YES2020 MLA Landscape Architecture Studio I (Hlimi)

YES 2020 Landscape Architecture Studio 1

Located in the community of Mayland, a light industrial area, the M-Lead spur is a disused rail line spanning from Nose Creek east to the industrial community of Meridian. The spur is bounded by Memorial Drive to the south and Deerfoot Trail to the West and intersects Barlow trail in the eastern portion. The line’s existing infrastructure, including a tunnel under Deerfoot Trail, provides a unique opportunity for a connection to river valley recreation trails. As well, the geometry of the spur suggests a linear park or pathway. This studio project was heavily dependent on context, boundaries, and using landscape architecture as a pathway to community generation and growth.

The studio process began with a comprehensive, cross‐scalar, cross‐topical, and cross‐temporal analysis of the M-Lead spur, relating its physical, spatial, material, and experiential qualities to complex interactions between biophysical, socio‐ cultural, technological, and economic forces. From this relational study, inherent compatibilities and conflicts can be discerned between the site, its interacting systems, and the defined program. We then could respond accordingly to compatibilities and constraints.

MLA Foundation Year SAPL Tawab Hlimi

The next objective was to produce a masterplan for the site, addressing the strategic design elements and aesthetic experience of the design. Accompanying the master plan was a series of drawings to capture the design intent. A focus was chosen for each project, either a place or a series of interconnected conditions for the designer to demonstrate design on a cross-scalar level.

Each project captures a different series of conditions and context that influenced the design process, from pedestrian experience, to cyclist and road safety, to art and culture development, to ecological connections and habitat creation. Each student responded to these inferences in an honest manner, and gained experience designing for a large and complex site.

Content 01 Jonathan Hamm, Spurline Park 02 Komal Patel, The M-Lead Linear Park 03 Lucia Blanco, Socializing Industrial Landscapes (SIL) 04 Shabnam Seifhamedan, Memorial Park 05 Tripty Kaur, Mayland Spurline Project 06 Yihui Xu, The Growing Line 07 Yixuan Xia, RailwayTransform“Ramble” 08 Zoe Crandall, Prairie Rhythms

01 Jonathan Hamm, Spurline Park

The loss of the rail spur line that split off into Mayland Industrial meant the death of the district in many respects. The Mayland railway spur-lines cut through the Mayland Industrial in a widely distributed pattern and essentially tied the district together. However, now that the line is derelict, there is a strong opportunity to introduce a park and corridor to the neighbourhood and connect the Bow River pathway, and downtown Calgary to the entire Northeast by trail. Doing so could re-enliven the district, and maximize the use of its assets.

PL AN

New Pathways

Tunnel Meadow N View

18th Street Intersection E View

Mayland Meadow NE View

18th Street Intersection E View

Oval Meadow N View

Fiasco Corner N View

New Buildings

New Green Space M A Y L A ND M E A DOW New Blue Space The loss of the rail spur line that split off into Mayland Industrial meant the death of the district in many respects. The Mayland railway spur-lines cut through the Mayland Industrial in a widely distributed pattern and essentially tied the district together. However, now that the line is derelict, there is a strong opportunity to introduce a park and corridor to the neighbourhood and connect the Bow River pathway, and downtown Calgary to the entire Northeast by trail. Doing so could re-enliven the district, and maximize the use of its assets.

I SOM E T RI C DR A WINGS

Tunnel Meadow

Mayland Meadow

Fiasco Corner

02 Komal Patel, The M-Lead Linear Park

The Mayland area began as a barren ecological site, over the years with the addition of the railway the site developed into a key industrial site in the City of Calgary. As the site lost its key elements and when the railway was discontinued in use, the use of the site was limited. Soon species began taking over the railway and it quickly began an important ecological corridor. The slope aspect along the railway plays an important role, the north aspect houses vegetation and the south houses species habitats.

The relationship between the railway and its north and south aspect creates a unique microhabitat along a site that was once dominated by humans.

