offices do not have a definite working space anymore. As a result, people are not being circumscribed within a small room all day. They move out. The boundary between indoor and outdoor public spaces becomes vague.

Popularization of Clean Energy By 2030, the German power supply system will target at of 50% renewable sources in electricity consumption, especially wind power and photo-voltaic energy (source: Agora Energiewende, 2015). To make the energy generation flexible, variable and dispatchable, street furniture with on-site energy-generation capability will be introduced into the city. At the same time, reutilization of discarded wind power plant will become a topic in the design field (source: The Wind Factory, 2012).

PLAZA ON CLOUD

Life Envisioned: Future2030

12

[STRUCTURE] Digital Tile

[FUNCTION] Mass Customization Plaza (service package customization) the plaza can be programmed to adapt the specific contexts and user needs.

sand-blasted opalescent glass & sensors LED screens & 3D projector load cell with body sensors & processor

[PATTERN]

piezo-electric layer current paving protection layer

inner-community tourist destination shopping node memorial site city center other

community size composition cultural need special service

(updatable service system) with algorithmic analysis, the plaza could be refined according to collected big data to match with user behavior. functions and user experience also can evolve along with user feedback and technique development.

cultural fest sports global cloud memorial day inter-community conversation city festival “iPlatz” Pairing Request

city cloud past event long-time archive activities

“iPlatz_Stiftsplatz” would like to pair with your iPhone

Cancel

Pair

campaign site cloud

(cloud for global plazas) plazas all around the world are connected via internet.

People can have real-time interaction with people and events on the other side of the earth.

(info-accessibility) local-news, community calendar, school archive & internet

(individual preference) pair with personal tablets through app & bluetooth

Deposit System r=1m

[FEATURE] Triggered Interaction 1.2 m

monitor lid

(plasma radiant) with an idea that everyone is exerting invisible emotional influence to others, the playful program visualize the plasma of creatures to induce possible encounter on the plaza.

2D

33 D

underground trash storage (multi sensors) light, temporature, gravity sound, movement, emotion

Plug-in Furniture

(on-ground LED projection)

(individual screen)

(3D projection)

(screen sharing)

(AI service)

(interactive screen)

ity

plug-in chair for collective use LED screen with sensors

proposed digital tile

plug-in bench to sit on both directions

with magnets plug-in table with LED screen & 3D projector

Plug-in Landform cool

landform plugin with a curvy screen surface

PLAZA ON CLOUD

Structure, Function & Plaza Experience

13

Outdoor Study

Digital Exhibition

Speech

Cyber Play

Daily Usage

1:250

PLAZA ON CLOUD

An Assistant for Better Living (Site Application: Stiftsplatz, Bonn, Germany)

14

BROADWAY BRACELET Main Street Revitalization Concept d4th-year Community Collaborating Studio | Pittsburgh, PA Penn State, Fall 2016 | Group Analysis, Independent Proposal Faculty: Prof. Ken Tamminga

Hampshire Ave

Fallowfield Ave

er y Riv he g le Al

Ohi oR

iver

PITTSBURGH

Br oa

dw

ay

River hela ga

Coast Ave

Ave

Mono n

Broadway Ave Beechview

Central Business District of Pittsburgh

Realty Ave

Mt Washington

Tonopah Ave

free spaces happening along the Broadway reclaiming the street for everybody e Av

las Be e Av co

ne uli Pa e Av

Street Vendor Spot Cro

d

tea us o B

by ros

St

Ave

sby Ave

Trolley Stop

C

by os r C

e Av Los Angel es Ave

The Broadway Bracelet concept aims to reclaim a string of consistent public green spaces along Broadway Ave. T stations and vacant lots are potentially valuable assets. They could serve as public venues that express the identity of Beechview. The development will begin at the three sets of T stations and expand outward in vacant lots, billboard gardens and an existing park along Broadway. Any one of them evolve their own characteristics with aimed user groups and approprate programming. Besides site reclamation, this project also delineates in equipments and infrasturcture. These aim to provide Beechview with multi-functional and flexible streetscape, while also stating the community’s identities. The plan proposed easy-to-conduct fun communal projects, that also require community’s involvement.

Influenced by the idea of social entrepreneurship, the operations will offer job positions, facilitate active living and generate energy for Broadway Ave.

no To

h pa

Fallowfield Ave

with focus on - flexible venues for all kinds of civic uses - movable& multi-functional facilities - diverse & involving events - interactive, inclusive & safe - celebrating local identities

Pal m

Bea ch

Ave

Communal Lots With Programming

Craftsman’s Workshop

Shiras Ave

150 ft.

