portfolio for anna best, mald

22
Portfolio Anna K.M. Best Ecological Landscape Designer M.A. Landscape Design and Planning Permaculture Design Certificate [email protected] 12467 Ashland Vineyard Ln Ashland, VA 23005 804 698 9624

Upload: anna-best

Post on 06-Mar-2016

228 views

Category:

Documents


2 download

DESCRIPTION

Come see how Anna Best could be an asset to your firm or project doing sustainable landscape design and planning.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

Portfolio

Anna K.M. BestEcological Landscape Designer

M.A. Landscape Design and PlanningPermaculture Design Certificate

[email protected]

12467 Ashland Vineyard LnAshland, VA 23005

804 698 9624

Page 2: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

Design Ethics

Selected ProjectsLandscape Master Plan for a Quaker Retreat Center

Seventeen acres in Deerfield, MAResidential Landscape Design

Ten acres in Shelburne Falls, MAManagement Plan for Conservation and Recreation

Four hundred acres in Scituate, MAPlanting Plan for Quilting Studio

2000 square feet in Ashland, VA

Related ExperienceResumeCareer Development Timeline

Graphic SamplesHand drawingsCAD drawings

Contents

1

2

6

10

14

16

18

Page 3: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

1

• Sustainable design addresses the needs of the land and the needs of the people. Humans are part of the ecosystem, yet we wield a disproportionate amount of power. A designer should use this power conscientiously.

• Carefully selected and sited plants allow the land, its wildlife, and its people to thrive.

• Native plants provide habitat for native wildlife and will help reduce our dependence on irrigation, fuel, and imported nutrients.

• In addition to native plants, productive exotic plants are helping to improve the world. Properly harvested and processed, plants which produce food, fodder, medicine, fuel, and building materials contribute to a more sustainable lifestyle and local economy.

• A community of plants and animals supporting one another will thrive and require less expensive maintenance than a monoculture.

• If sustainable landscapes are beautiful, more people will choose to invest in them and their conservation.

Design EthicsO b s e r v e a n d I n t e r a c t .

C a t c h a n d S t o r e E n e r g y .

O b t a i n a Y i e l d .

A p p l y S e l f R e g u l a t i o n .

U s e a n d Va l u e R e n e w a b l e R e s o u r c e s .

P r o d u c e N o Wa s t e .

D e s i g n f r o m P a t t e r n s t o D e t a i l s .

I n t e g r a t e R a t h e r t h a n S e p a r a t e .

U s e S m a l l a n d S l o w S o l u t i o n s .

U s e a n d Va l u e D i v e r s i t y .

U s e E d g e s a n d Va l u e t h e M a r g i n a l .

C r e a t i v e l y R e s p o n d t o C h a n g e .

A c c e p t Fe e d b a c k .

Page 4: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

2

GoalsAtop the Pocumtuck Ridge, Woolman Hill hosts retreats, weddings, and workshops. The planning committee desires to: • clarify the arrival experience• improve access and streamline circulation• strengthen a sense of place• site a guest house, a bath house, and a pavilion• evaluate the site’s potential for sustainable agriculture,

wildlife habitat, and renewable energy production

Design Solutions• To clarify the arrival, Conference Center’s main door is

relocated to be visible to guests as they arrive in their cars. • Pathways and vegetation guide walkers from the parking lot

to the main door. • Siting a Guest House and Pavilion north and northeast of the

Conference Center activates a green space in between. • Rooftop solar panels capture energy. Forest gardens and

vegetable fields supply food. Meadows teem with wildlife.

Retreat Center Landscape Master PlanWoolman Hill Quaker Retreat CenterSeventeen acres in Deerfield, MassachusettsThe Conway School, Spring 2013Team of Two

View the complete project at http://issuu.com/conwaydesign/docs/woolmanhillfinal13.6.28lowres

Retreat Center Core

Staff Home

Staff Home

S i m p l i c i t y • P e a c e • I n t e g r i t y • C o m m u n i t y • E q u a l i t yL

an

dsc

ap

e M

ast

er P

lan

Conference Center

Quaker Meetinghouse

Existing Conditions

Page 5: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

3

Design Direction

• To provide easy access for guests, new buildings could be sited either in the sunny area just north of the Core Area (an area with nearby underground water and septic lines) or in the Core Area.

