Nichtoffener Wettbewerb | 05/2012
National Mall Design Competition
Finalist / Constitution Gardens
Landschaftsarchitektur
Architektur
Erläuterungstext
Constitution Gardens
Respite Regeneration Romance
The new Constitution Gardens is a place of respite, regeneration and romance. Great parks form a compact between arcadia and city, leveraging and integrating the two fundamental components: nature and people. This biophilic design harnesses nature to transform Constitution Gardens into a picture of healthy water, soil, foliage, habitat and people. Framing that picture, its edges make for an engaging urban interface.
Since L’Enfant’s time, Washington’s story is marked by a precarious balance of urbanism and water. A shoreline, two canals and a creek once met at the present Constitution Avenue and 17th Street intersection. Thus, the park struggles with unnaturally developed soils and with an equally artificial lake.
A healthy and vibrant lake is the heart of the new Gardens. Variegated shorelines, paths, and boardwalks offer multiple ways to experience this water centric park. Informed by the aesthetics of regional aquatic and terrestrial habitats, a new resilient park landscape is sustained by biologically enhanced soils. The restored nutrient cycling capacity and diversity of this landscape minimizes maintenance requirements over time.
The lake and surrounding landscape become an adaptable, regenerative, living system requiring zero potable water, and capable of managing stormwater and groundwater from adjacent buildings along Constitution Avenue. The water system relies on a few solar-powered pumps to drive this self-cleansing, biologically balanced body of water. Circulating throughout the park its waters serve many purposes: retracing canal history, celebrating Washington’s lost natural springs and remembering Tiber Creek. Along the way it offers special cooling, rustling pleasures, and provides a thermal source for the park’s new zero-energy structures.
These new structures host shops, markets, exhibits, cafés and reception halls, activating the park as a vibrant destination. The market pavilion defines the garden’s edge and converts Constitution Avenue into a real urban boulevard. Designed to accommodate large groups, families, couples, children and commuters will enjoy the convenience of structured arrival, where they find refreshments, information, souvenirs, rentals and restrooms.
Those arriving from the north and the east will recognize a significant new urban marker, Tiber Creek Plaza. As the Garden’s formal portal, this is a welcoming urban porch protected by the dappled shade of a large overhead timber trellis. The canopied gateway is bracketed by a new hillside and waterworks whose long glass wall reflects glimpses of the Garden beyond.
Concealing critical support facilities, and clustered at the Mall’s most accessible corner, the hillside is topped by a terrace and dining hall designed for year-round activity, by day and into the night. Offering quintessential views of Washington monuments and the Garden, these amenities are an unmatched venue for dining, cultural events, receptions and celebration: a memorable place of great romance.
Respite, regeneration and romance are the hallmarks of this bold new strategy. Conceived in the 1970’s as a “Place of Respite,” Constitution Garden’s promise will finally be unlocked. Nature’s restorative powers will transform it into a sparkling, vibrant, accessible, pastoral landscape that regenerates the human spirit. In a romantically spirited relationship to the city, this is the great urban park Washington deserves.
Respite Regeneration Romance
The new Constitution Gardens is a place of respite, regeneration and romance. Great parks form a compact between arcadia and city, leveraging and integrating the two fundamental components: nature and people. This biophilic design harnesses nature to transform Constitution Gardens into a picture of healthy water, soil, foliage, habitat and people. Framing that picture, its edges make for an engaging urban interface.
Since L’Enfant’s time, Washington’s story is marked by a precarious balance of urbanism and water. A shoreline, two canals and a creek once met at the present Constitution Avenue and 17th Street intersection. Thus, the park struggles with unnaturally developed soils and with an equally artificial lake.
A healthy and vibrant lake is the heart of the new Gardens. Variegated shorelines, paths, and boardwalks offer multiple ways to experience this water centric park. Informed by the aesthetics of regional aquatic and terrestrial habitats, a new resilient park landscape is sustained by biologically enhanced soils. The restored nutrient cycling capacity and diversity of this landscape minimizes maintenance requirements over time.
The lake and surrounding landscape become an adaptable, regenerative, living system requiring zero potable water, and capable of managing stormwater and groundwater from adjacent buildings along Constitution Avenue. The water system relies on a few solar-powered pumps to drive this self-cleansing, biologically balanced body of water. Circulating throughout the park its waters serve many purposes: retracing canal history, celebrating Washington’s lost natural springs and remembering Tiber Creek. Along the way it offers special cooling, rustling pleasures, and provides a thermal source for the park’s new zero-energy structures.
These new structures host shops, markets, exhibits, cafés and reception halls, activating the park as a vibrant destination. The market pavilion defines the garden’s edge and converts Constitution Avenue into a real urban boulevard. Designed to accommodate large groups, families, couples, children and commuters will enjoy the convenience of structured arrival, where they find refreshments, information, souvenirs, rentals and restrooms.
Those arriving from the north and the east will recognize a significant new urban marker, Tiber Creek Plaza. As the Garden’s formal portal, this is a welcoming urban porch protected by the dappled shade of a large overhead timber trellis. The canopied gateway is bracketed by a new hillside and waterworks whose long glass wall reflects glimpses of the Garden beyond.
Concealing critical support facilities, and clustered at the Mall’s most accessible corner, the hillside is topped by a terrace and dining hall designed for year-round activity, by day and into the night. Offering quintessential views of Washington monuments and the Garden, these amenities are an unmatched venue for dining, cultural events, receptions and celebration: a memorable place of great romance.
Respite, regeneration and romance are the hallmarks of this bold new strategy. Conceived in the 1970’s as a “Place of Respite,” Constitution Garden’s promise will finally be unlocked. Nature’s restorative powers will transform it into a sparkling, vibrant, accessible, pastoral landscape that regenerates the human spirit. In a romantically spirited relationship to the city, this is the great urban park Washington deserves.