landscape architecture portfolio

clemson.university

a collection of creative works

academic portfolio

taylor.critcher

table.of.contents

identity

create

visualize

culture

objectiveTo obtain a position that will utilize and challenge my technical and design skills through the creation of sustainable urban envi-ronments.

educationClemson UniversityMay 2011

Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, Minor of Horticulture

Sigma Lambda Alpha, CUASLA, Sigma Chi Fraternity

software knowledgeAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorAdobe ReaderArcGISAutoCAD and LandFXGoogle SketchUpKerkytheaMicrosoft Office Suite

work experienceWalt Disney WorldProfessional Horticulture Internship-In Progress

Dargan Landscape Architects, Atlanta, GeorgiaProfessional Internship Summer 2010

- Assisted with numerous projects currently developing in Cashiers and Highlands, NC under the supervision of Mary Palmer Dargan, ASLA, CFO.- Conducted many consultations with clients and contractors, designed a crib-wall retention plan, and designed planting plans for multiple “mountain chic” residences.- Created conceptual plans for mountain residences along with on-site perspectives.- Drafted plans through AutoCAD and hand renderings.

South Carolina Botanical Gardens, Clemson, South CarolinaField Studies Internship

- Worked on the field maintenance crew and design and implemented the meditation garden.

identity

My design approach has been thoroughly influenced by numer-ous academic travels around the world and growing up in the heart of small town North Carolina. The large differences in the cultural landscapes throughout the world that I have experienced have allowed me to realize the importance on the ability to adapt to your surrounding environment, and how design should re-flect that principle. I have always believed that you should evoke human response by creating a sense of place in every design.

My true passion in Landscape Architecture lies in creating a sus-tainable relationship between the urban fabric and the natu-ral environment. The densities of cities today allow for a de-signer to innovate solutions that can effectively heal the urban fabric. Within my designs I tend to create imaginative solu-tions that are also functional and harmonious to their setting. I feel that within a design one should enhance the natural en-vironment and inspire the public through cultural influenc-es. As my education as an undergraduate student comes to an end I feel the urge to continue my education professionally and to establish sustainable urban progress within the world.

identity | create | visualize | culture

create

[agri]scape

poble.nou

rocky.knob

furman.university

rosetta.egypt


[agri]scape:atlanta’s urban agriculture networkatlanta.georgia | capstone project

problem

Over half of Americans are overweight or obese.

28% of Georgia residents are obese.

16% of children in Georgia are obese.

[AGRI]SCAPE is intended to serve as a model for the new age of agriculture, one that morphs production back into the urban core through eco-nomic, education, environ-mental, and social aspects. These four pilot sites can now serve as a connection for similar sites around the Atlanta community in effort to create a truly Continuous Productive Urban Landscape.


The average meal travels 1400 miles from harvest to home and Atlanta contains the 13th highest level of air pollution in the United States.

economic

identity | create | visualize | cultureeconomic

The economic aspect of the final design was in-tended to create maximum agriculture output with minimal footprint on the existing land-scape. The site that was chosen spanned a 1.5 mile utility corridor in the Cascade neighbor-hood of Atlanta. 100’ wide plots were created in the barren corridor and allocated based on ad-jacent land use. Experimental Plots were placed adjacent to Cascade Elementary School and Avery Recreation Complex for immediate pub-lic interaction, Livestock Plots were placed ad-jacent to woodlands to limit smells and noises, and Agriculture Plots were placed next to low income residencies to aid in job production. A partnership is created with Duke Energy to cre-ate solutions to fragmented land.

Livestock Plots adjacent to woodland

Experimental Plots adjacent to schoolsAgriculture Plots adjacent to residencies

Section showing interactive building and demonstration plots

identity | create | visualize | cultureeducationThe education aspect of the final design was intended to create an educational platform to inform the public of Atlanta on Urban Agriculture. The six acre parcel is located within the Inman Park neighbor-hood and creates a direct partnership with Atlanta’s Beltline Inc.’s Clear Creek Park. The site contains Biofuel plots for local use, Experimental plots to show how row orientation effects crop growth, Cul-tural plots to showcase Atlanta’s growing demographic, and an interactive education building along with farmers markets.