• The driveway may need to be re-routed to allow staff to enter and leave the property without driving through the Core Area.

• For the Guest House to be built with a basement within the Core Area, a percolation test and other site-specifi c soil tests will be needed in order to understand if the area is suitable to do so.

Layering Analyses Reveals Relationships, Constraints, and Opportunities

Observations

• 6.5 buildable acres run north and south through and around the Core Area. These areas are buildable based on soil suitability (for both buildings without basements and farmland), slope, buff ers and setbacks, and existing leach fi elds.

• The Core Area is buildable except for the property setback off of Keets Road.

• There are three pockets within the fi elds that receive more than six hours of sun year-round. However, only two of them are on buildable areas because one is on a steep slope with a septic leach fi eld.

• Areas around staff housing needing privacy lie to the far

north and south within the open area.

• Underground water and septic lines run north to south within the buildable area.

• There is a cluster of good vantage points in the Core Area.

• There is a good vantage point, full sun area, and buildable area just south of the Brown House.

• Soils suitable for buildings with basements and septic leach fi elds are only found southeast of the open area, in the forest. In particular, there is an area along Cobbs Ferry Road that may be suitable for a building with a basement, although it is in the forest.

Implications

• The Guest House will be 1,800 square feet, the Bath House will be 600 square feet. There is suffi cient buildable area for both of these buildings within the 1.2 buildable acres in the Core Area.

• The areas that receive more than six hours of sunlight year-round and are buildable are the best locations for siting a passive solar building.

• Currently residents of both private areas have to drive through the Core Area in order to leave the property. There are also arriving guests who drive up to the two staff homes when confused about where to go.

• With water and septic lines running underground through the buildable area, new service may be possible by tapping into existing utility lines.

• Areas with good views could be good locations to create places for personal and group contemplation, or for outdoor events.

• None of the Core Area or any part of the open area is suitable for buildings with basements. Soils for such structures are found only in forested areas.

Core Area

Cobbs Ferry Road

Buildable Area

Overhead Electric Wires

Underground Electric Wires

Stream

Underground Water Pipes

Observed Wet Area

Underground Water Tank for Fire Emergency

Septic Tank & Leach Chambers

Outhouse

Underground Septic Pipe

Soil Suitable for Buildings with Basements and Septic Leach Fields

Areas that receive more than 6 hours of sun year-round

Private Staff Areas

Important Vantage Points

?

? Confusion Upon Arrival

Summary of Analyses• Three good building sites were identified,

shown at right in dashed, black circles. • The middle one has the best access,

does not block views from important vantage points, and shows the strongest potential to clarify guests’ confusion upon arrival.

• A building here may also harvest sunlight, tie into underground utilities, and frame an outdoor gathering space.

• The main entrance should be visible from an arriving guest’s car before he/she parks. • As guests arrive from the north, the

main entrance on the south side of the Conference Center is not visible. Thus, arriving guests are confused about where to go and often drive to staff homes.

• Relocating the main entrance to the north side of the Conference Center would make it visible upon arrival.

Design Direction

• To provide easy access for guests, new buildings could be sited either in the sunny area just north of the Core Area (an area with nearby underground water and septic lines) or in the Core Area.

• The driveway may need to be re-routed to allow staff to enter and leave the property without driving through the Core Area.

• For the Guest House to be built with a basement within the Core Area, a percolation test and other site-specifi c soil tests will be needed in order to understand if the area is suitable to do so.

Layering Analyses Reveals Relationships, Constraints, and Opportunities

Observations

• 6.5 buildable acres run north and south through and around the Core Area. These areas are buildable based on soil suitability (for both buildings without basements and farmland), slope, buff ers and setbacks, and existing leach fi elds.

• The Core Area is buildable except for the property setback off of Keets Road.

• There are three pockets within the fi elds that receive more than six hours of sun year-round. However, only two of them are on buildable areas because one is on a steep slope with a septic leach fi eld.

• Areas around staff housing needing privacy lie to the far

north and south within the open area.

• Underground water and septic lines run north to south within the buildable area.

• There is a cluster of good vantage points in the Core Area.

• There is a good vantage point, full sun area, and buildable area just south of the Brown House.

