Architecture Commons^™

A Survey And Assessment Of The State Of Low Impact Development In The Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester County Region Of Coastal South Carolina Emphasizing The Role Of Landscape Architects In Stormwater Management, Noelle Castiglia

All Theses

Watersheds across the U.S., particularly population-dense coastal regions, are being impacted by cultural development preferences which promote an increase in impervious surfaces and ultimately increase the rate and volume of stormwater runoff. Low Impact Development (LID), a site specific form of green infrastructure (GI), is being adopted by many municipalities as an alternative stormwater management solution. Taking advantage of local ecological systems, LID addresses pressing growth requirements with the fundamental need to protect waterways, while also meeting federal regulations resulting from the National Permit Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). This thesis attempts to assess the state of LID in the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester …

North Park: A Regional Approach To Parks, Recreation, And Trails Planning, Alan John Luce

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

The North Park study area is mainly focused on the parks, recreation, and trails of two municipalities: North Logan and Hyde Park. These two municipalities have formed several partnerships to provide the police, fire, and other civic needs of the citizens of both communities. Coincidentally, these services have been given a name that combines the names of the two municipalities, North Park. However, this particular study area also includes small portions of land that are currently located in Logan City, Cache County, and the U.S. Forest Service.

North Park is a beautiful area nestled on the east bench of Cache …

An Exploration Of The Potential Benefits Of Healing Gardens On Veterans With Ptsd, Brock Justin Anderson

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Healing gardens are places that facilitate in improving or restoring an individual’s mental or physical health. Today, therapeutic landscape design is a growing facet of landscape architecture. This study looks at the potential benefits of using healing gardens in addition to traditional methods of treatment for veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A reasonable amount of research has been done into the area of therapeutic landscapes and their influence on certain populations, but the potential positive effects these healing gardensmay hold for veterans suffering from PTSD seems to be unidentified. This study examines the history of healing gardens, problems …

The Life And Death Of An American Block: A Dialogue With Entropy, Micah Daniel Antanaitis

Masters Theses

My goal in this thesis is to frame, through design, an existing environment in a manner that fosters the witness and embrace of the reality and beauty of decay—which acts as a marker of the passage of time. My intent is to engage in a careful renewal of a neglected, and largely forgotten, urban landscape, which does not ignore its temporal context. My hope is to explore the full potential of the life cycle of buildings and discover the lesson of mortality in modern American ruins.

Things fall apart. This is a simple truth about the physical world that humanity …

Greenway Design And Planning For Healthy Communities: Case Study Of Knoxville, Yilin Shi

Masters Theses

Abstract

Greenway design and planning have become a multi-functional, multi-objective approach to address social, cultural and ecological concerns. Traditional greenway design and planning have focused more on ecological, historic and recreational values. However, the current focus of greenway planning is also shifting to community health, which includes both physical health and emotional health. This thesis focuses on physical health. This concern arises out of observations on obesity and physical inactivity as two of the most serious health problems in the United States which greatly threaten the quality of life in the country. Greenways can help address the issues of obesity …

Integrating And Applying Conservation Development Principles To Commercial Sites: A Business Park In Bristol, Tn, Christopher Lee Chandler

Masters Theses

Abstract

Throughout history, land has been treated as man's platform for development and expansion into new territories and the basis for our current infrastructure. Understanding existing properties and characteristics of the land has become imperative to successful development and strong networks that connect human beings to one another. As we discover ever changing natural tendencies, we are prone to rethinking the way in which the land is engaged from a developmental and conservational standpoint. Coexisting with natural processes of the earth and the land is of utmost importance to the success of human systems using it as a base for …

Clean Water Act Phase Ii: How To For Development, A Case Study, Jeffrey Caleb Lillard

Masters Theses

I am researching the use of several stormwater techniques known to reduce runoff to provide future developers and municipal officials with tools to meet the stormwater post-construction runoff standards laid out in Phase II of the Clean Water Act. Specifically, I am looking at Smart Growth, Low Impact Development, Open Space Design, and Green Infrastructure. Phase II states that any new development or re-development equaling one acre or greater must be able to capture and infiltrate the first inch of rain to fall on site following 72 hours with no measurable precipitation. There is no one way to solve the …

Re-Envisioning Reclamation: A Strip Mine's Biography, Bethany Margaret Morris

Masters Theses

ABSTRACT

This proposal is a study of coal-mining in Southern West Virginia; its impact on the landscape; local economy and culture; and presents an alternative land use to address the loss of a major industry in a rural county.

