A New Semester in the East Bottoms project
/End of Year Re-Cap
Since December, the KCDC studio has made many discoveries that have influenced our designs for the Spring semester. As our final review neared, our team began to create solutions to some of the intrinsic obstacles in our site.
Our biggest challenges are as follows:
Flooding: caused by groundwater and runoff retained in the bowl-shaped geography of the site
Intra-disconnection: disconnection within the system of the East Bottoms, especially in local connections for pedestrians and vehicular traffic
A fragmented sense of site identity
The solutions manifested in the form of a unified and systematic trail and bioswale loop. Water from the swales will collect in the lowest geographic area, in this case, an area of the site we have named the ‘working landscape’. In order to reinforce the identity of the East Bottoms, the studio proposed a trail system with the goal to unify and celebrate the identity of the area rather than assimilate them. With these overarching solutions in mind, we are now investigating ways to facilitate them in focused design areas.
Final Reviews
With our design strategy in place (and nearly every square inch of wall space occupied with designs), we held our final reviews. Our reviewers had valuable advice for the project, which encouraged a fresh set of ideas and gave the project a nudge onto a more defined trajectory
Along the proposed trail, there is a series of modular, multi-use shelters that we call ‘follies’. Different types of follies exist along the trail, functioning like small cafe’s, bicycle repair stations, and rest areas. During the review, it was suggested that each loop of the trail system could have different uses that could be specific to the identity of the loop area. It was also recommended that we tidy up this system and make it much more focused and refined.
The trail/folly system and green infrastructure systems mostly operate individually. The question quickly became ‘how can we braid the separate strands together in a way that makes them stronger together than they are independently?’ In other words, the studio needs to reconcile the systems in a way that maximizes synergy.
Open House
Just a few short days after the review, we hosted our Fall Open House. Bustling with attendees, their advice and encouragement allowed us to see the full effects of our efforts. The evening was a nice blend of formal presentation and fun; we were able to talk to many local professionals without the rigidity of a critique or review.
As we wrapped up the year, the studio saw there was much left to do and look forward to in the new spring semester. We are grateful for everyone that has supported the studio and the project so far, from giving advice to words of encouragement. Below is a rare photo of the whole studio in one place, we know if will be a cherished memory of this year.