• Soils suitable for buildings with basements and septic leach fi elds are only found southeast of the open area, in the forest. In particular, there is an area along Cobbs Ferry Road that may be suitable for a building with a basement, although it is in the forest.

Implications

• The Guest House will be 1,800 square feet, the Bath House will be 600 square feet. There is suffi cient buildable area for both of these buildings within the 1.2 buildable acres in the Core Area.

• The areas that receive more than six hours of sunlight year-round and are buildable are the best locations for siting a passive solar building.

• Currently residents of both private areas have to drive through the Core Area in order to leave the property. There are also arriving guests who drive up to the two staff homes when confused about where to go.

• With water and septic lines running underground through the buildable area, new service may be possible by tapping into existing utility lines.

• Areas with good views could be good locations to create places for personal and group contemplation, or for outdoor events.

• None of the Core Area or any part of the open area is suitable for buildings with basements. Soils for such structures are found only in forested areas.

Core Area

Cobbs Ferry Road

Buildable Area

Overhead Electric Wires

Underground Electric Wires

Stream

Underground Water Pipes

Observed Wet Area

Underground Water Tank for Fire Emergency

Septic Tank & Leach Chambers

Outhouse

Underground Septic Pipe

Soil Suitable for Buildings with Basements and Septic Leach Fields

Areas that receive more than 6 hours of sun year-round

Private Staff Areas

Important Vantage Points

?

? Confusion Upon Arrival

Keets Road

0 100 200Feet

S i m p l i c i t y • P e a c e • I n t e g r i t y • C o m m u n i t y • E q u a l i t y

Summary of Analyses

Legend

Best Building Sites

Main Entrance

Applied skills in: • InDesign• Photoshop• AutoCAD

• Hand drawing• PowerPoint• Excel

Conference Center

Staff Home

Staff HomeForest

Forest

Page 6: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

4

S i m p l i c i t y • P e a c e • I n t e g r i t y • C o m m u n i t y • E q u a l i t y

1/1A Landscape Master Plan forWoolman Hill Quaker Retreat CenterDeerfi eld, MassachusettsAnna K. M. Best • Beth SchermerhornThe Conway School • Spring 2013 • www.csld.edu

Alternative 3: Gather on the Green: Buildings, Roads, and Land Use

With the Guest House, Pavilion, and Conference Center located close together, guests can enjoy retreats and other events in a central location. The buildings frame the view to the east of a wildfl ower meadow and create a cozy grass gathering space between the buildings. The Bath House is centrally located between the four retreat cabins, but away from the main event area, making the Bath House equally accessible to cabin guests. Moving the driveway north of the Guest House allows staff living in the Brown House to enter and exit without disturbing events.

The Barn is located on the east side of the Brown House driveway for tractor and vehicle access and is close to the farm.

The new guest house accommodates up to 12 guests with the Conference Center and Pavilion close by. Covered porches overlook the wildfl ower meadow and edible forest garden to the north.

A reinforced turf road provides access to the Nelson House, which is now rented.

A path directs guests to the main entrance of the Conference Center and can be driven on by caterers making deliveries. Eight lights shine on main pathways and universally accessible parking areas by the Conference Center and Meeting House.

The Blacksmith Shop is converted and expanded into a Bath House that is near the Core Area and centrally located for guests staying in the private cabins.

New Building

Renovated Building

Sustainable Vegetable Farming

Reforest: Native Trees & Shrubs

Coppice/Pollard Forestry

Wet Meadows

Upland Meadows and Pasture

Edible Forest Gardens

Proposed Trail

Proposed Sign

Proposed Light

A new entrance sign informs guests that they have arrived at Woolman Hill and that parking is ahead.

A trail going through the edible forest garden takes guests to the Sunrise Cabin.

The main parking area is expanded to 50 spaces, increasing the overall guest parking by 30 spaces to accommodate larger events. The wet meadow to the west infi ltrates water coming from the driveway and parking lot.

A second, smaller sign before the main intersection indicates that main parking is to the right.

The Pavilion looks over the wildfl ower meadow to the east. Guests will feel surrounded by colorful vegetation and wildlife when looking out during events. For larger events, an additional tent can be set up in the lawn and festivities can spill into that area.

A trail starts across the driveway from the Meeting House and winds through an edible forest garden to a small gathering area for group or personal refl ection. From here there are views to the east of the wildfl ower meadow.