14’

Hampshire Ave

[STREET RECONFIGURATION]: Pedestrian-Oriented Theme -Trolley + automobile sharing -Widened pedestrian zone + bike lane -On-street parking

IGA

22.5’

10’

3’

8-18’

re

[STOP]: Civic Node

5 ft.

- 3 sets of trolley + bus stop within Beechview - bike station - detoured automobile lanes

Trolley Plaza @ Hampshire Ave

1.6’

20 ft.

8% 20’- 24”

2.1’ 6’

Carex Grass Evergold (Carex oshimensis ‘Evergold’) Carex Grass Ice Dance (Carex morrowii) Grasses to be planted under the platform, which is tolerant to wet, shady site; for exposed bioarea, install plants for common bioretention.

[STOP]: Structure Storm Water Treatment ADA Accessible

5 ft.

Underneath the elevated waiting area, a rain garden planter for storm-water treatment is structured to capture water runoff on railline. Vegetation serves as a bio-fiter to the water before entering an overflow pipe.

BROADWAY BRACELET

“Beechview” pattern is generated from the letters of Beechview; repeats at each waiting platform, facing the street, as a steel barrier prevent trash and large object from entering bio-filter.

Slow Traffic Concept & Runoff Management

Maintain 8% ramp for wheelchair to climb to the platform.

Common light rail platform height is around 25”, but specific light rail car height need to be measured to determine the appropriate stopping length.

5 ft.

16

[CANOPY]: Bring “Beech” Back to Beechview

attached to the overhead structure with a printed adhesive pattern, which is replacable when other artwork is proposed. At the same time, a solar light contributes to the identities of Beechview as well.

the multi-functional infrastructure meets the basic needs for convenient outdoor facilities, serving as a solar-powered lights, signage board, racks, and charging station. The beech canopy is

The chairs can be pieced together into different shapes

1.5

’

60º The chairs can be pieced together into different shapes

+

movable chair set

table & planter

1.5’ section

folded

unfolded

1.5

’

60º

lighting mode

movable chair set Morning glory chair-table set, individual chair can be assembled together in different shapes; can become a lighting fixture for special events when adding outer luminaire

[FURNITURE]: Interactive Seating

1.5’ Hi

1.8’

+ Craftsmanshiptable Program & planter

Most of the site benches and chairs are made from wood and steel. The proposal suggests to open a craftsman workshop section unfolded - alighting mode folded social entrepreneurship program. The idea is to offer educationally disadvantaged residents an opportunity to Morning glory chair-table set, individual can be assembled together different shapes; can become a learnchair a manual skill, producing furnitureinfor Beechview. lighting fixture for special events when adding outer luminaire The products could also be put on market at cheap prices.

As a result, it provides a secure job for unemployed people, reducing the presence of on-street risk groups.

Hi

see saw bench, neighbors play while awaiting transportation

1.8’

see saw bench, neighbors play while awaiting transportation

BROADWAY BRACELET

Features at the Stop

17

There are seven vancant lots, billboard lots, and an exisiting park that are not actively used currently, while residents express desire to stay outdoors, meeting with people. To provide adequate space for hanging on the street, the project transforms lots into a string of consistent parklets.

These spaces are roughly distributed in three major public districts. Trying to improve the sense of safety in alongstreet spaces, these parklets provide a variety of places for senior people, adults, youth and adolescents to hang out and attend community affairs.

seasonal market

farm garden committee

Farm Garden Stage

@ Billboard Gardens

Kid’s Lot

@ Lot 1534

dinner party

community order

@ Boustead St

Open Air Gallery

Pin and Draw

@Belasco Stop

Event Lawn

BROADWAY BRACELET

Communal Lots and Programs

On Screen @ Bousteat St

@ Shiras Stop

18

Yayoi Kusama Ron Mueck

Yayoi Kusama

Jeff Koons

Ron Mueck

Jeff Koons

Nathan Sawaya

Arts at Stop

Nathan Sawaya

The 6 T-line plazas are potential spaces for outdoor exhibition.