The study began with understanding the process of mining; from the actual extraction to the end product, electricity. Looking at the past provided a historical metric for the Coal Company - Mine Worker dynamic. Case studies created benchmarks for both appreciating and improving upon the issue. Constructing a timeline that tracked political, social and natural occurrences gave scope to the interrelationships …

Planning Growth - Preserving Character, Nathan Daniel Oliver

Masters Theses

Gateway communities are the towns, cities, and communities that border public lands such as national and state parks, wildlife refuges, forests, historic sites, wilderness areas, national forests, and other public lands. They offer scenic beauty and a high quality of life that attracts millions of Americans looking to escape traffic congestion, fast tempo and uniformity of cities and suburbs. Gateway communities provide food, lodging, and business for Americans on their way to public lands. They serve as portals to public lands and therefore play an important role in defining the park, forest, or wilderness experience for many visitors. Their beauty, …

Strip Development And Community: Maintaining A Sense Of Place, Andrew Kelly Carr

Masters Theses

Abstract

Strip development eases communities’ economic troubles by providing jobs and cheap goods at the expense of a sense of place and social fabric. Four factors are critical to the dissolution of place in strip development: mobility, standardization, specialization, and technology. (Randolph Hester)

Mobility gives people the freedom to move over distances with little constraint; a consequence of this is a produced sense of rootlessness within many communities.

Standardization creates placelessness in communities by the repetition of form and function.

Specialization diminishes comprehensive knowledge of place and complex social and ecological thinking.

Technology may divorce people …

We're Still Here: Culturally Sensitive Design And Planning, Ezekiel Craig Cooper

Masters Theses

“In the 1700’s it was impossible to visit what is now known as western North Carolina without encountering the Cherokee. For the well traveled, it still is.”

In 2007, the above quote was used in a marketing campaign by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to attract tourists to the town of Cherokee, NC. Beginning in the early 1900’s, Cherokee evolved into a tourist destination because of the beautiful location, the historical importance and the offering of authentic cultural attractions. Millions of people traveled to Cherokee throughout the 1900’s just to get a glimpse of Cherokee life and be exposed …

A Healthy Community In Burlington Neighborhood, Maudy Indriani Budipradigdo

Masters Theses

Studies have shown that the rising rate of adverse physical, social and mental conditions are tightly related to a lack of physical activity, poor eating habits, and the lack of social interaction. Unlike health problems centuries ago which were often caused by lethal diseases, the contemporary health problems in the United States relate to peoples' lifestyles and built environments. Vehicle-oriented community design has caused limited physical activity and unhealthful eating habits that increase obesity and other related health problems. Modern built environments often unintentionally discourage social interactions and present unintended obstacles to physical activities which causes social and mental health …

Inhabiting The Periphery: A Dialogue Between Individual And Site, Robert Oliver Kown

Masters Theses

What is a periphery? We can think about this word in more than one way. First off, peripheries are places that exist as spatial conditions in cities, They indicate edges and places that have been left behind. Spaces that have lost their meaning. But in this thesis I will use the word in another way as well. What does the periphery mean for us today? What are those parts of our lives that have been marginalized, and how can we begin to reclaim what has been lost? It is the aim of this thesis to address these issues of the …

Protocols For Use Of The Cela Academic Information System, Alexandra Mariaaguiar Leister

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

The Academic Information System (AIS) is a digital database used by academic administrators in landscape architecture programs to store and analyze information about the operations of their academic units. It is an information access tool that allows administrators to compare information about their academic units with information from clusters of other academic units also involved in the education of landscape architects. The reasons for CELA to create the AIS were "to eliminate the making of critical decisions about landscape architecture education based on intuition-driven information reinforcing the idea that there are priorities for releasing the data" (Taylor, Ellis, Ozdil 2010). …

An Exploration Of The Attributes Of Sense Of Place In A Culturally-Diverse Dallas District: Learning From Cedar Springs Case Study, Susan Alford

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

Neighborhood centers rich in cultural diversity and history are desirable and special places for communities. Cedar Springs "The Strip" is a dynamic gay commercial neighborhood center serving Cedar Springs district's and is specified as unique although experiencing socio-spatial changes in character as expressed by its community (Vanderslice, 2008; Zillow, 2010). Even though research in literature reveals various definitions of sense of place, it is not clear what attributes make a particular place special and desirable such as Cedar Springs district which in turn can inform design and plans to respond to the community's sense of place. This research identifies and …

Open Space Planning; Utilizing Green Infrastructure To Preserve Community, Cynthia V. Reynolds

Master's Theses

Current sprawl development patterns typical of contemporary development in the United States are unsustainable. The uniform development guidelines prevent context sensitive community design, degrading our communities and consuming large amounts of natural and cultural resources. Significant progress has been made in reorganizing community planning towards sustainable development practices. However, these alternatives still work under the misconception that there is a disconnect between planning open space networks and planning development. Through a comprehensive land use planning approach, this project explores combining concepts of landscape ecology, green infrastructure planning and conservation subdivision patterns to design an integrative open space/community network.