Design Alternative 3: Buildings, Roads, Land Use

Not

for c

onst

ruct

ion.

Thi

s dr

awin

g is

par

t of a

stu

dent

pro

ject

and

is n

ot b

ased

on

a le

gal s

urve

y

Cabin

Brown House

Green House

Nelson House

Bath House

Conference Center

Pavilion

Meeting House

Offi ce

Cabin

Red House

Barn

Core Area

N.T.S.

Cabin

Barn

Guest House

Gathering

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

10

9

11

Recommended Building Sites, Roads, Land Use

N.T.S.

1/1A Landscape Master Plan forWoolman Hill Quaker Retreat CenterDeerfi eld, MassachusettsAnna K. M. Best • Beth SchermerhornThe Conway School • Spring 2013 • www.csld.edu

Alternative 3: Gather on the Green: Buildings, Roads, and Land Use

With the Guest House, Pavilion, and Conference Center located close together, guests can enjoy retreats and other events in a central location. The buildings frame the view to the east of a wildfl ower meadow and create a cozy grass gathering space between the buildings. The Bath House is centrally located between the four retreat cabins, but away from the main event area, making the Bath House equally accessible to cabin guests. Moving the driveway north of the Guest House allows staff living in the Brown House to enter and exit without disturbing events.

The Barn is located on the east side of the Brown House driveway for tractor and vehicle access and is close to the farm.

The new guest house accommodates up to 12 guests with the Conference Center and Pavilion close by. Covered porches overlook the wildfl ower meadow and edible forest garden to the north.

A reinforced turf road provides access to the Nelson House, which is now rented.

A path directs guests to the main entrance of the Conference Center and can be driven on by caterers making deliveries. Eight lights shine on main pathways and universally accessible parking areas by the Conference Center and Meeting House.

The Blacksmith Shop is converted and expanded into a Bath House that is near the Core Area and centrally located for guests staying in the private cabins.

New Building

Renovated Building

Sustainable Vegetable Farming

Reforest: Native Trees & Shrubs

Coppice/Pollard Forestry

Wet Meadows

Upland Meadows and Pasture

Edible Forest Gardens

Proposed Trail

Proposed Sign

Proposed Light

A new entrance sign informs guests that they have arrived at Woolman Hill and that parking is ahead.

A trail going through the edible forest garden takes guests to the Sunrise Cabin.

The main parking area is expanded to 50 spaces, increasing the overall guest parking by 30 spaces to accommodate larger events. The wet meadow to the west infi ltrates water coming from the driveway and parking lot.

A second, smaller sign before the main intersection indicates that main parking is to the right.

The Pavilion looks over the wildfl ower meadow to the east. Guests will feel surrounded by colorful vegetation and wildlife when looking out during events. For larger events, an additional tent can be set up in the lawn and festivities can spill into that area.

A trail starts across the driveway from the Meeting House and winds through an edible forest garden to a small gathering area for group or personal refl ection. From here there are views to the east of the wildfl ower meadow.

Design Alternative 3: Buildings, Roads, Land Use

Not

for c

onst

ruct

ion.

Thi

s dr

awin

g is

par

t of a

stu

dent

pro

ject

and

is n

ot b

ased

on

a le

gal s

urve

y

Cabin

Brown House

Green House

Nelson House

Bath House

Conference Center

Pavilion

Meeting House

Offi ce

Cabin

Red House

Barn

Core Area

N.T.S.

Cabin

Barn

Guest House

Gathering

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

10

9

11

Legend

Preferred Design“Gather on the Green” With the Guest House, Pavilion, and Conference Center clustered together, guests can enjoy retreats and other events in a central location. These buildings frame the view to the east of a wildflower meadow and shape a grassy gathering space in the middle. The Bath House (intended for guests of the peripheral cabins) is accessible to and centrally located between the retreat cabins, but away from the main event area north of the Conference Center. Moving the driveway north of the Guest House preserves the main event area between the Conference Center and Guest House, and it allows staff living in the Brown House to drive by without disturbing events.

