Landscape Architecture Portfolio 2022

SHIRA BROWN

Creative landscape architecture student with critical thinking and visualization abilities. Emphasis on attention to details within the natural landscape

Able to work well independently or in collaboration with others on ideation, design, and project development

Seeking experience and insight into the field of landscape architecture and the art of designing beautiful, sustainable landscapes

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY

I hold a deep appreciation and awe for the environment and its beauty. Thus, as a designer

I want to honor and work with the natural environment to create multifunctional spaces that provide services for people to learn, explore, and appreciate the existing world.

EDUCATION

2020-2024

BACHELOR OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE, UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA ATHENS, GEORGIA

EXPERIENCE

August 2022 - Present CONCRETE JUNGLE INTERN

Intern | Athens, GA Manage and lead fruit picks, social media, and fruit scouting to transform underutilized fruit trees into a healthy food source for those in the community experiencing food insecurity

July 2021 - Present CONDOR CHOCOLATES Barista | Athens, GA

May 2022August 2022 THE EXPAT Line Cook | Athens, GA

June 2020August 2020

HEARTS OF HARVEST FARM

Organic Farm Hand | Athens, GA Seeded, transplanted, and harvested a variety of organic vegetable and flower plants; prepared and packaged merchandise for delivery orders and farmers’ market shipments, organized storage cooler and arranged flower bouquets

March 2018March 2020 OSTERIA MATTONE

Food Runner | Roswell Cleared and flipped tables and ran food from kitchen to guests at small, upscale Italian restaurant

Issued May 2021 LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE USGBC Georgia

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DESIGN

Our goal in designing this site was to create a mixed-use development with affordable housing and ample green space that replicates natural conditions. We created a diverse ecological biome that serves to create opportunities for wildlife and ecosystem restoration and affordable housing, serving two different types of communities that have been historically victims of injustice in Athens, Georgia.

These goals were reinforced by choosing regionally appropriate, visually stimulating, and pollinator-friendly plantings.

LEGEND

Pavilion with Multi-use Lawn Space

Retention Basin with Boardwalk

LEGEND

Single-family Housing

Mixed-use Commercial with Apartments and Below Ground Parking Townhomes Plaza

Shaded Event Space

Mixed-use Commercial with Apartments and Below Ground Parking Townhomes Plaza

Single-family Housing Shaded Event Space

Wooded Nature Trail Playground Entrance

Pavilion with Multi-use Lawn Space Retention Basin with Boardwalk

Wooded Nature Trail Playground Entrance

Upper Park Plan View | Rendered on AutoCAD/Photoshop | NTS

Basin Boardwalk Plan View | Rendered on AutoCAD/Photoshop | NTS

All of the planting is functional and contributes to growing stronger, more diverse ecosystems.

PLANTS AND ECOSYSTEMS FOR EVERYONE

From plants with interesting textures for children to explore, plants that purify runoff and retain stormwater, or plants that provide shade, BioTerra has it all.

An 8-story building

Basement level parking

1st floor of commercial units and upper floors of residential units

BUILDING TYPOLOGY FOR EVERYONE

A 3-story structure

1st floor predominantly occupied by parking; upper floors contain dwelling

A single story structure with a covered carport

Rendered with Pen/Marker on Trace

Preliminary Sketch of Planting Detail Location | Colored Pencil

Iron bench

Piet Oudolf’s color palette of his plants during the colder seasons often resembles the same burnt rustic orange as oxidized iron

Plume Grass: Fine Texture

Perennial; Herbaceous; Fine Txt.

Perennial; Flowering; Med. Txt.

Pergola

Picnic Tables

Concrete

The path shape inspired by Van Gogh’s painting Olive Orchard

Perennial; Flowering; Course Txt.

Flowering Grass; Medium Txt.

Not to Scale Not to Scale

Cypress Sculpture

An homage to Van Gogh’s paintings, many in which had cypress trees in them, all holding different meanings and symbolisms

Ornamental Grass; Fine Txt.

Herbaceous Grass; Fine Txt.

Feathery Grass; Fine Txt.

Drawing Easels

Perennial; Elongated; Med. Txt.