View from interactive building to demonstration plotsView from Biofuel area to Farmers Markets

Section showing Biofuel area with Farmers Markets in the background

Section showing entry to the site and sensory navigation


environmentalThe environmental aspect of the final design was intended to create an environmental platform to showcase innovative ways to aid the environment. Located within the Inman Park neighborhood, this 1.5 acre site pro-vides the public with agriculture plots, a sensory navigation, and an Aquaponics building. The agriculture plots are strategically planted with companion herbs to naturally repel pests and prevent the use of pesticides. The sensory navigation leads visitors through the site by the five senses, and the Aquaponics building provides a symbiotic relationship between fish and plants and the site and local restaurants.

View from corn lookout on entire siteView of Aquaponics building

Section showing Agriculture plots, seating area, and Aquaponics greenhouse

identity | create | visualize | culturesocialThe social aspect of the final design was intended to create a balance in a low income public hous-ing complex. Located within the Reynoldstown neighborhood of Atlanta and adjacent to the Marta rail line, the one acre each building contains crop production, generational interaction, recreation, and leisure to make this truly a social complex. Within the crop production areas raised beds were implemented to combat poor soil conditions, and all vegetables will be celebrated during an annual harvest festival. Community programs were created to provide a generational interaction for elders to teach younger generations. Open grass plots were provided to support the recreational aspect of the design while adjacent leisure areas provide direct supervision of children.

Section showing the interaction between apartments and public social space

Section showing all social aspects within the site

poble.noubarcelona.spain | spring.2010

Urban block design in Barcelona’s 22@ district aimed to connect the diminishing block with the surround-ing development. Located near the renowned Torre Agbar building and in viewing distance of the Olym-pic Village skyscrapers, the design approach was to reveal the surrounding views to the public. Working cohesively with an architecture student on the build-ing design I developed a topographical mesh defined by view usage. Openings were established based on three levels of elevation, raised for revealing open views, lowered for functional street access, and level under the designed building in order to frame and guide the visitor’s views. Triangular planting beds de-fined and guided the public through each space. Due to light pollution laws within the city the openings also served as a source for safety lighting during the night.

North entrance perspective showcasing the open plaza

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Vision diagrams Lines of vision from each abstracted building

Villa Olimpica case study


Topographical and viewport diagram Project location in the 22@ district

West entrance perspective showcasing the guided paths from planting beds

Poble Nou master plan


Building floor plans

South entrance perspective showcasing the importance of lighting throughout the site

Designed office building allows for open views

Axonometric diagram

Building section showing the overhang and auditorium


Axonometric diagram

floyd&patrick.counties.virginia | fall.2008rocky.knob

Agriculture plots used for on-site resources

Mixed-use buildings with studio space and housing for various time periods

Main gallery equipped with an elevated performance platform

Regional design project in western Virginia aimed to attract tour-ism and community involvement in the region. Due to the large amount of artisans in the area an artisan network was established with rocky knob being central focus. Intertwined with the exist-ing landscape, artisans were provided with housing and design studios from junk art to music education. The hide and reveal design approach for this project focused on the artisan cul-ture of the Blue Ridge area. The goal was to provide an ample amount of amenities for the artisans in the area and attract other artisans as well as tourists. The natural setting combined with the hide and reveal approach allows for a unique atmosphere.

Rocky Knob master plan showcasing the hide and reveal design approach

Central open space


furman.universitygreenville.sc | spring.2008

View of the dining area from the lake View of the dining area from the lake

Community gathering area portrays a secluded getaway from campus life

Design elements blend campus life with the bustling Greenville com-munity.

Aesthetic open views combine with intimate gathering areas to pro-vide unique spaces.

