CELEBRATING ON THE STREETS
WALKING WITH THE WATER
As an introduction to my work let me tell you that I'm a Mexican Architect, and this is my first year of a two year program in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania. Here you'll see my work of the whole semester, if you're interesting in knowing me a little more I invite you to my personal Home Page.
This is the work of a whole semester.
We started with a weekend brain storm session similar to a group contest. This allowed us to get in touch with the neighborhood chosen for our site-though we had not even set foot there at the time. We had our first review Monday afternoon, where we presented our project in teams of four. The ideas that arose from the work were the basis for the next projects.
The WATER will celebrate with us his existence on Earth. When a man is a CHILD, he is tender, graceful, he loves to play. As he grows, he gains experience and he becomes more cautious.
As an ADULT he has the innocence of a child, the strength of the mature and the experience of age.
The RIVER is like a child, tender and graceful when it is born; able and sure when it's an ADULT.
Images
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CELEBRATING ON THE STREETS |
WALKING WITH THE WATER |
 LINKING THE SCHOOL
|  THE CONCEPT |
Description
First of all we need to have respect for the complexity of the existing structure of the city and the communities living there. We must work with, rather than against the current path of the river.
We can't lose in our mind that the RIVER is now part of an intricate city district. This, we just can't throw away--for it will be impossible to remove a river or create a new one to flow through our streets. I'm thinking to base my design on smaller elements.
We should take advantage of the "NATURAL HOLES" that have been created on the ground by the powerful force of the water. Maintain the river in his new sewer.
I think we have three important concerns in the Mill Creek neighborhood: the buried Mill Creek stream and the sewer system that contains it; street run-off; and the raising of portions of the river above ground for recreation.
I have some tentative design ideas to answer each of these considerations.
THE BIG SPOON will redistribute the water of rain storms that now runs over the streets. Ultimately it will be a very subtle presence, just a small fountain with a slight bubbling, surrounded by trees and vegetation.
Next is THE TRANSITION, where the river, just like a person, may be seen to be walking, jumping or simply flowing along with us to wherever it is going. "The Transition" includes areas for recreation. There will be playgrounds as well as places along its length for commerce, restaurants, etc.
Finally: RESOLUTION takes the Sulzberger Middle School as a central part--a neuralgic point--in the natural flow of the Mill Creek stream versus the artificial channel given it by the sewer pipe.
I think its possible to integrate the school as part of a new design. The children, just like the water, are in constant movement. Always transforming and changing our lives.
This is what I'm looking to do with my work this semester at Studio.
The first one I call THE BEGINNING. This looks at the conjunction between the natural flow of the Mill Creek river and the sewer pipe.
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