ART CENTER MEMORIAL LAWN
Art Center College of Design / Fall 2003
Gardens and outdoor gathering areas for students, faculty and staff on the Art Center campus designed and created by the students of the Gardenlab Studio Fall 2003: Vlad Martinez, Tina Pezeshkpour, Shawn Littrell, Tiffany Wang, Rick Crane, Jeff Hastings, Jonathan Zabala, Eric Lindeman / Funded by the LEF Foundation
PROPOSAL
this is an outline of the proposed design plans developed by the current students of the gardenlab studio. the site is the general area around the lawn to the west of the main art center building, adjacent to the main drive after it passes under the building. this is a part of campus that will not be affected by the current architecture/master plans for art center, and one of the sites identified by patricia oliver in the accd planning office as an appropriate place for a gardenlab project.
the
proposed design is by intention modest and low-impact. it will not affect the
current use of this space by photo, film and illustration students. it utilizes
subtle gestures to transform this space into a place for more student activities
and a place to communicate and recognize the history of art center.
this project will be paid for by a grant from the lef foundation in support
of campus design initiatives by the gardenlab.
the 4 points of this design proposal include:
1. clear dead plant material and thin out dense shrubbery on the slopes on either side of the lawn. this will both provide views up to the surrounding wild landscape (that are currently obscured) and help with fire abatement.
2. disperse a variety of native wildflower seeds (mostly california poppies) on these slopes that will sprout and flower every season after the rains.
3. plant approximately 10 memorial trees bordering the lawn, supplementing those that currently exist on the site. these will be flowering specimen trees that change throughout the seasons. plans will also be made for the addition of future trees, creating a ‘memorial tree park’ that will remain intact during the future campus construction.
4.
create a flat area of decomposed granite approximately 25’ x 25’
at the terminus of the lawn (in the valley in front of the existing retaining
wall and drainage ditch) through the addition of soil. this area currently is
mostly uneven loose dirt with a loose circle of large rocks. this flat graded
area will be used both as:
a. a gathering space for seminar classes, student meetings, informal discussions
and gatherings. gardenlab students are developing prototypes of movable outdoor
furniture to be located here for this purpose.
b. a stage for performances, music and video screenings. the students and the
art center community at large will be able to gather on the lawn facing up to
the valley & landscape beyond to enjoy outdoor events. these gatherings
will be shielded by the building from the surrounding neighbors (which have
had past problems with noise from events on the east side of the building) and
also be highly visible from the main drive to encourage greater participation
and awareness of campus activities.
TREE LIST
acacia
(acacia decurrens)
weeping acacia (acacia pendula)
japanese maple (acer palmatum)
silk tree / mimosa (albizia julibrissin)
western hackberry (celtis douglasii)
western redbud (cercis occidentalis)
gingko biloba ‘maidenhair tree’ (ginkgoaceae)
magnolia ‘butterflies’ (magnoliaceae)
magnolia ‘veitch’ (magnoliaceae veitchii)
saucer magnolia / tulip tree (magnoliaceae soulangeana)
melaleuca ‘cajeput tree’ / ‘paperbark tree’ (myrtaceae
quiquenerva)
melaleuca ‘flaxleaf paperbark tree’ (myrtaceae linariifolia)
olive ‘majestic beauty’ (olea europea)
brazilian pepper tree (schinus terebinthefolius)
persimmon tree ‘hachiya’
FRITZHAEG.COM / GENERAL INFO / BOOKS / PRESS / SHOWS / TALKS / TEACH / TRAVELS / VIDEOS / WRITINGS / WIKIDIARY / WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?