Campus design for the Class of 2008’s gift to Furman University that called for an outdoor dining area adjacent to the dining hall. The approach was to create a fluid dining area that would act as both an indoor and outdoor facility in order to open views towards the lake. A six foot wide mote was created in order to accomplish this goal. The mote allows students and visitors to feel an intimate relationship with the lake. Along with this idea, the design approach centered on ameni-ties that enhanced the functional usage of the area. A linear rain garden leads visitors from the dining hall to lake viewing area while collecting and treating runoff to conserve the lake. Commu-nity and student gathering areas were also implemented to reveal local and cultural identity. This design was chosen to serve as the base for the final design implemented by Clemson Professors.

Furman outdoor dining hall master plan


urban.revivalrosetta.egypt | spring.2009

Collaborative urban design project with Ain Shams Uni-versity’s Architecture department revitalizing the Nile River coastline. Design approach for this project focused on the implementation of complex but unified designs that would revitalize tourism in the area. The need for lux-ury hotels, schools, markets, parks, and fishing villages paved the way for our design. My area of design, focused on creating a fishing community for the local fishing in-dustry and a fluid connection throughout the linear park. Working with the fishing villages and the collaborating with Egyptian students allowed for a great cultural under-standing of the region. Final renderings were produced through photo manipulation, Photoshop, and Kerkythea.

Rosetta city analysis for the location of plazas within the urban core

Agritourism research plots add a new market to the Nile River

Section portraying the interlinked linear park and Aquaculture farm


Northern section that includes a fishing village, Aquaculture farms, and linear park

Marina perspective within the urban core Fishing village port where fresh daily catch is sold

Community plaza directly on the Nile River waterfront


Plan view of the linear park (left) and the central freedom square plaza (above)

Revitalized Nile River waterfront

Northern waterfront displaying the ship building industry and marina

Luxury hotel section with high end accommodations and a Nile River connection


visualize

models


Christopher Tunnard’s Bentley Wood Park design on Clemson’s campus

Simpson Agriculture Research Station

ReCycle this site in Asheville, NC


culture

study.abroad


istanbulathens dominica

barcelona madrid budapest

berlin potsdam dessau

amsterdam rome mallorca

creative inquiry.dominicalandscapes for learningspring 2008- Spring 2011

Program created by Dr. Brenda Vander Mey to establish landscapes at various grade schools. Within the program we successfully designed and implemented a landscape at Grand Fond Elementary School. While we taught students the importance of their native landscape we also met with government officials to discuss the program and the importance of a child’s knowledge of the environment.

universitat politècnica de catalunya semester study abroadspring 2010

Semester long program to allow students to gain international design experience. with a strong academic record, demonstrated dedication to work, and the ability and maturity to be self-guided in an off-campus setting sixteen students were selected to attend the program. the semester included:

- Housing among students from all parts of the world (Spain, Ukraine, France, Italy, etc).- Studio project guided by two professional Spanish Architects in the 22@ district of Barcelona.- Independent travel on weekends as well as spring break (many are shown to the left).- Professor guided trip to Madrid, Spain (half-week) and Berlin, Germany (week).


maymester abroadgreece and turkeymay 2008

Two week program aimed to showcase Mediterranean cultures and Architecture to students. Guided by Dr. Umit Yilmaz the program travels to various cities within Greece and Turkey that reveals design at its ancient roots. The objective of this program was to explore urban genesis and form within historic contexts through direct observations and readings. The historical contexts lied within the cities of Athens, Istanbul, Assos, Troy, Priene, Bodrum, and Ephesus.

tc

Cari GoetcheusAssociate ProfessorDepartment of Planning and Landscape ArchitectureClemson University163 Lee Hall, PO Box 340511Clemson, SC [email protected]

referencesUmit Yilmaz, Ph.D. Professor College of Environment & Design408 Tanner BuildingThe University of GeorgiaAthens, GA [email protected]

Mary Palmer Dargan ASLA, CFO Dargan Landscape ArchitectsPo box 11730 Atlanta, GA [email protected] 404.354.1615

107 Rabbit RunOxford, NC 27565

[email protected]

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