Page 7: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

5Core Area

S i m p l i c i t y • P e a c e • I n t e g r i t y • C o m m u n i t y • E q u a l i t y

1

2 3

4

5 6

78

10

11

9

Pavilion

Conference Center

Meeting House

Guest House

Bath House

0 50 100Feet

Gather on the Green arranges the Conference Center, Pavilion, and Guest House around a common green, inspired by college campus quads. Edging the green with buildings creates a comfortable outdoor area for gatherings and play. A path sweeps from the parking lot to the main entry of the Conference Center, now on the north side. Edible trees and shrubs surround the Meeting House, creating two quiet outdoor worship spaces.

A new Guest House has a porch offering a sheltered eastward view, and a southern arbor for summer shade and winter light.

At a new driveway intersection, the Conference Center’s main entrance is clearly visible ahead, while the Guest House is screened with evergreens.

At the main arrival intersection, the main entrance into the Conference Center and the main parking are clearly visible so that guests know where to go. This southward view is illustrated below.

Doubled gravel parking lot has 44 spaces so programs may expand.

A wide path sweeps from the main parking lot to the new main entrance on the north side of the Conference Center. It is a pedestrian path that is drivable for service vehicle access.

12

3

4

5

Perched on the edge of the sloping meadow, a Pavilion offers sheltered outdoor event space. Its rooftop photovoltaic panels provide power.

Guests can get a clear view as they arrive of the new main entry on the north side of the Conference Center. Guests rest on shady patios.

The Bath House sits on a small, quiet green shaded by a saucer magnolia by the Office and Red House. It replaces the Blacksmith Shed.

6

7

8

Southwest of the Conference Center, accessible parking is available near the south entrance to the building.

An outdoor ring is a gathering space for worship just outside the Meeting House. Accessible parking adjacent to the Meeting House’s ramp is convenient for worshipers with limited mobility.

9

10

11 A path across from the Meeting House leads through an edible forest garden to a smaller outdoor gathering space among fruiting shrubs.

The main entrance is clear upon arrival.

PARK

The Green

Dumpster

Page 8: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

6

GoalsThe clients needed a land management plan for their ten-acre property as well as a garden design to clarify the arrival experience and ground their home into its rural ridge-top context. The clients wished to

• Improve the quality of wildlife habitat• Enhance the natural beauty of the land• Create special destinations to visit

Design SolutionsThe land management plan • broadens the transition from forest to meadow• expands the meadow and ceases mowing on steep slopes• reduces the mowed lawnThe garden design • Clarifies a sense of arrival• Echoes the architecture, • Offers shady resting places with views and paths

Crittenden Hill: A Residential Landscape DesignLand Management Plan and Garden DesignTen acres in Shelburne Falls, MassachusettsThe Conway School, Fall 2012

View the complete project at http://issuu.com/annakmbest/docs/residentiallandscapedesign_annabest

H a b i t a t • B e a u t y • P l a c eR

esid

enti

al

La

nd

sca

pe

Des

ign

“Anna is a gem. She is, first of all, intelligent, articulate, energetic and passionate about preserving and improving the environment. Additionally, she is wonderfully artistic and most resourceful.”

- Linda Leighton, client

Page 9: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

7

Norkus & LeightoN44 Crittenden Hill Road Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

ANNA k. m. bestThe Conway SchoolGraduate Program in Sustainable Landscape Planning & Design332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341413-369-4044, www.csld.edu Fall 2012 10/18

Not for coNstructioN. this drAwiNg is pArt of A studeNt project ANd is Not bAsed oN A LegAL survey.

Summary of Analyses

0 20 40 80 100FEET

summAry of ANALyses

Assets• Slopes provide expansive

views that highlight the lay of the land.

• Primary access and outdoor living tend to occur on relatively flat areas.

• Ed and Linda frequently use the southern patio, which has one of the best views of the site.

• Forest stabilizes many steep slopes.

• Water flows away from the house, maintaining a dry basement.

• Water flows south to recharge the wetlands.

Challenges• Ed and Linda must drive up

a steep slope to access the house. To change the driveway route would be expensive and a viable alternative route has not been found. The only other access route to the road runs through the wetland buffer and requires grading erosion-prone soils.

• A large area that is mowed regularly has steep slopes and soils prone to erosion.

• Part of a wetland buffer is mowed regularly, and much of it is mowed annually.

• Part of the septic area is steep, but may not be planted with woody plants. Blueberry shrubs in the septic leach area may interfere with the septic system.