Each is spacious with on-site furniture designed to be assembled and arranged to place and install art works. The wide pedestrian zone is also suitable for performing artists. These plazas are venues to showcase emerging artists in Pittsburgh, itinerant exhibitions, and as artmobiles. Street performances are also encouraged on the plaza with simple registration with the local community organizations.

a.

hanging exhibition space+ solar light

b.

chiars left can be folded to exhibition hanging attach to the planter table solar light space+ movable planter

stacked chiars left can be folded to chairs as exhibition tables attach to the planter table movable planter

stacked chairs as tables pot exhibition in a cone shape

keeps balance when holding and hanging on the pole

a.

a.

b.

a.

5 ft.

pot in a cone shape keeps balance when holding and hanging on the pole

A beech leave signage to replace the ‘welcome to Beechview’ signage

Community bubble hanging on the pole as a type of signage

The pole sharing program is a chance to encourage community members to become involved in beautifying the street. People can take a free steel pot and put anything they like into the pot, hanging it on the hangers, which is installed on poles. Sources could be flowers from their own backyard, plants they get from other places, candies or other things to treat the neighbors.

Residents can show their creativity and get to know each other better through this program.

b.

b.

a.

Pole Sharing 5 ft.

b.

BROADWAY BRACELET

Special On-Street Programs

A beech leave signage t ‘welcome to Beechview

19

Project Open House Time: 6:00 pm Novemeber 20th, 2016 Location: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Beechview Participant: Community leaders, residents, stakeholders Agenda

Unsafe Places

Places need to be improved

Paths that are hard to walk on

6:00 pm-6:40 pm: Students individually gave breif project overview 6: 45 pm-8:00 pm: Poster session for in-depth inqury from audience and peer students.

Stakeholder Charrette

Community Mapping Input

Time: 6:00 pm September 20th, 2016 Location: St Catherine of Siena Church, Beechview, Pittsburgh Participant: Community leaders, residents, stakeholders

BROADWAY BRACELET

Agenda 6:00 pm-6:30 pm: Student groups gave short analysis presentations based on their project locations 6:40 pm-8:00 pm: Small group charrette, student groups lead the session to guide participants expressing needs and possible solutions.

Community Engagement

20

NIDO URBANA Urban Ecotone dForeign Studies | Barcelona, Spain Summer 2016 Study Abroad | Individual Faculty: Prof. Neil Korostoff & Miguel RoldĂĄn

Urban nest introduces an idea that the urban fabric is the living basis for both human residents and bird residents. The Barcelona blocks in L’Eixample can be regarded as units of constructed nests. The project focuses on enhancing the living quality of blocks with bird-friendly vegetated habitats and site-specified structures that provide safe communal areas for residents.

[CIVIC HOTSPOTS VS. GREEN SPACES]

[SCENARIO] [MODULE]: On the Block Scale

NIDO URBANA

Urban Habitat Matrix & Ecotone Modules

22

[MANAGEMENT]: Multilateral Process

Pedestrian Zone

NIDO URBANA

Implementation of Modules in the Chosen Blocks

23

Inner-block Inter-block Plaรงa Del Doctor Letamendi

26

NIDO URBANA

Detailed Structure & Modular Features

24

BIRD TOWN Bird Conservation Strategy at Watershed-scale d3rd-year Landscape Systems, Master Planning Studio Spring Creek Watershed, Centre County, PA Penn State, Fall, 2015 | Independent Analysis and Proposal Faculty: Prof. Neil Korostoff, Dr. Frans Padt, Dr. Larry Gorenflo

GOAL: Extending and Blending Habitat Boundaries with Native Ecotones

Guilds are group of birds living in the same habitat with similar behavior. Different guilds depend on particular landscapes. They not only provides food and territory for local birds, also support the global migration cycle. The parallel ridges in central PA serve as the guidance of migrating path, especially for Gold eagle and Bald eagle, while forests on the ridges are rest stations.

The diversity of bird is determined by the amount of green space and types of vegetation. Fragmented suitable habitats due to urbanization restraint birds’ movement. Continuing loss of habitats in recent decades results in a drastic decline in species diversity, and abundance overall. Besides, urban vegeatation produces homogeneous bird communities, with threats on the traditional migratory and dispersal routes. Grassland birds are particularly affected due to the absence of shrub patches with deadwood.

The conservation efforts will facilitate habitats touch each other, integrate together and form a larger unity with mixtures of plant communities.

The ecotone creation enables the Spring Creek Watershed to accommodate guilds of birds who favors deep forest, open prairie or wetlands. With native plant species restoration in the core-buffer model, increase in abundance and diversity of bird can be achieved ultimately.

