Columbia Point Design Competition: Between Orders

Columbia Point, like most other sites, is plagued with systematic flooding and climate change, issues that are best met with a systematic solution. A grid of trees was first laid on the site, to initially deal with storm water and heat and strengthen the ecological environment. Voids were then created through subtraction from the grid, establishing program and moments between tree cover. A local grid of trees is formed around certain voids based on program, reorienting people as they pass into a new forest. An elevated path acts as the main artery of the site connecting it to the pumping station, and providing a view to the void inside. The path acts as a datum line, connecting the second story of the Pumping Station, the highest point on the site, and the hill at the South entrance. These elements create a lively forest from a systematic grid, connecting UMass students, residents, and tourists to the Harbor.

This was a collaborative design project with one other partner, and we worked together through multiple iterations of concept and representation. With our collaboration we were able to achieve 3rd place out of 80 boards.

My contributions to this project were:

+ Hand Drawn Sections

+ Hand Drawn Serial Perspectives

+ Concept Diagram

+ Board Layout

+ Digital Layers of Color and Texture to Drawings