Chain of Parks Fujian, China
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Catherine Oranchak/Landscape Architect with iPlace
Fujian, a mountainous province along the southeast coast of mainland China, provides the majestic setting for the Longyan Violet Paradise Sports Park project. The A-1 Housing Neighborhood is comprised of villa, duplex and multi-family residences stepping up the mountainside. The residential buildings are oriented in a primarily east/west direction maximizing each unit's potential for sunlight within. The main access road winds its way uphill, creating open landscape spaces along its curving profile- here the Chain of Parks is born. Over a dozen small urban parks of approximately 3 hectares in size provide public open space to visitors and residents alike. Each park is meant to reflect the character of its adjacent neighborhood; providing places to sit, read, reflect and play. Pedestrian access is possible by way of stepped and sloped access points adjacent to the nearest residential building's private outdoor space. The richness of the spaces is expressed in a wide variety of varying shapes and spaces. A temporary park was developed as a transitional entry from the adjacent Urban Center to the Model Homes 
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Smale Riverfront Park Cincinnati, Ohio
Smale Riverfront Park Master Plan
With Sasaki Associates for the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Cincinnati Park Board
The proposed thirty-one acre park sits prominently on the banks of the Ohio River within downtown Cincinnati. It is bisected by the historic Roebling Bridge; flanked by the Paul Brown Stadium to the west and the Great American Ballpark to the east. The park design springs from the existing street grid pattern reconnecting the city to its waterfront.
Awards:
2013 National Recreation and Park Association, Park Design Award
The proposed thirty-one acre park sits prominently on the banks of the Ohio River within downtown Cincinnati. It is bisected by the historic Roebling Bridge; flanked by the Paul Brown Stadium to the west and the Great American Ballpark to the east. The park design springs from the existing street grid pattern reconnecting the city to its waterfront.
Awards:
2013 National Recreation and Park Association, Park Design Award
Urban Park to the north, Pastoral Park to the south
The Park is comprised of two distinct districts: to the north the urban park features dramatic water fountains, restaurants and cafes, performance areas and garden spaces. To the south, the pastoral park setting allows for strolling walkways passing public art installations, children's play areas, historic remnants/artifacts while encouraging public access at the river's edge. The design accommodates annual flooding by way of grading and material selection.
Grading Study
Grading strategy keeps large portions of the park out of the five year flood.
Walnut Street Fountain and Grand Stairway (left), Event Lawn (right) Design Development
Walnut Street Fountain and Grand Stairway
The landing of the Roebling Bridge from Kentucky to Ohio is commemorated with a programmable interactive water feature and lighted stainless steel trellis structure. Glass paved overlooks spill water into basins below. The historic connection between Walnut Street and the Ohio River is recreated with the proposal of a grand granite-clad stairway edged with cascading water stairs.
Walnut Street Event Lawn
The raised granite platform and canopy face a flexible open lawn. A restaurant with outdoor dining sits at the corner of Main Street and Mehring Way.
The landing of the Roebling Bridge from Kentucky to Ohio is commemorated with a programmable interactive water feature and lighted stainless steel trellis structure. Glass paved overlooks spill water into basins below. The historic connection between Walnut Street and the Ohio River is recreated with the proposal of a grand granite-clad stairway edged with cascading water stairs.
Walnut Street Event Lawn
The raised granite platform and canopy face a flexible open lawn. A restaurant with outdoor dining sits at the corner of Main Street and Mehring Way.
 Walnut Street Grand Stairway with Water Cascades |
 Walnut Street Event Lawn: Canopy and Open Lawn |
Detroit Riverfront Civic Center Promenade Detroit, Michigan
Locus Plan
With The Albert Khan Collaborative and Sasaki Associates
The linear park stretches from the Renaissance Center to the north just past the Joe Louis Arena to the south. The design strives to include the needs of all who enjoy the Detroit River; trade ships and barges, pleasure craft including cruise ships, everyday citizens, visitors, fishermen and others.
Awards:
2003 American Society of Architects, Detroit Chapter
HONOR AWARD in URBAN DESIGN
The linear park stretches from the Renaissance Center to the north just past the Joe Louis Arena to the south. The design strives to include the needs of all who enjoy the Detroit River; trade ships and barges, pleasure craft including cruise ships, everyday citizens, visitors, fishermen and others.
Awards:
2003 American Society of Architects, Detroit Chapter
HONOR AWARD in URBAN DESIGN
South Helix
Plan Enlargement: South
Alternating bands of light and dark pavement are the foreground to a serpentine concrete seatwall, landscaped berms, and groves of birch trees. The seatwall is celebrated at its end by a lighted concrete helix ascending some twelve feet above grade and is representative of shipping rope coils. Special features along the Promenade include pergolas with shaded seating areas, areas for fishing, and historic markers at Cadillac Landing commemorating the founding of the City of Detroit.
 The Guardrail is designed to open for boat access |
 Serpentine wall, seating and birch groves |
Columbus Riverfront Master Plan
Columbus Riverfront Master Plan: North
With Sasaki Associates for the City of Columbus, Ohio Riverfront Commons Corporation
The framework plan and implementation strategy addressed a nine-mile long riverfront corridor stretching from the Ohio State University on the banks for the Olentangy River to the proposed open space park land on the banks of the Scioto River to the south.
The framework plan and implementation strategy addressed a nine-mile long riverfront corridor stretching from the Ohio State University on the banks for the Olentangy River to the proposed open space park land on the banks of the Scioto River to the south.
Columbus Riverfront Master Plan: South
COSI (Center of Science and Industry) Columbus, Ohio
Site Plan
With Sasaki Associates for the Ohio Arts & Sports Facilities Corporation
The architect, Arata Isozaki, transformed the existing urban high school into the relocated home of Columbus' Center of Science and Industry (COSI). The east facade addresses downtown Columbus while the west facade addresses the "frontier"- an area of future expansion for the City. The COSI site and its neighboring public waterfront park were the first implementation phase of the nine-mile riverfront vision plan. This riverfront destination is a jewel along a necklace of public open space uses following continuous paths and walkways along the Scioto River.
The architect, Arata Isozaki, transformed the existing urban high school into the relocated home of Columbus' Center of Science and Industry (COSI). The east facade addresses downtown Columbus while the west facade addresses the "frontier"- an area of future expansion for the City. The COSI site and its neighboring public waterfront park were the first implementation phase of the nine-mile riverfront vision plan. This riverfront destination is a jewel along a necklace of public open space uses following continuous paths and walkways along the Scioto River.
 High School with addition at west |
 Looking east toward downtown Columbus |
 East drop off plaza |
 West Plaza/Entry |