landscape design - DG2 Design

May 23 2017

CONCRETE RUBBLE : USE IT, DON’T LOSE IT

By Brad Priest, Designer at DG2 Design

Concrete makes up a large percentage of construction and demolition debris worldwide, and is often ultimately buried in landfills or generally treated as trash. While such treatment can sometimes be the most logical way to deal with concrete rubble, there are instances where recycling or re-use can make a lot of sense. For example, there is a growing trend in the industry of recycling concrete by crushing it into gravel for use as base courses for building roads and other construction projects – a logical process that extends its useful lifespan and reduces impacts on landfills. Expanding the idea of recycling concrete purely for functional purposes, however, there are many ways that concrete rubble can actually be re-used to serve a function as well as provide aesthetic value. This is obviously a win/win, as re-using concrete not only diverts it from landfills but also limits the need for the production of new concrete.

Below are a few ideas for re-using concrete rubble to provide functional beauty in the landscape in a range of ways:

PAVING

Concrete rubble can be used exactly like flagstone paving for patios and walkways. Its typically irregular shape can make for a great substitute and provides interesting options for coordinating fill materials between slabs. Alternatively, sawcut concrete rubble (though it may be harder to find) can be used in the same way but can serve a more modern or industrial aesthetic with cleaner lines.

WALLS AND STAIRS

In a residential setting, concrete rubble can be used for low garden walls or stairs in place of stone or concrete block (NOTE: a structural engineer should always be consulted when applicable). A key to pulling this off successfully is in the execution – a skilled builder will be able to work with the material so that the implementation and design details are a success.

ART

More than a hardscape material, concrete rubble can be used creatively to provide a little artistic whimsy in the landscape. Sculptural forms can evolve in the same way that they do from stone, and in the appropriate setting can even offer some thought provoking education on our built environment versus the natural world!

Apr 25 2017

Making the Most of Project Budgets

Article by Brad Priest, designer at DG2 Design

Like so many other decisions in life, budget constraints are often the ultimate factors that influence design choices on our projects. While limited budgets can sometimes handcuff the design process to a certain extent, it is our job to figure out how to maximize the value that our designs provide our clients within a given budget. Achieving this goal often involves prioritization, compromise and open communication with our clients in order to find the ideal equilibrium.

The first step in working toward meeting a project budget effectively in any design is to identify the desired programmatic elements (e.g. seating areas, shade structures, water features, etc.) and to prioritize these elements, noting the features the client must have versus those that are desired. Using this information as a guide, we are able to produce initial design concepts that illustrate various solutions that we find to be elegant and budget-conscious.

Cost estimates are another important tool we use to ensure our projects remain within budget. When enough detail has been worked out through the design process, we can begin taking stock of approximate material types and quantities as well as other associated project costs. We then are able to determine rough estimates for the costs of each design item, which depicts a clear breakdown of the state of the approximate project budget as designed at that point. This information is used to refine the design further, making it easier to determine the best adjustments to make moving forward.

Once the design has been finalized and we have a more precise idea of what the project will cost, we often work with our clients to develop a phasing plan for the implementation of the design. Phasing plans are meant to break the project into logical portions to be constructed in sequence over time. This is useful when the client has had to reduce their initial desired budget as the project progressed, or when the client preferred to design beyond their initial budget with plans to add to the project in the future. We develop phasing plans to show the most cost-efficient and logical sequence in which to implement the project, based on many factors such as constructability, maintenance, seasonal changes and the growth of plantings over time, to name a few.

We strive to view budget limitations as design opportunities rather than constraints, attempting to produce creative solutions to keep costs down without compromising the integrity of the project. Maximizing the value of our projects – to our clients, to the project’s users, and to the environment – is always paramount and often easily attainable with a little thoughtful planning.

Apr 05 2017

A Review of Stamford’s Mill River Park

By: Jordan Wilkinson, PLA, Landscape Architect at DG2 Design Landscape Architecture

Mill River Park in Stamford, CT is a shining example of how a Park Collaborative can guide a City’s vision for a new park space and enhance an urban downtown area. The Mill River Park Collaborative is partially funded by the City of Stamford, and works to oversee and maintain the new design for this transformed park in the center of Stamford. OLIN worked as the lead designer with a team of environmental specialists and engineers to create a solution that not only restores the Rippowam River, but creates a vital connection to nature while providing valuable park space for events. As a former resident of Stamford’s Cove Neighborhood I was able to experience the park shortly after it opened in 2013.

