So, I feel at a stand still with my design. I’m not particularly thrilled about the actual design and I felt as though I had to get something out, simply to produce the work last week. I figured I would get comments on how to move forward.

Much of the commenting is about the engineering of the site. This scares me a bit as I really know nothing about that. I realize that New Orleans has a sensitive and delicate ecology. I could draw a section of the ground plane, overhead, and below grade structures but I still feel like I would be shooting in the dark. No where to go but up? or is it down? ;I

It’s almost as if it’s not about the design anymore. It’s about the engineering and I’m not crazy about that. I also don’t feel like I’ve created anything special. I need some way to further the research into the local landscape and these so called “urban wetlands.” This way, perhaps it will not look like some of my other designs. I need a wow factor that I’m missing. I just don’t know what at the moment. ;( Anyone?

So, perhaps that’s what I need. I will figure out how it works, but also need to figure out why this design is revolutionary and the coolest park in New Orleans.

I just scanned the internet and found this: MIT What Matters

Hopefully this gives my idea strength and insight. So, it can be done, but at the scale I am working at?

Can I make this a “park” without seeming like it is a dank, stilted seam in the landscape? I ran across this- Point Fraser Wetland, Perth Australia

The main objective of the wetland is to improve the quality of urban
stormwater before discharge into the river.The second aim was to create a
protective habitat for birds and frogs and provide playgrounds,car parks,
and picnic areas for the public.The briefrequired a practical and innova-
tive synthesis ofwater management and landscape design.
The concepts behind Point Fraser Wetland are beneficial and savvy. This project explains the basic workings of how the water moves through the site. It goes through a series of holding areas, each with a specific function. This design it meant to mesh with the current landscape as well as propose solutions for sediment reduction and storm water quality management. I like these workings, however the design seems stilted to me. I want to be sure not to create a gap between the people and the wetland. Merging the people with the wetland is what is the challenge. If I could make the pathways a permeable substrate, this could allow the hydrology to determine the design. Perhaps I need to draw the landscape when there is no water on site, and when it becomes inundated.