[IMPORTANT AREAS]

8% BDA: 7422 Acres

71%

<all other values>

[

Agriculture

Biological Diversity Area (BDA) means areas that consist of

Commercial

“plants or animals of special concern at either state or federal levels”, “exemplary natural communities”, or “exceptional native diversity (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy,2002).

Communications

Y] G O OL

le Bald Eag

Creek

Sprin g Cree k un

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CATEGORY

· As a crucial part of the Center County Natural Heritage Inventory,

OTHER: 66754 Acres

]

E YP

biological DIVERSITY AREA

ree k

IBA: 191667 Acres

gC

SPRING CREEK WATERSHED: 93343 Acres

bird habitat spring creek watershed

· The Important Bird Area (IBA) research is conducted by Pennsylvania Audubon Society, with a definition as “a site that is part of a global network of places recognized for their outstanding value to bird conservation” (Western Pennsylvania Conservancy,2002).

rin

21%

Legend

[

R lo ffa Bu

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Shale Residuum Sandy Limestone Sandstone Limestone Colluvium Alluvium Other

Centre County in PA S p ri

Big Hollow

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1

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reek Spring C

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Spring Creek Watershed in Centre County

8

250 200 150 100 50

4

C

10

Bellefonte 6187

IO T LA

6

15

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Spring Creek Streams (Strahler Stream Order) 1 2 3 4 5

5

7

10

Milesburg 1123

un

2

B

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9 Bird Hotspots (Species Observed)

ab

14

P PO

Pleasant Gap 2879

[

Lemont 2270 Houserville 1814

16 Park forest 9660

13

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IO T A EV

11

Forest Agricultural Land Recreation Land Residential Area Public/ Urban Area Unused Land Water Important Area Outside

12

B

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Boalsburg State College 3722 42034

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Population Center Size (People) ey all sV nn Pe

9661- 6187- 3723- 1815- 112342034 9660 6187 3722 1814

BDA Forest-Woodland

Riparian-Wetland

1 - Spring Creek Valley

9 - Waddle

Grassland-Prairie

“Suburban Habitat”

2 - Big Hollow Road

10 - Scotia Barrens

3 - J-4 Cave

11 - Shingletown Gap

IBA

4 - Rockview Cave

12 - Bear Meadow Natural Area

A - Bald Eagle Ridge

5 - Millbrook Marsh

13 - Galbraith Gap Headwaters Seep

B - Toftrees (former State Game Land#176

6 - Thompsons Meadow Spring

14 - Linden Hall Park

C - Scotia Barrens

7 - Overlook Heights

15 - Boalsburg Road Hillside

D - Rothrock State Forest & Stone Mountain

8 - Waddle Swamp

16 - State College Limestone Quarry

BIRD TOWN

Inventory & Analysis

M sey Tus

tain oun

Population Distribution 1 Dot = 10 People 0

Spring Creek Elevation (Miles) 680 - 1,000 1,301 - 1,500 1,001 - 1,150 1,501 - 1,750 1,150 - 1,300 > 1,750

1

2

3

Miles

0

26

ird b n

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as e ar

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yp tt

th wi

Suitable 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

ita b a

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Not Suitable

ion

at r sto e er

0

1

0

1

2

3

2

3

7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Miles

Miles

Riaprian-Wetland Habitat Suburban Habitat Riaprian-Wetland Habitat Forest-Woodland Habitat Suburban Habitat

Grassland-Oldfield Habitat Forest-Woodland Habitat

0

1

2

Identify Key Restoration Areas

we

an

b ur

b

su

3

Miles

ie

[OPPOTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS]

BIRD TOWN

d

n tla

Not Suitable

Grassland-Oldfield Habitat

- The area of grassland habitat is very limited in the watershed due to development, which limits the existence of grassland birds.

- There is a vast area of land for residential communities and private landowners, which is a potential to advocate people creating their backyard habitat.

- Lots of woodland fragment cross the watershed. They could be managed, expanded and linked.

- Invasive plant species encroach on many forests as well as competition among alien bird species and native birds.

- Tributaries, headwaters, and wetland need protection from contaminated runoff from the impervious surfaces.

o wo

Suitable

i

air r p

d

an dl

air r p [SUITABILITY ANALYSIS] Areas adjacent to the Spring Creek and large tributary have the most potential to be restored and enhanced.

Besides dense urban or residential area, lots of loose residences and agricultural land have potentials to be habitats. The suitability analysis shows a possible linkage along the streams to connect the continuous forests on two mountains.