Plan View of Plaza | Rendered with Pen and Marker on Trace

MUSEUM PLAZA

VAN GOGH ART MUSEUM

The goal of this project was to create a plaza for an establishment of our choosing, but inspired by a famous designer randomly assigned. I was given Piet Oudolf as my designer, thus, I proposed a fictional Van Gogh Art Museum as the establishment. As we were to come up with a client and type of building that would compliment the designer. Oudolf’s intricate planting plans inspired me to pair it to Van Gogh’s complex paintings, specifically inspired by Van Gogh’s paintings: Wheat Field with Cypresses and Olive Trees.

The mixture of grasses and perennials is inspired by Oudolf’s planting style, and understanding that the plants should look/have a purpose to the design all year round. Another goal Oudolf strives for is for the place to have emotion, and not just look pretty. The mixture of the textures and forms chosen should aid towards that goal, and the use of drawing in the landscape will create a space where the viewer can reflect on the landscape physically, and not just internally.

Perspective View of Plaza | Rendered with SketchUp/Pen and Marker on Trace Not to Scale

NOTES:

1. ALL STAKES SHALL BE SPRUCE OR PINE-NOT PRESSURE TREATED.

2. CROSS TIES SHALL NOT CROSS OVER WOODY ROOTS.

3. REMOVE ALL STRING &/OR WIRE WRAPPED AROUND TRUNK.

4. REMOVE ALL STRAPS, ROPES, WIRE, &/OR STRINGS USED TO LIFT THE ROOTBALL.

5. REMOVE ALL BURLAP &/OR WIRE FROM THE TOP OF THE ROOT BALL.

6. TOP OF ROOTBALL TO BE SET LEVEL WITH SURROUNDING FINISH GRADE.

TREE PLANTING DETAIL PERENNIAL/GROUNDCOVER SPACING DETAIL

DRIVEWAY

OFFICE PLANTING

FRONT LAWN DESIGN

FOR OFFICE

Design development for this project mainly focused on curb appeal and meeting the needs of the people working inside the office. The people inside the office wanted the building corners to be softened and a bit of privacy screening added without blocking windows. Matching the plantings to the more brutalist 80’s style office building initially posed a challenge, but through careful plant selection and placement, both needs were met.

VINEY GROUNDCOVER; EVERGREEN; COURSE

SMALL ORNAMENTAL GRASS; FINE PARKING

MEDIUM DECIDUOUS TREE; VASE; MEDIUM TXT.

SMALL GRASS; POINTY; MEDIUM TXT.

SMALL ORNAMENTAL TREE; DECIDUOUS; FINE

2-STORY OFFICE BUILDING

TURF GRASS; EVERGREEN; FINE

2-LANE STREET

ROUND EVERGREEN GRASS; COURSE TXT.

LARGE DECIDUOUS TREE; SPREADING; MEDIUM TXT.

SINGLE FAMILY

WESTERN ESTATE

This single family housing space is an homage to the past, with a specific flare from western qualities. The perfect home for a retired couple who grew up in the great groovy 60s. Features such as redwood decking and a terracotta tiled conversation pit make this home an appealing location for hosting chill parties with other retirees. With a surrounding fence made of the same redwood decking, the home is secluded and relaxing for this couple, and with lots of lush ornamental grass bedding, a calming place to sit out and read the afternoon away.

Birds-Eye View | Rendered In Autocad/Sketchup Procreate

References to vintage color schemes, material palettes, and West Coast planting patterns all helped make this design process explorative and creative. Playing with the idea of creating a fun, nostalgic environment perfect for relaxation and hosting.

Back Deck Hangout | Rendered in AutoCAD/Procreate/SketchUp

Not to Scale

Back Deck Hangout | Rendered in in AutoCAD/Procreate/SketchUp

Not to Scale

CONCRETE JUNGLE

GRAPHICS

My role as the Intern, through the Office of Sustainability at the University of Georgia, is to help run the organization’s Athens branch. After being a volunteer for many years, I stepped into a more senior leadership role as a fruit pick lead, then after that became the official intern. Now I still lead fruit picks, but also manage social media, professionally photograph picks/events, organize photos, scout fruit trees on both public and private land, map new trees, create graphic designs and posters, interact with the community, and plan events and future connections.

Concrete Jungle is a nonprofit whose mission is to transform underutilized fruit trees and land into a healthy food source for those in need in the community.

Helping bridge the gap in reducing food waste and food insecurity.

A Goal of This Event Was to Make It Inclusive of All Genders and Sexualities

GRAPHIC FOR INSTAGRAM

CONCRETE JUNGLE

PHOTO DIARY

CONCRETE JUNGLE

DIARY

CIAO!