Enhanced Cross Country Running Course Design: A Study Of Historic And Recent Courses, Other Landscape-Based Sports, Athlete Psychology, And Course Elements, Audrey B. Lancaster

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Literature suggests that the original and "pure" elements of cross country course design have faded through time; in order to wholly enhance course design the original elements must be preserved and united with desired modern course elements. "Pure" sport is defined by an athlete's struggle and persistence that occur amidst tough competition, rugged course elements, and physical pain. In addition to identifying the desired elements through literature review, case studies, and self-experience of cross country course design, it was necessary to confirm the desired elements through interviewing eight key informants. The key informants were renowned and accomplished NCAA cross country …

The Solitary Place Shall Be Glad For Them: Understanding And Treating Mormon Pioneer Gardens As Cultural Landscapes, Emily Anne Brooksby Wheeler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The gardens of early Mormon pioneers are a unique cultural resource in the western United States, but little guidance has been provided for understanding or providing landscape treatments for Mormon landscapes. Mormon pioneers came to Utah and the Great Basin to escape religious persecution and build their own holy kingdom. In relative geographical isolation, they built towns that have a distinctive character delineating a Mormon cultural region in the West. Self-sufficiency was an important feature of these towns and of the religious culture of early Mormons, both because of their geographical isolation and their desire to be independent of the …

New Urbanism: Its Interpretation And Implementation, Sherri Marie French

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

New Urbanism is a popular development movement that combines old and new development strategies in an attempt to build unique and lasting communities of value. However, as this movement employs practices that are not currently considered typical, developing in this manner can be difficult. This research seeks to identify the common difficulties that arise during the development of New Urbanist communities as well as possible solutions for overcoming those difficulties.

Researching the barriers to implementing principles of New Urbanism is important as this movement may offer solutions to some of the challenges arising from current development practices such as:

• Sprawl …

A Study Of The Biltmore Estate's Ramble: Researching Design Intent, Evaluating Change Over Time, And Proposing A Rehabilitation Plan, Owen Mclaughlin

All Theses

The purpose of this study is to propose a historically appropriate rehabilitation plan for the Biltmore Estate's Ramble based upon Olmsted's original design intent. In order to ascertain Frederick Law Olmsted's original design intent for the Ramble, an extensive review of Victorian Era garden design, cultural landscapes, the U.S. Horticultural Industry, and possible design influences on Olmsted as he designed the site was performed. Using primary archival materials and secondary sources, the developmental history of the Ramble from 1890 to present was studied. From that work, design intent was determined by analyzing character-defining features from the original 1893 planting plan …

The Impact Of Different Play Environments On The Social Interactions Of Toddlers With Disabilities, Rebecca Buckley

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Play is a crucial part of any child’s social behavior and development. It helps children develop self-determination, self-control, and identity. These skills are primarily learned through interactions with other children. Play is particularly imperative for children with disabilities approaching the age of three, an age that studies have shown to be pivotal for their social and emotional growth.

Children with disabilities often have difficulty with social interactions. Play serves as a platform for these interactions, and provides a way for children with disabilities to learn social standards and values. Children with disabilities who do not participate in play can suffer …

Compatibility Of Urban Edible Landscaping To The Sustainable Sites Initiative's Goals And Design Criteria., Cheryl Beesley

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

This research addresses edible landscapes through the lens of The Sustainable Sites Initiative (SITES). The Sustainable Sites Initiative is a collaboration of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), The Ladybird Johnson Wildlife Center and the United States Botanic Garden. The team of professionals working on SITES has developed a manual for sustainable site development and landscaping practice that include guidelines regarding site development, installation, and maintenance practices. Various levels of certification can be obtained by accumulating points in categories that relate to new site construction or site renovation. It is the purpose of this thesis to research how urban …

Toward An Ontology Of Design Philosophy In Landscape Architecture: Developing A Personal Design Philosophy, Rhonda Erin Fields