• Some special destinations are accessible, while others are not. Ed and Linda only use one regularly.

Design Direction:• Maintain existing driveway• Plant steep slopes to

minimize the need to mow them, especially on erosion-prone soils

• Eliminate mowing in wetlands and minimize mowing in buffers

• Place only herbaceous plants in the septic area

• Bring accessibility to special destinations, and make them worth visiting

Special Destinations

Steep, Mowed, and Erodible

Steep and Mowed

Drainage

Watershed Boundary

Lawn and Forest

Legally Protected Wetlands and Buffer

Meadow and Paths

Primary Access

Important Views

Septic Leach Area

Legend

Alternative Access to Road

Summary of AnalysesAssets of the site include:• Slopes provide expansive views that

highlight the lay of the land.• Clients primarily access relatively flat areas.• Clients frequently use the southern

patio, which has one of the best views. • Forest stabilizes many steep slopes. • Water flows away from the house,

maintaining a dry basement and recharging wetlands.

Challenges of the site include:• A large area that is mowed regularly has

steep slopes and soils prone to erosion. • Part of a wetland buffer is mowed regularly,

and much of it is mowed annually. • Clients must drive up a steep slope

to access the house. Changing the driveway route is not viable. The only other access route to the road runs through the wetland buffer and requires grading erosion-prone soils.

• Part of the septic area is steep, but may not be planted with woody plants. Blueberry shrubs in the septic leach area may interfere with the septic system.

• Some special destinations are accessible, while others are not. Clients only use one regularly.

H a b i t a t • B e a u t y • P l a c e

Norkus & LeightoN44 Crittenden Hill Road Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

ANNA k. m. bestThe Conway SchoolGraduate Program in Sustainable Landscape Planning & Design332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341413-369-4044, www.csld.edu Fall 2012 10/18

Not for coNstructioN. this drAwiNg is pArt of A studeNt project ANd is Not bAsed oN A LegAL survey.

Summary of Analyses

0 20 40 80 100FEET

summAry of ANALyses

Assets• Slopes provide expansive

views that highlight the lay of the land.

• Primary access and outdoor living tend to occur on relatively flat areas.

• Ed and Linda frequently use the southern patio, which has one of the best views of the site.

• Forest stabilizes many steep slopes.

• Water flows away from the house, maintaining a dry basement.

• Water flows south to recharge the wetlands.

Challenges• Ed and Linda must drive up

a steep slope to access the house. To change the driveway route would be expensive and a viable alternative route has not been found. The only other access route to the road runs through the wetland buffer and requires grading erosion-prone soils.

• A large area that is mowed regularly has steep slopes and soils prone to erosion.

• Part of a wetland buffer is mowed regularly, and much of it is mowed annually.

• Part of the septic area is steep, but may not be planted with woody plants. Blueberry shrubs in the septic leach area may interfere with the septic system.

• Some special destinations are accessible, while others are not. Ed and Linda only use one regularly.

Design Direction:• Maintain existing driveway• Plant steep slopes to

minimize the need to mow them, especially on erosion-prone soils

• Eliminate mowing in wetlands and minimize mowing in buffers

• Place only herbaceous plants in the septic area

• Bring accessibility to special destinations, and make them worth visiting

Special Destinations

Steep, Mowed, and Erodible

Steep and Mowed

Drainage

Watershed Boundary

Lawn and Forest

Legally Protected Wetlands and Buffer

Meadow and Paths

Primary Access

Important Views

Septic Leach Area

Legend

Alternative Access to Road

Special Destinations

Steep, Erodible Soil, Regularly Mowed

Steep and Regularly Mowed

Drainage Direction

Watershed Boundary

Lawn and Forest

Legally Protected Wetlands and Buffer

Meadow and Paths

Primary Access

Important Views

Septic Leach Area

Alternative Access to Road

LegendSummary of Analyses

A

A’

Applied skills in: • InDesign• Photoshop• Hand drawing

• Digital transit surveying

• PowerPoint• Vectorworks

House

Vernal Pool

Wet Meadow

Page 10: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

8Norkus & LeightoN44 Crittenden Hill Road Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

ANNA k. m. bestThe Conway SchoolGraduate Program in Sustainable Landscape Planning & Design332 S. Deerfield Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341413-369-4044, www.csld.edu Fall 2012 13/18