The M-Lead linear park is designed with the intention that this linear park would begin to heal and understand the industrial past rather than trying to reject it. The site has seen the natural landscape grow back and reclaim its terrain from the industrial industry, the linear park will present a unique environment while offering an economical and social transformation from an old industrial region. The design integrates slope aspects, topography, development and interlinked patterns formed by nature and the industrial use to find a new synergy. The purpose is to create various ecosystems along the corridor of the railway to transform the site into a new linear eco arts district while also addressing its previous history by bringing back the 1850 proposed outlook point. The planting design aims to provide the individual with a unique aesthetic experience through monoculture planting where one emerges from the wilderness from the tunnel and moves toward a more cultivated planting scheme of patches of colour, size, texture and scents.

The focus area is a public area that serves as the core central part of the linear park, it follows the picturesque or naturistic pattern to a formal design through planted monocultures, when these patches and monocultures interact with one another it creates a unique aesthetic experience. The points of convergence play an important role in how the individual perceives the linear park and the focus public spaces; this intersection also serves as a great ecological hotspot.

03 Lucia Blanco, Socializing Industrial Landscapes (SIL)

Within the industrial area of Mayland, Calgary, there are special areas that demonstrate that people are displaying agency on their industrial surroundings. Those specific spaces or appropriation points are located along the abandoned path of the rail tracks surrounded by beautiful wild vegetation. SIL is a design proposal that aims to create a new linear experience to connect all those areas and transform them into new outdoor rooms. The objective of the project is to potentiate existing natural and cultural conditions without losing the industrial aspect of the area. Thought the integration of new planting modules with intermingled complex and structured native grasses and green ashes, visitors have the opportunity to walk or bike above paths made by perforated weathering steel. The proposal includes the design of three nodes such as a walkway, an intersection between the new path and 19th Street with a midblock crosswalk for the safety of pedestrians and finally a phasing transformation of an underused parking lot into public space.

* Dense and complex vegetation edges for animal species

* Structured vegetation edges as forested boundary areas

* Intermingle complex and structured planting modules

3

1

Isometric of walkway

View from walkway

The design of the third node is developed in phases. The first phase of the design includes low-cost interventions that create a pop-up park/market. The new space has ephemeral elements as planter boxes, wooden platforms that people can use to do performances or workshops.

The second phase modify permanently industrial terrains into spaces for culture, recreation and art. Changing land uses and forms of the existing industrial buildings into new libraries, local businesses, galleries, coffee shops, museums, outdoor spaces to work, etc. Creating new landscapes for contemporary values.

Isometric of intersection

2

View from intersection

Master plan and planting configurations Pedestrian path Appropriation points Back of the buildings

1 2 3

Walkway Intersection Public space Isometric of pop-up park and public space

View from pop-up park/market

View from public space

04 Shabnam Seifhamedan, Memorial Park

05 Tripty Kaur, Mayland Spurline Project

Perspective & section shows how topography is playing a major role in creating focal points, as instead of changing topography, design is intended to trace & take advantage of the highest points.

Designed Woodland create a cozy environment for people crossing with Retention Pond acting as a magnet point.

Shared Bike & Pedestrian Path

Water Retention Pond

MAYLAND Industrial Area 20 Year Plan

Resting point like viewing deck / lookout point are designed for people to take a moment & cherish the surrounding nature. This deck being a recreational space will become a part of urban fabric overtime.

Designed Woodland

MAYLAND Industrial Area Analysis Plan Lookout Point/ Viewing Deck

Wildlife Corridor

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Designed Woodland & Bicycle Park Proposal

Linear Park Proposal

06 Yihui Xu, The Growing Line

Our site is located in Mayland Heights community, adjacent to two major traffic routes of Calgary, Deerfoot Trail and Memorial Drive. During my site analysis in the previous stage, I found there is a lack of human scale and a sense of desolate in the site. On the other hand, the site has many unique industrial memories such as the railway spurs graffiti art everywhere. This design is derived from the existing beauty and views, aiming to create a dynamic green corridor and transform the whole industrial area into a new multi-use community.

To approach the site transformation, I proposed three phases for the establishment of planting design and facilities. The first stage is to establish a pedestrian and bicycle transportation system through the main line of the railway track, at the same time connect the neighborhood from east and west side. The second stage is that the human corridor connects with the green corridor and separate animal movement with human activities. The third stage is to propose new buildings as the new attraction of the site.

OPEN GRASSLAND

Proposed Dynamic Block

MERIDIAN

The site is highly effected by the huge highway conjunction. So a tree/shrub planting strategy should be developed to protect people from danger and noise.

