BROOKFLOW HARVEST
Celebrating stormwater, flooding, food foraging & history
This was a site we focused on for the entire Spring studio semester. Historic Elmwood Park in Syracuse, New York was the focus area for this work. We started with exploring the river system of Furnace Brook that runs through the park, we transitioned into understanding how the flooding events that regularly occur in the park could be an asset versus a nuisance.
From there, we explored how an abandoned parking lot area in the park could be transitioned into serving a new function, curiously discovering the ways you can dismantle asphalt, and finally we incorporated elements of the Syracuse Food Forest initiative into our design thinking and grand plans for the final cumulative semesters end project. Including social aspects and programming design based on surrounding context of residents, schools, and other businesses hugging all sides of Elmwood Park.
There were many elements, some rooted in what was possible and some very practical suggestions that would and could very well be implemented by the City of Syracuse that directed where this final deliverable of BrookFlow Harvest ended up.
DATE
SPRING 2024
PROJECT LOCATION
ELMWOOD PARK
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK
PROGRAMS + TOOLS USED
HAND DRAWING, PENCIL, COLORED PENCIL, PEN
ILLUSTRATOR, PHOTOSHOP, DIGITAL CAMERA, LASER CUTTER/AUTOCAD, PHYSICAL MODEL MAKING
LEARNING OUTCOMES
TO PRACTICE NEW TOOLS, DIGITAL PROGRAMS, EXPLORE
NEW WAYS OF THINKING AND PROCESSING INFORMATION.
EXPERIMENTAL LEARNING OUTCOMES.
3D model, 1/4 plywood, laser cutter, epoxy resin, blue and gold fleck resin dye. 2024.
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This model highlights the neighborhood parcels, roadways and the topography of Elmwood Park that shows how water flows through all areas of this focus area. From the stormwater run-off at a neighborhood parcel level downwards into the steep valley of the park into Furnace Brook as it overflows its bank and soaks into the surrounding park.
There is no place that is not touched by water, this model aims to visually communicate this critical connection that water plays in and around this landscape. As well as for public awareness on the importance of keeping pollutants and trash out of our street and our waterways, because they are all connected.
Initial iteration chosen after the schematic phase of this project. This design aimed to connect food foraging goals with an enhanced pedestrian neighborhood path along with a three-season outdoor classroom space for public workshops and high school classes.
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Grand plan of refined site design.
Here you see the conceptual bones of how the beauty and life force of water could be harnessed and intentionally directed, all while growing plant material in the areas where it matters most to mitigate landside erosion, sequester water, + protect the brook from further aggregation to protect fish and wildlife habitat from
high-speed sheet flow + bank overflow events.
Flow of water coming down, quickly, from the steep slope to the South and down into the valley of Furnace Brook, causing frequent flooding events and washouts.