[POTENTIAL AREAS FOR HABITAT RESTORATION] 27

Diagram 1.2

[MANAGEMENT PLAN]

[IMPLEMENTATION] Conservation Model: Core-Buffer-Corridor CORE HABITAT PRESERVATION AND CREATION OF CRUCIAL HABIATATS WHERE: Existing Froest, Woodland, Riparian forest, Park

CORE HABITAT

BUFFER EXPANSION RESTORATION OF VEGETATION WITH INCREASE IN PLANT DIVERSITY It is also a buffering between existing habitats and other land uses, while it also blurs boundaries between adjacent habitats.

WHERE: Grassland, Riarian buffer in forest and prairie CORRIDOR EXTENSION RETAINNING VEGEATION COVER WITH PROPER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES The established corridors connect habitats and lead people to those habitats.

WHERE: “Suburban habitat” in residencial areas and streets

BUFFER EXPANSION

CORRIDOR EXTENSION

Reintroduce native species

CONNECT VIA CREATION - Grassland restoration on agricultural or open field - Existing woodland management (replace invasive species with natives) - Stream Daylight with riparian restoration

Stream daylight & riparian forest

BLUR AND OVERLAP - Ecotone Creation at the edge of habitats - Expansion of riparian forest/ grassland buffer in different widths - 330’ forest buffer to enhace forest-prairie transition CONNECT VIA CORRIDOR - Urban Greenway through street vegetation management - Ecobridge over highways - Hedgerow cross agricultural land or along other land uses - Backyard habitat program

Ecotone Buffers intergrate habitats into a unit Sparse Habitats Connected with corridors

Prairie restoration

The management of bird conservation project will require a collaborative effort of local, regional, and state organizations as well as agencies in nationwide level.

Nationwide: - United States Department of Agriculture (agriculture land management) - The United States Fish and Wildlife Agency (connecting national programs with local factors) State-wide: - Pennsylvania Audubon Society (focus on suitable bird habitat) - Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (stream management and green space creation) - Pennsylvania Game Commission (gameland monitoring) - Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (civic connection) Regional & Local: - ClearWater Conservancy (Local land trust and conservation organization) - State College Bird Club (Local bird monitoring) - Collaboration from Experts in Penn State University, especially on agricultural management - Households, Private Landowners, and Foresters, Involved townships (civic participation) Proposed Organization: - Spring Creek Watershed Bird Conservancy (Monitoring the process of conservation) - Conservation Coalition for Proposed Habitats (Land stewardship of the restored area)

[PLANT COMMUNITY] Native plants not only provide birds with nests and food, also support the growth of native insects that bird need during breeding season. Bird could hide in non-native plants and feed on berries, but they need nutrients from insect protein and fat to produce eggs and feed on youngs. Native plants perfom better in restoration. (Tallamy, 2007).

Northern Goshawk

Recommended Forest Species Canopy: Oaks(Quercus sp.), Maples(Acer sp.), Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus),Eastern Hemlock(Tsuga Canadensis), Easern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), American Beech (Fagus gradifolia), Elder Species(Sambucus sp.), EasternWhite Spruce(Picea glauca), American Sycamore(Platanus occidentalis) Understory: Dogwoods (Cornus sp.), Virburnums (Viburnum sp.), Blueberry Species(Vaccinium sp.), Serviceberry (Amerlanchier aborea) Devil’s Walking Stick (Aralia spinosa)

Cerlulean warbler Scarlet Tanager

Bald Eagle

Golden-winged Warbler

Eastern Bluebird Wood Thrush

Canada Warbler

American Woodcock

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Bobolink

Common Grackle

Osprey Common Tern

FOREST

EDGE

OPEN FIELD/ PRARIE

RIPARIAN(breeding site for most species)

STREAM/WETLAND

Recommended Grassland Species Grass: Hard-leaved Goldenrod (solidago rigida), Side-oats Gramma Grass (bouteloua curtipendula), Brome Grass (Bromus kalmia), Little Bluestem (Andropogon scoparius), Indian Grass (Anfropogon Greardii) Forb: Butterfly weed(Asclepia tuberosa), Milkweeds(Asclepias sp.), Coneflowers(Echinacea sp.), Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida), Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum) Unsterstory Tree: Sumac Species (Rhus sp.), Eastern Rebud (Cercis canadensis), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Downy Arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesquianum) Recommeneded Riparian Forest: Trees: American Sycamore(Platanus occidentalis) Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa) River Birch (Betula nigra) Understory: Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra) Silky dogwood (Cornus amomum) Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) Northern Bayberry (Myrica pensylvanica) INSECT

BIRD TOWN

Implementation & Management Concept

BERRY

NEST

COVER

28

3 1

CORRIDOR

2

A Connection Created by the Blending of Backyard Habitats, Street Tree Corridor and Adjacent Woodlands

HABITAT CREATION

Meadow Restoration over Agricultural Land to form Native Grassland Habitat. Some Pasture Clutivation for Incomes.

