Design Ideas

Our group has had many discussions of how we should design something that will provide shade to the site, and what kind of space we would like to create with it. One of the main points of emphasis that we are trying to work with for the Jaycee Park project is sustainability and community involvement and education with that sustainability. We want this to be a project for the community, with their involvement, because this park is used by them and we feel that they will have a sense of pride and connection to the site if they are involved in the process. And sustainability is an ongoing effort throughout our class by trying to use recycled materials, innovative techniques, and other means of energy. Our designs for the site are developing and we are planning a type of shade canopy that would become part of the site and create a space, and would also be integral to other features of the site that we are trying to work with as well. We are looking at ways to make the performance stage more of a focal point that can identify the site and the atmosphere. One of the ways that we are looking at this is to bring in some more natural materials, such as wood, to the harshness of the concrete stage. The different layers of wood could wrap and begin to envelope parts of the stage and then continue to wrap up and become part of the structure for the canopy. And the textile material of the canopy would begin to wrap around and come down as well, so that together the materials and systems would encompass and hold the stage, anchoring it to the site and creating a place for it. These two systems of materials, one being very traditional wood (but we would be using it in an innovative manner) and the other being a recycled plastic panel, can become integrated with very interesting details, and provide connection points to touch and integrate with the site itself.