- Blossom Design/Build
May 2012 - The Blossom Design/Build was a six week studio project representing the combined efforts of first-year RISD graduate and undergraduate students.
Located on a community site bordering the Blackstone River in Pawtucket, RI, this year's project was an extension of the previous year's studio work.
The experience of this space begins at the top corner of the site: two unfinished concrete walls were turned into a gateway for the rest of the property.
This open, wooden room was built using a system of stacked and slotted wood that creates a pattern dependent on the size of the lumber used.
The wall was designed to use scrap lumber generated from the rest of the site. An open roof draws the eye towards the sky and plays on the relationship between heavy and light elements.
A view of the upper path before implementing our design.- The upper path after landscaping and constructing gabion walls that hold back earth, architecturalize the path, and provide seating.
- A rain garden being built adjacent to the existing pavilion, to filter runoff from the roof before it reaches the river.
- The finished rain garden, complete with gabion walls that bridge the distance between the pavilion deck and the ground.
- Construction detail of the gabion wall and stair combination leading up to the existing pavilion.
- Construction of the swale, running the length of the site parallel to the Blackstone River.
- The swale filters runoff from the parking lot before it reaches the river. The finished path also features landscaping and gabion seating.
- A view of the lookout to the river before construction.
- The lookout after adding gabion seating and landscaping that facilitates community gathering and interaction.
- The view of the river from the existing pavilion, before implementing our design.
- The view after landscaping and constructing a river access composed of concrete foundation walls, wooden steps, and seating.
- Construction detail of the steps leading down to the river.
- The view of the pavilion and river access from the bottom of the slope.
- The dock built at the end of the river access, to allow community members to congregate, launch canoes, or take water samples for research.
- A view of the river access and dock, from the lookout.
- Models made before site work began.
Discuss This Project: ( Comments)