DEERFOOT TRAIL

Dynamic Ecological Block

Pathway Cycleway Green Corridor Extended Green Area

To bring new attractions to the site, new proposed buildings could be built on existing parking lots for cultural use in the community.

MEMORIAL DRIVE

Proposed Buildings

Master Plan Proposed in 2050

The natural beauty of the existing planting area should be preserved from human activities.

Based on the edge condition, the railway park should be reframed into a human scale.

How to activate this car dominant area with new attractions?

While protecting the original vegetation, by opening the facade of the buildings, creating new plazas can build more connections between the linear park and its context.

The three main design strategies revolve around define / divide / preserve to bring the site with dynamic and protect the value of it. According to those multi strategies, I chose a central part of the site where the space scale resembles a streetscape. Through the planting design, human and wildlife movement are divided. Opening faรงade and new cultural building can be new attractions as local industrial and art workshop or exhibition being held there. With the pleasant outdoor open plazas, people will get to experience the site more and have their own memories. As similar strategies apply to other parts, the railway track will transform into a dynamic corridor for wildlife and the community.

07 Yixuan Xia, Mayland Height Railway Transform “Ramble”

Master Plan

B

B Master Plan

View Analysis

A

A

Detail Design Plan As for the detailed design, I chose the intersection area of the road to give this space multipal functions and a colorful walking experience. I designed two types of rest areas and some circular observation areas. People can see beautiful views in the rest area, the high-rise buildings in the downtown as the background, the bow river and bridge as the foreground. I use two different materials to compose the viewing area, white small stones and Flowering shrub.

What happens to a discipline so bound up with the city?

After fully understanding the site, I am interested in the boundary design. The site has a large height difference between the road and the boundary. I want to make use of the former trails and left railways to transform into a walkway with good vision and good walking experience. I made a plant design for the walkway and used shrubs to cover the road but not cover the sky view to reduce the interference of noise to pedestrians.

Perspectives

08 Zoe Crandall, Prairie Rhythms

The MLEAD and adjacent city-owned parcels will be transformed into diverse and ecologically productive prairie meadows through the use of prescribed burns. The site is divided into parcels assigned a burn schedule to create diverse vegetation patterns, and will be seeded with a native wildflower mix, adding visual interest and a myriad of animal habitats. Periodic grazing by herd animals is also recommended.

Gravel firebreaks will be installed throughout the site. These gravel strips simplify burn procedures and protect nearby buildings and roads. These open gravel strips also act as sunning spots for native reptiles and insects, Visitors are invited to explore these small paths, bringing them to strategic viewing points and gathering spaces that encourage nature and city bathing, photography, yoga, and conversation.

These regular, linear firebreak “glyphs” add rhythm to the experience of moving along the site by breaking up the wild, unstructured vegetation.

City bathing “glyphs”.

Pathways in spring.

City bathing “glyph” section.

Gabion cages provide habitat and a rhythmic experience.

This masterplan aims to find harmony between urban development and ecosystem processes by re-establishing ecological rhythms and integrating them with the human experience. Using a multi-use path, northeast Calgary will have a new connection to the river valley trail system for both people and wildlife. Fire schedules will be introduced to reinvigorate the grassland. Sequenced design elements along the site give the visitor a sense of motion in the unstructured prairie, act as niche habitat for diverse species, and are a component of the management strategy.

The large prairie “glyph” park provides a restful gathering space in the centre of the route and the centre of Calgary. Visitors can watch the ebb and flow of traffic at a bird’s vantage in the city bathing rings, absorb the mountain and city view, or move through a field of ever-changing wildflower blooms on wide, dedicated bike and pedestrian paths. The prairie parcels segmented by firebreaks each contain a different ecosystem. Blooms in the most regularly burned parcels will differ from their neighbouring sections, and parcels with saskatoon shrubs, aspen trees, and coulee vegetation will provide texture within the landscape.

Prairie “glyphs” double as firebreaks and pathways to rest areas.

Firebreak design.

Frequent burns allow for vibrant wildflower displays.

Shrubs will begin to dominate towards the end of the burn period.

Fire resistant trees can thrive in less frequently burned areas.

YES 2020 Landscape Architecture Studio 1