Not for coNstructioN. this drAwiNg is pArt of A studeNt project ANd is Not bAsed oN A LegAL survey.

fiNAL desigN:mAster pLAN

Master Plan

Shrublands

A wide variety of native woody plants, from subshrubs to small trees, root deeply into all the steep slopes on the site. Broadening the forest edge, these soil holdfasts also invite birds, butterflies, small mammals, and large grazers into this blooming, fruiting oasis. Ed and Linda release the wetland vegetation into oldfields succession, welcoming wet-loving shrubs. Salamanders anchor their egg cases to woody stems, thus encouraging the security of their next generation. Wood frogs and fairy shrimp also benefit from the added overhead protection from predators.

Gradual Forest Edge

Small colorful shrubs rise out of the meadow. More shrubs rise taller and still taller, becoming small trees and transitioning to the mature forest edge. This gradual transition from meadow to forest provides ample habitat for animals to hide, nest, and feed in the foliage.

Entrance

A fresh new entrance welcomes Ed and Linda home. A lone specimen tree with spectacular flower and autumn color stands as a focal point, distinctive from its forested surroundings. Three flowering shrubs echo the triangular entrance shape. A reinvigorated stone wall, backed with colorful native shrubs, announces a human touch and points up the driveway.

Maintenance:

Mow lawn regularly as desired. Mow meadow once every two to three years, preferably when dry. Never mow shrublands because they are located on steep slopes or protected wetlands. Cut unwanted plants manually. Place woody debris in forest to provide habitat and decompose, keeping nutrients onsite. When transplanting plant material, Ed and Linda may want to invest in a long, long hose to water plants as they establish.

Meadows

While the southern meadow shrinks by half, a new meadow expands northward, wrapping around the house. It replaces a significant portion of lawn while maintaining a sense of open expansiveness. Butterflies, bees, small mammals, and ground-nesting birds find food and shelter in the waist-high grasses and forbs. Drifts of colorful wildflowers float beside frequently walked pathways through meadows.

Paths

Paths connect special destinations throughout the site. Some provide direct routes, others switch-back down steep slopes, and still others meander lazily from here to there. A forest path leads to the Great Oak.

A Sense of Arrival

The gravel driveway sweeps around, flanked by meadows with grasses shifting lazily in a soft breeze. The height of the meadow and the gradual forest edge beyond obscure the house until a visitor nearly crests the ridge. As the house rises from the meadow, framed by two stately trees, you know you have arrived.

0 20 40 80 100FEET

Wet Meadow

Wet Shrubs

Wet Shrubs

Dry Meadow

Dry Meadow

House Gardens

Linear perennial gardens on the north and south sides of the house echo the colonial architecture of the building. Gardens to the east and west echo the wildness of their meadow and forest edge surroundings.

Land Management Plan

Gradual Forest Edge

Small colorful shrubs rise out of the meadow. More shrubs rise taller and still taller, becoming small trees and transitioning to the mature forest edge. This gradual transition from meadow to forest provides ample habitat for animals to hide, nest, and feed in the foliage.

Shrublands

A wide variety of native shrubs and small trees root deeply into all the steep slopes. Broadening the forest edge, these soil holdfasts also invite birds, butterflies, small mammals, and large grazers into this blooming, fruiting oasis. Clients release the wetland vegetation into oldfields succession, welcoming wet-loving shrubs. Salamanders anchor their egg cases to woody stems, encouraging the security of their next generation. Wood frogs and fairy shrimp also benefit from the added overhead protection from predators.

A Sense of Arrival

The gravel driveway sweeps around, flanked by meadows with grasses shifting lazily in a soft breeze. The height of the meadow and the gradual forest edge beyond obscure the house until a visitor nearly crests the ridge. As the house rises from the meadow, framed by two stately trees, you know you have arrived.

Meadows

While the southern meadow shrinks by half, a new meadow expands northward, wrapping around the house. It replaces a significant portion of lawn while maintaining a sense of open expansiveness. Butterflies, bees, small mammals, and ground-nesting birds find food and shelter in the waist-high grasses and forbs. Drifts of colorful wildflowers float beside frequently walked pathways through meadows.