CORRIDOR

Hedgerows Establishment Cross Agland as Linkage Between Woodlands

BUFFER

IBA Expansion with Woodland Management to Diversity Plant Species as well as Layout to Enhance the Forest-grassland Edge

Bernel Road Park

4

BUFFER

Riparian Forest/Grassland Buffer Enhancement and woodland management (Rmoval of Invasive Species and Re-introducte the Natives

rn Be

University Park Airport

PROPOSED BIRD TRAIL

R el

5

Bird Feeders Along the Road

Big Hollow Road BDA tum

toSp

Trail yon Can

rin

Current landuse Forest Ag Land

Recreation Land Residential Area

Public/ Urban Area Water Unused Land

Rd

g

Innovation Park at Penn State

Bi

g

.

Sp rin

ut ar Tr ib

Existing Wetlands

Ho llo w

Fo xH ol lo w

y

Cr ee k

Arb o

re

x Fo

g Cree k

d.

State Game Lands NO.176 IBA

.

Rd li l H

Toftree Golf Course

Toftrees Ave

Toftree Community (Senior Housing)

0

1

IBA BDA

Miles

Hedgerow cross the agland

Expanse the existing IBA with at least 330’ forest-grassland buffer

hedgerows consist canopies and understory sturcture.

Forest Edge

Hedgerow

Meadow & Pasture

An expanded diverse grassland habitat adjacent to forest edge corridors that connecting nearby woodlands.

Agricultural sectors for adovocated pasture cultivation and managed crop cultivation

Naturalize the landscape. soft the edge from forest to grassland with mixed vegetation.

Forest Edge

Openfield Edge with a mixture of woody and herbaceous plants

Open Field

Instead of the monocultural grass ecosystem, restoring it with native meadow species

BIRD TOWN

0.5

2 Pasture-Hedgerow Combination

1 IBA Forest Meadow Mixture

A complete forest sturcture and diverse prairie

0.25

Potential habitats Suitable Raparian Suitable Forest Site Restoration Site Suitable Prairie Site Potential Suburban Habitat

Forest Edge

Path

Forest Openings With Meadow Species

Forest Edge

Site Application: Big Hollow - Toftress Area

Further Into The Forest

immerse into the landscape while walking from hedgerow and grassland.

Pasture Cultivation

6’ Path

Meadow Restoration on Agricultural Rows

15’-20’ Hedgerow

6’ Path Crop Field

29

4 Riparian Revitalization

3 Suburban Green Ribbon

Stream Buffer (At Least 600’)

Backyard harbitat created by household

Undisturbed Buffer (300’)

street canopy and urderstory sturcture

100’ Buffer of Natural Landscape To Maintain Basic Wetland Function

Managed adjacent woodlands

An green belt along the street, connecting woodlands with a sturctural corridor

0

100 200 300

Creating an intact underground stream within the tributary watershed through buffer expansion from headwater to further intersections of streams.

FT

Ruby-thoated Hummingbird Cedar Waxwing Warblers

Raparian Area or Dry Stream Bed

Edge Habitat

6’ Length Path Varies

Length Varies

11’ Lane

25’

50’

75’

100’

200’ Buffer

No Cut Zone Limited Cut Area Maintained Vegetation cover 100’ Buffer for Basic Wetland Function

5

10

20 FT

Rised Water Level During Raining Season Regular Water Level - Bank Stablelization

- Water Quality

Beside Greenness, the landscape could have following colors of wildflower.

M

- Wildlife Habitat

TRAIL DECOR

Bird feeders & bird boxes

F

- Flood Control

5 Birding Trail

blend backyard into woodland outside.

J

FOREST AND FIELD HABITAT MIXTURE 300’ Natural Ecosystem Buffer 600’ Managed Buffer to Enhance Remains Undisturbed Bald Eagle Habitat

6’ Path

Length Varies

11’ Lane

0

GRASSLAND FOREST

Grass: Goldenrods solidago Genus Little Bluestem Andropogon scoparius Indian Grass Andropogon greardii Switch Grass Panicum virgatum Wildflower: Butterfly weed Asclepia tuberosa Common Milkweed Asclepias syriaca Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata Coneflowers Echinacea sp.

Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida New England Aster Aster novae-angliae Joe Pye Weed Eupatorium maculatum Small tree: Sumac Species Rhus sp.

Dogwoods Cornus sp.

Crabapple species Malus sp.

(No bloom evergreen) Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana

BIRD TOWN

WETLAND HABITAT

Grassland-Forest Buffer

Shrub - Arrowood Viburnum Viburnum dentatum - Winterberry Ilex verticillata Understory Small Tree (up to 25’) - Serviceberry Amerlanchier aborea - Hybrid Crabapple Malus Medium Tree (25-40’) - White Birch Betula papyrifera - Eastern Red Cedar Juniperus virginiana Large Tree (More than 40’) - Red Maple Acer rubrum - Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus

Community birds that will visit native backyard, parks and community green spaces:

At least 200’ Buffer Zone for Maximized Wildlife Habitat

STREAM BUFFER

(STREET TREE CORRIDOR)

(BACKYARD HABITAT)

FOREST AND FIELD HABITAT MIXTURE

WETLAND BUFER

A

RIVERFRONT

Bird Box, a man-made enclosure to encourage bird concentration along the trail. First invented by British conservationist Charles Waterton.

Bird Feeder with wire mesh seeds also could be used to attract bird landing. Feeding activities also provide lots of fun for children.

WETLANDS

The birding trail connects all the habitats with a pleasant walk. Bird feeders over trees attract songbirds and neotropical birds to appear.

The trail extends into different habitats for birds, where people learn about the relationships within the ecosystem.

The trail also is a good relax for elder people living in Toftrees and employees in the Innovation Park at Penn State.

(Showy Fruit&leave) (Showy Fruit)

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Site Application: Big Hollow - Toftress Area

30

STORYBOARD A Plaza in the Rail Road City d3rd-year Community Design Studio | Altoona, PA Penn State, Spring 2016 | Group Analysis, Independent Design Faculty: Prof. Ken Tamminga, Dr. Frans, Padt, Prof. Tawab Hlimi

“How we can generate and sustain an ongoing dialogue as a community about the physical and cultural world we inhabit in?”

- O’Shea Wilson Siteworks

The redevelopment concept for Heritage Plaza is a STORYBOARD that reflects the past identity of Altoona, “the Rail Road City”, with revelatory design details and natural elements, at the same time, inscribes the identity of the currently community through diverse programming for civic activities.

Within the Plaza, renovation and innovation come together to establish a core for in downtown for civic gathering, as well as a nexus for the network of heritage remarks around Altoona.

It is not only a valuable open space with urban greenness, but also a revitalization generator for the future downtown Altoona.

STORYBOARD

Altoona Cultural and Heritage Analysis

32

Bulletin

Lighting Feature

Water Spray

Food Cart, Cafe, Bar

Promonade with Pergola

Sculptural Map

Chalk & Color

Railcar Lawn

Outdoor Theatre

Observatory Terrace

TERTIARY

Chess Table

Meadow Garden

SECONDARY

Bistro Chair & Table Plaza

PRIMARY

DAILY USE Tourism Food Contemplation,Study Exerices (Tai Chi etc.)

Outdoor Class Senior Recreation

[DESIGN EMPHA

Children Recreation

SIS]

Adult Recreation Nighttime Gathering Daytime Gatheirng Nighttime Highlight

EVENT Music & Performance Seasonal Festival Farmer Market Movie Night Art Market

Ground Railway Map Pergola/tent

Permeable Entry Daily Usage

FOOD

Gathering Night Bar Shadow Lunch Spot Reasonable Price

Food Court

Bench along St

Water Plate & Spray

Bistro Plaza

Market Promenade

Amphitheatre Lawn Railroad Observatory

Plaza Overview & Program Matrix

Water Movable Chair Spray

Mural View

14th St Axis Weekday Shopping Tour Gathering

Lunch break FUN Afternoon TeaNighttime Lighting

Farmer Market Art Show

Performance

Casual Hangout Festival/Event Music Movie Night Tree Array

Photo Shooting Board extend to ground

Community Playground

STORYBOARD

Cafe

Info Bulletin

RailroadPerennial Garden

Exercise Lively Art Market Chalk&Color Community Project Playful Recycled Railroad Strip Art Show R Healing A Garden Structure C L I Perennial Planter Music Lawn A RStage Lawn IntimateLED Strip Class ExerciseMulti-use Yoga Contemplation Multi-functional Amphitheatre Tree Shadow Special Lighting Designed Bench Study Performance Gathering Chess Table Relax Personal Tai-chi Emotion Vent Open Nighttime Two-side view Designed Seating Semi-public Terrace

VIEW

33

Tra in

Sta

tio

n

[SYSTEM] The plaza hosts a variety of civic activities to accommodate people with different moods. The plaza sets a lively atmosphere that not only provides basic urban services, but engage residents with seasonal activities. As a place full of potential, it evokes people the fun to celebrate history through the creation of new stories for Altoona.

