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Member of
The Guild of
Landscape Designers |
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Location: San
Diego, USA
Landscape
Architect: Martha Schwartz
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View
along the south side
A long paved walkway crosses the water from one
side to the other, providing access parallel to the tramway, for the
pedestrians. The view line is emphasised by the avenues of palms to each
end. |
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The tall
fountains
The tall fountains stand like an orchard, their
forms lined up perfectly on a grid system. Water splashes from the
top of each fountain, echoing the sprayed heads of the nearby palm
trees. |
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The grass
mounds
Due to the perceived scale of the site,
everything has been developed to be almost childlike in its form. The
grass mounds are over accentuated to emphasise their circular
structure. |
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Stone
grid
The open water is cut by another grid in the
form of stonework which ties the land to the water by dissecting both.
The temptation is to jump onto the walkway and leap the individual gaps
to make one's way around the park. |
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Harmony
with the city
The tall fountains also echo a third quality in
the surrounding buildings which reflect the vertical structures.
For a children's park, this is like making small sky scrapers in the
middle of the water. |
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Shrub
mounds
The grass mounds are once again echoed by
mounds of Mediterranean shrubs, clipped to mirror the grass mounds.
These are aromatic, inviting children to explore senses of smell and
touch.
Through out the 'land' of the park are
bushy-headed pine trees. These help to mute the sounds of the city,
giving a sense of tranquility and also acting as a 'roof' to the park. |
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Along the
east side
Tall, clipped cypresses echo the neighbourhood
tower blocks, creating formal avenues in keeping with the formal aspect
of the park's layout.
The trees aim to 'hedge' the boundary of the
park without obscuring the view through the park. |
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View from
the south side
Stone work, fountains and palm trees with the
tower blocks of apartments beyond. |
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Emphasising
the grid
View across the lake from the edge of the pine
trees. Notice the office complex opposite, whose architecture plays well
with the grid form of the park. |
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More details of the park,
including the various styles of seating, pine trees and
surfacing. The whole park is layered with grids over other grids,
materials colliding into other materials, whilst keeping a simple form
of land architecture. Colours have been carefully thought out and the
park has an air of peace and playfulness, an oasis in the midst of the
busy city. |
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