River Improvements: Among the most critical design challenges facing the team of professionals was the polluted and channelized lower section of the Rippowam River that cuts through downtown Stamford before emptying into the Long Island Sound at Stamford Harbor. The urban river has been dammed and channelized for many years, creating a flood risk to a densely-populated area. The new design began with a huge cleanup effort and culminated in a new river alignment that lays back vegetated and stabilized banks. The team worked with hydrologists to determine the best width and depth for the stream, and considered every aspect of the riparian corridor from the flood-tolerant native species to the formation of strategic pools and riffles in the water to provide habitat and flood mitigation. Overall 100 year flood elevations actually dropped 3 feet as a reflection of the improved stream conditions.

An asset to Stamford: The park design gives users direct access to the water by a handful of graceful connections, including one with stepping stones across the river. The great lawn and plaza areas provide a great opportunity for public events of all sizes, and have already provided a spark for new economic development in the downtown area. Future project phases are planned to expand trail and greenway connections further south, as well as the development of a Discovery Center building to provide event space connected to the park. A fountain that can be converted to an ice skating rink is planned as a focal point in the central park space. This vast program of uses has already proved successful in bringing the community outside and creating a sense of pride in this beautiful park space.

Figure 2: The Rippowam River ©Carly Bergey via Landezine.com

A Hybrid Plant Palette: OLIN developed a planting plan that not only compliments the improvements to the Rippowam River, but also integrates into the urban downtown area of Stamford. Resiliant urban tree species such as Quercus rubra (Northern Red Oak) and Cladastris kentukea (Kentucky Yellowwood) were used to line walkways and surrounding streetscapes. Careful thought and coordination was achieved to specify and place flood-tolerant plants that will encourage native habitat growth. “In the case of restoring Mill River to allow it to function as it once did, it took a nuanced understanding of how plant choices could revitalize aquatic and terrestrial habitats, reduce flooding, weather storm events, and create a beautiful and accessible landscape for humans all at the same time” – OLIN’s Judy Venonsky, ASLA in LAM Dec 2015 issue. As icing on the cake, the project team was able to salvage and replant numerous mature flowering cherry trees on the site to create what the Mill River Park Collaborative proudly touts as the largest cherry tree grove in New England.

Figure 3: Event Space ©OLIN via Landezine.com

Project stats:

Landscape Architecture: OLIN
Location: Stamford, CT
Designed: 2007-2012
Constructed: 2012-2013
Size: 33 Acres
Budget: $11.8M

Sources:

Landezine: http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2014/01/mill-river-park-and-greenway-by-olin/
Mill River Park Collaborative: http://www.millriverpark.org/
Landscape Architecture Magazine; Volume 105 Number 12; December 2015; Change The Channel, By: William S. Saunders
Mill River Park and Greenway Master Plan, By: Olin Partnership, July 2007

Mar 28 2017

Design Guidelines: Exterior Stairs

By: Brad Priest, Designer at DG2 Design Landscape Architecture

DESIGNING SAFE AND FUNCTIONAL OUTDOOR STAIRS

(source)

Exterior stairs require a set of design guidelines that differs from typical interior stairs. They must function in all types of environmental conditions and provide safe routes for users to navigate comfortably in ways that are unique to the outdoors. One of the most important considerations in designing safe, functional exterior stairs is PROPORTION.

PROPORTION

Stairs in an outdoor setting should allow for users to move up and down them at a quicker speed than what is required indoors. With this in mind, the proportion of each stair as well as the overall staircase must be planned accordingly.

STAIR WIDTH

The overall width of a set of outdoor stairs should be a minimum of 4 feet in a private setting, and 5 feet in a public space. However, wider stairs are typically more inviting and can feel safer for users, particularly in crowded public spaces.

RISERS

Perhaps more important than overall stair width are the proportions of each individual stair (all stairs within a single staircase should be uniform in dimension, of course). Risers – the vertical faces of each step – should be 6” whenever possible under typical conditions, as this dimension provides the most ergonomic function. In order to eliminate tripping hazards, the dimension of a Riser should always be a minimum of 4” and a maximum of 7”.

TREADS

Treads – the horizontal faces of each step – should be sized depending on the dimension of the Risers. The standard acceptable range of dimensions for exterior Treads is 11 to 18 inches. In order to provide the most ergonomic flow, Tread length should be determined based on the following formula whenever possible:

(2x Riser Height) + Tread Length = 24 to 26”

LANDINGS

A few other important aspects to planning a safe, functional set of stairs are landing height, landing length and landing frequency. Landings are the flat breaks between stairs that allow users to navigate up and down more easily. Topography plays a major role in the layout of landings within a run of stairs, but a few rules of thumb include:

Landings should always be separated by ~5 feet vertically at the most, so that users can see each landing as they ascend the stairs.
Landing length should be 5 feet, or multiples of 5 feet, to allow for smooth user movement.
Landing frequency should be every 9 to 11 steps if possible, to ease the exertion required to navigate the stairs.

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