Final Boards are up

The following is a brief description from each student, from their final board. Below each description is a link to their boards. Feel free to take a look and tell us what you think! Thank you

Pratisha (Nuwakot, Nepal)

The Concept of my design is to design a Projected Trail which interacts with all of the vehicular roads that connect the site and the ground plane of  “The Cut”. Through this people can experience the industrial history of the City of Birmingham while walking through “The Eco-Cut”. Ecologically the site will be allowed to grow on its own, a industrial labyrinth.

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Claire (Wetumpka, Alabama)

Incorporating and including ecology in our cities is becoming increasingly important. As urban sprawl continues to swallow up our free and open lands, we must account for part of this ecological loss by re-filling our cities with ecological pockets and corridors. Not only does this aid ecological systems like food chains, migration patterns and population checks, nut it also plays a big part in human enjoyment and out quality of life in cities. Bird populations have been declining for the last 50 years due mainly to loss of habitat. My proposal for Line Park is to create a place for birds, all of the species they depend upon, and also a place for people. Both migrating birds and resident birds will be able to find in line Park the four elements they need: water, cover, food and shelter. Plant species were chosen based on their functionality and performance towards birds and bird’s food chains. The overall design is meant to welcome both birds and people to Line Park, and to develop relationships between the two. Line Park has potential to spur economic development in Birmingham and my approach to this design reflects and exploits this potential.

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Yang (Beijing, China)

Tree Roots or Grassroots Landscape: From the center extends to the surrounding, extending to the Railroad Park – Railroad Cut – Sloss Furnace. From soft materials (railroad Park) to hard materials (Sloss Furnace) relationship between hard materials and vegetations. Making a whole and I will reflect to natural and sustainable landscape design. I will this space, divide into three parts. Include the trail strategy, culture strategy and industry strategy. Making whole space. I will propose this space a mix space (trail + culture + industry). I use of canopy divided into two space – on the canopy(tree trunk) and under canopy (tree root). I want to the whole railroad cut design has become a landmark through the Birmingham City.

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Matt (Trussville, Alabama)

The concept of this design is to use water as a social accumulator, which will in turn create a meaningful place. The shape of the “paths” are designed to increase the opportunity for social encounters by creating moments of close pedestrian proximity.

This site is a key link for Railroad Park and Sloss Furnace. This link is being further developed by designing subtle hints to tie the two spaces together. Water will almost always attract people, but the water in the “Canal Walk” will serve as a visual connection to Railroad Park’s use of water. The condition of the walls of this space are simple, efficient concrete walls, which ties to the industrial history of this specific site and of the City of Birmingham as a whole. This industrial feeling will serve as a connection to Sloss Furnace.

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Fei (Beijing, China)

This project theme is Ecology Education. I use three main elements to design this site, Seasonal Plant, Storm Water and Activity area. I want to use these elements to education people the ecology landscape. There are four season plant in the site and the storm water high will change during the different season. Then I create a path to connect these elements to achieve the purpose of education.

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Raf (Miami, Florida)

The site commonly referred to as “The Cut" is a 26 foot wide railway easement that was once used to top load and unload freight trains. The site offers some unique potential not only because of its characteristics (there aren't many cities that have a 4 block long 26 foot wide alleyway) but also because of its location between Railroad Park and Sloss Furnace as well as the Museum, Theatre and Loft districts to the north and UAB's campus to the south. Other ASSETS along "The Cut" include the BBVA building, new housing, ample parking, a few open green spaces and low vacancies thanks to several design firms and other businesses along 1^st Ave S. Some ISSUES are the unsafe and unpleasant pedestrian environments which is too hot during the summer and has too much traffic at high speeds at 22nd street to be considered a safe crossing. The railroad line to the North also causes some accessibility problems and the west end of “The Cut", where traffic merges together produces an unsafe pedestrian space.

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Greg (Atlanta, Georgia)

Line Park – Cultural Park and Greenspace

Line Park is a multi-use greenspace and cultural park, situated in central Birmingham. Focusing on three aspects of culture (History, Arts, and Social Interactions), Line Park is a place for a wide range of uses by a diverse range of people. Street festivals, art exhibits, open air markets, and may other activities are all possibilities. From large city-wide events, to small family functions, Line Park is a vibrant and place to celebrate the rich culture of Birmingham.

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