The view from the BEB building on the Providence River. The bridge crossing the river is the old I-195 bridge that will soon be demolished (2010? 2011?). The arched bridge in the far back is the new I-195 crossing.
The site was the Providence River immediately outside of the architectural building (BEB) up to the old I-195 bridge. The existing site had a riverside park attempt which was a missed opportunity and whose participation by locals was anemic at best. The goal of this core, six-week studio was to come up with a concept that would increase participation with the river as well as introduce us to some fundamentals of site design.
We began the studio with concept models of our interpretation of the site. It was necessary to choose one or two descriptor words of this interpretation: this became our catalyst for establishing the conceptual design. I chose “shifting” and “sliding” from my models and would not substantially deviate from this for the six week studio; as with all subsequent studios at RISD, I would carry through my original concept to the end.
Drawing and writing concepts for 'playing the river'
Seen above is a signature bristol board drawing as I attempted to figure out my concept. While perhaps messy and candid, over the years I have found that this method of writing and sketching to be very efficient in articulating my ideas.
16 scale grading plan of shifting and sliding concept, here with earthen berms
Above is the 1”=16’ grading plan illustrating an early concept of “shifting and sliding” earthworks into the Providence River which brought an awareness of tidal river flow and change.
My attempt to engage visitors with the river lent itself to the idea of having earthworks shift and slide into the river. That evolved into zinc plate (for their corrosion resistance and mass)containers in which tidal awareness would be articulated through sound in the aperatures naturally created between the zinc blocks. I had first thought that mass was needed for this to work; that is why the section (orginally 1/2” = 1’) has the container filled with boulders.
This model illustrates one iteration of the placing of the blocks. The final iteration, below, takes advantage of the slope of the riparian edge and of the blocks themselves for limiting viewsheds from the vechicular road, pedestrians approaching from the road, and the actual visitors on the site — both from others as well as the road.
This 1”=16 feet model has the zinc blocks orientated toward summer and winter winds. The copper and aluminum represents phragmites, spartina, and meadow.
Constructing Ground, Winter 2008
The view from the BEB building on the Providence River. The bridge crossing the river is the old I-195 bridge that will soon be demolished (2010? 2011?). The arched bridge in the far back is the new I-195 crossing.
The site was the Providence River immediately outside of the architectural building (BEB) up to the old I-195 bridge. The existing site had a riverside park attempt which was a missed opportunity and whose participation by locals was anemic at best. The goal of this core, six-week studio was to come up with a concept that would increase participation with the river as well as introduce us to some fundamentals of site design.
Drawing and writing concepts for 'playing the river'
Seen above is a signature bristol board drawing as I attempted to figure out my concept. While perhaps messy and candid, over the years I have found that this method of writing and sketching to be very efficient in articulating my ideas.
16 scale grading plan of shifting and sliding concept, here with earthen berms
Above is the 1”=16’ grading plan illustrating an early concept of “shifting and sliding” earthworks into the Providence River which brought an awareness of tidal river flow and change.
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