STORYBOARD

Social System: A Nexus in the City Pedestrian Network

34

The entire plaza is a green infrastructure, where pavings and plantings integrated with each other to drain water on-site Gathering water runoff from 11th Ave, 14 th St, Nearby roof, and fountain work right next to the mural wall Using permeable paving to allow go underground, gather in decomposed sandstone runnels, and ultimately get infiltrated at planting beds at lower elevation

[SYSTEM] Water Infrastructure Day & Night Bistro Life

STORYBOARD

Infrastructural System: Sponge Plaza Concept

35

The plaza contains revelatory designs with the utilization of railroad elements throughout the site, to informs people that they are part of the history and the future of Altoona.

Besides revealing culture and history, the redevelopment will insert a green space into the urban fabric. With a Existing Plants

railroad landscape palette, planting within the Plaza presents the process of how nature overtakes rail tracks.

The integration reveals harmonious human-nature coevolution throughout the time.

Proposed Plants

Plan

gB tin ox

2

1

London plane tree Platanus × acerifolia Honey locust Gleditsia triacanthos

- Color Theme: contrasting with the Tuscan red rail track - Flower features last from spring to late fall - Mimic the wild ecotope along the railway

Kentucky bluegrass Poa pratensis

L

- Transplanting existing trees on site - Permeable canopy that varies in form, leave color and texture

Cano za

py

1

Pla

Japanese zelkova Zelkova serrata Promenade canopy n aw

3

Tall fescue Festuca arundinacea

Turf-type perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne - Turf seed mixture that suits for heavy-use area (performance and play field) - Cool season grasses

Broomsedge Andropogon virginicus

Purple lovegrass Eragrostis spectabilis

Sky blue aster Symphyotrichum oolentangiense Late summer to fall

5 4

Jade coneflower Echinacea purpurea ‘Jade’ Late summer to fall Vintage Wine coneflower Echinacea purpurea ‘Vintage Wine’ summer to fall

Mountain laurel Kalmia latifolia Flowers in May

Natural System: Revelatory Railroad Landscape

4

Eastern red cedar Juniperus virginiana Bird friendly

- Evergreen wall as a sound barrier to traffic sound - Deciduous tree with intriguing leave shape

China Purple bush clematis Clematis heracleifolia ‘China Purple’ Late summer Perennial Wildflower Summer to Fall Aromatic aster Aster oblongifolius 'Raydon's Favorite' late summer to fall

Japanese hydrangea Schizophragma hydrangeoides ne

5

Bellflower clematis Clematis pitcheri

Virgin’s bower clematis Clematis virginiana Small Tree

Viburnum lentago Nannyberry viburnum Flowers in May, Fruits in fall

Hamamelis virginiana American witch-hazel Late fall blooming

STORYBOARD

ni ree ng

Siberian larch Larix sibirica

Sassafras Sassafras abidum 3 leave shapes

Vi

2

Purple milkweed Asclepia purpurascens early summer Wild geranium Geranium maculatum late spring Perennial Wildflower Spring to Summer Spessart geranium Geranium macrorrhizum ‘Spessart’ summer

Sc

The blues little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium ‘The Blues’

Pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida summer Eastern shooting star Dodecatheon meadia early summer

3

Honey locust Gleditsia triacanthos Thin leaves with permeable canopy

Common quaking grass Briza media

GRASS

Silver vein creeper Parthenocissus henryana - Vines cover the restroom with a pleasant look - Flowers appearance from late spring to early fall

36

Visual Communication d1st and 2nd Year Studio | Penn State, State College, PA | 2014 Faculty: Prof. Ann Tarantino, Prof. Thomas Yahner

[DETAIL MODELING]

[ABSTRACT DRAWING]

[CONCEPTUAL MODELING]

[INSTALLATION]

THANK

YOU

RUICHE

N