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

This thesis uses qualitative inquiry to examine the process for developing a personal design philosophy. The larger goal of the study seeks to understand the universal and particulars of design as philosophy with the intent to develop an ontology for design philosophy in landscape architecture. "Design is a crucial factor in the relation between beings and worlds as they shape each other, yet as a philosophy, design itself hardly exists" (Willis, 2009). Willis and others in the field of design philosophy suggest that design as a philosophy has only recently begun to be studied. Further, to begin an understanding of …

A Search For Design Appropriateness Using Qualitative Techniques To Contrast The Mountain Resort Community Cores Of Vail Village And Beaver Creek Village, Jared Sylor

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

This study uses in-depth interviews to compare the mountain resort village cores of Vail Village and Beaver Creek Village to determine levels of design appropriateness in each. Design appropriateness for a village core is defined as an outdoor, multi-chambered, visually stimulating environment that encourages and invites human activity and repeat visits to the village core and ski resort (Dorward 1990.) An appropriately designed village core "encourages visitors to wander, explore the special places and unique features of the village, people-watch, and interact amiably with strangers in a diverse mix of gathering places and open-air seating" (Dorward 2006, p.273.) Design appropriateness …

Impact Of Suburbs: Assessing Tree Coverage Using Geo-Spatial Tools In The City Of Fort Worth, James Colton Yorek

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

Throughout the last century, developers kept pace with the growing housing demand, and in doing so, former rural landscape continued to become part of the urban fabric (Corrigan et al, 2004; Secker 2007). This newly acquired land is primarily being shaped by development typically in the form of single-family residential subdivisions (Berger, 2006). With the increasing consumption of land for development there are increasing concerns from the public surrounding issues of land use changes, natural resources, and the protection of land through conservation efforts (Johnston et al, 2006). One of these issues is the acceptance of the urban forest as …

A Search For Design Appropriateness Using Qualitative Techniques To Contrast The Mountain Resort Community Cores Of Vail Village And Beaver Creek Village, Jared Sylor

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

This study uses in-depth interviews to compare the mountain resort village cores of Vail Village and Beaver Creek Village to determine levels of design appropriateness in each. Design appropriateness for a village core is defined as an outdoor, multi-chambered, visually stimulating environment that encourages and invites human activity and repeat visits to the village core and ski resort (Dorward 1990.) An appropriately designed village core "encourages visitors to wander, explore the special places and unique features of the village, people-watch, and interact amiably with strangers in a diverse mix of gathering places and open-air seating" (Dorward 2006, p.273.) Design appropriateness …

Elementary Schoolyard Landscapes As Outdoor Learning Environments: North Texas Stakeholders' Perceptions Of The No Child Left Inside Act, Shawn Marie Bookout

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

So that children can be exposed to a more stimulating outdoor educational experience, the United States public education system developed and implemented strategies to accomplish an integrative approach between indoor and outdoor learning (Gardner 1991; Wells and Evans 2003; Titman 1994; Moore 1986). One of these strategies is to allow for an enhanced connection between children and the outdoor environment through the betterment of school landscapes. As described by Wohlwill (1983), the outdoor environment is - that vast domain of organic and inorganic matter that is not a product of human activity or intervention. The purpose of this study is …

Elementary Schoolyard Landscapes As Outdoor Learning Environments: North Texas Stakeholders' Perceptions Of The No Child Left Inside Act, Shawn Marie Bookout

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

So that children can be exposed to a more stimulating outdoor educational experience, the United States public education system developed and implemented strategies to accomplish an integrative approach between indoor and outdoor learning (Gardner 1991; Wells and Evans 2003; Titman 1994; Moore 1986). One of these strategies is to allow for an enhanced connection between children and the outdoor environment through the betterment of school landscapes. As described by Wohlwill (1983), the outdoor environment is - that vast domain of organic and inorganic matter that is not a product of human activity or intervention. The purpose of this study is …

Toward An Ontology Of Design Philosophy In Landscape Architecture: Developing A Personal Design Philosophy, Rhonda Erin Fields

Landscape Architecture Masters & Design Theses

This thesis uses qualitative inquiry to examine the process for developing a personal design philosophy. The larger goal of the study seeks to understand the universal and particulars of design as philosophy with the intent to develop an ontology for design philosophy in landscape architecture. "Design is a crucial factor in the relation between beings and worlds as they shape each other, yet as a philosophy, design itself hardly exists" (Willis, 2009). Willis and others in the field of design philosophy suggest that design as a philosophy has only recently begun to be studied. Further, to begin an understanding of …