H a b i t a t • B e a u t y • P l a c e

House

Page 11: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

9

Garden Design

H a b i t a t • B e a u t y • P l a c e

Two specimen trees, an apple and a redbud, frame the driveway at arrival to the house. Guest parking is available to the northeast of the apple tree. A right-angled, two-foot tall stone wall echoes the colonial architecture and pastoral history of the land. An arbor with climbing roses announces the path to the formal entrance. Two small flowering trees, shrubs, and an elegant vine frame the formal door.

A tractor path accesses the driveway to the north. A winding path on 10% grade leads down to the southern meadow. A loop path sweeps through a meadow with drifts of wildflowers, up to the hilltop viewing area tucked into an evergreen windbreak. A forest edge and meadow garden on the east side of the house mirrors the habitat transitions created around the perimeter of the property.

To the west, a low wooden gate invites a transition into a meadow. Two paths diverge—one for quick access to the southern garden, and another that meanders through a blueberry patch and drifts of wildflowers. A subtle river of black-eyed Susans winds through the meadow to the west.

In the sunny southern yard, a table awaits a resting gardener beneath the sugar maple. Linear raised beds with culinary herbs and perennial flowers begin the southern garden. Terraced flower and shrub beds with low, stone retaining walls hug the contours as the hill slopes to the south. Ed and Linda eat breakfast on the stone patio under a wooden pergola with blooming vines. Stone steps lead eastward from the patio, where three paths diverge.

1

2

3

4

1

2

3

4

House

Page 12: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

10

Conservation and Recreation Management PlanFor 389 acres of open space in Scituate, MassachusettsThe Conway School, Winter 2013Team of Three. My Role: Leader in writing and public process.

View the complete, 65 page-long plan athttp://issuu.com/conwaydesign/docs/scituatewinter13

H u m a n N e e d s • E c o s y s t e m N e e d s

Goals & Strategy The town of Scituate’s Conservation Commission wished to enhance the ecosystem biodiversity and resilience of its open spaces while also meeting the recreational and safety needs of the community. They requested recommendations for access, parking, trails, recreation, education, human safety, and management of habitat, deer, and ticks. This report used ecological and historical evidence to demonstrate that both the ecosystem and human community are dynamic, and to argue for the importance of an active management strategy with community involvement and periodic reevaluation. Even though these properties are under the protection of conservation restrictions, their future health and usability rely on the commitment of the community and continued land stewardship.

Co

nse

rv

ati

on

an

d R

ecre

ati

on

Pla

n

Recommendations for Ecosystem Health The focus area invites visitors into a diverse ecosystem. Unfortunately, the forest is seeing a lack of regeneration due to deer browse, some sensitive habitats need more protection, and some non-native communities provide little habitat.

New infrastructure and management policies can create a healthier ecosystem and entice more visitors. To protect rare species, only hikers should use trails through NHESP Core Habitat. To reduce stream disturbance, bridges, boardwalks, and stepping-stones should provide dry passage over all water crossings. Hunting deer could reduce over-browsing and may help the forest regenerate. Removing non-native tree plantations and the invasive plants infesting them should provide opportunities for early-successional habitats that support both agriculture and rare native species.

Community Recreation & Resilience The focus area offers a variety of trails and experiences for visitors, but some community members see problems. The land is under-used, access and parking are limited, way-finding can be confusing, and some visitors fear sharing the woods with hunters. The land could entice more visitors if the town provides a universally accessible trail, more designated access points and parking, improved maps and signs, civil communication between hunters and neighbors, education regarding the benefits of hunting deer, and a regional bike loop that connects the focus area to other open spaces and Boston. These sites offer more than just recreation; they can increase resilience. Sheltering these wetlands protects community drinking water down stream. An active farm provides healthy vegetables, dairy, and meat. Healthy forests provide habitat, sequester carbon, and produce resources for an uncertain future.

Page 13: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

11

H u m a n N e e d s • E c o s y s t e m N e e d s

West End Culture is Shifting The West End used to be the backwoods of Scituate, where coast-dwellers kept woodlots and where rural folks lived in historical homes. Today the West End’s population is growing faster than any area in Scituate. This quick development is making the protected open spaces all the more valuable to the West End community members who would like to preserve the quiet, rural character of the neighborhood. But there is also a cultural tension building between old and new residents over the use of public lands for forestry and hunting. Generally, many long-time West Enders prefer that town lands be working landscapes for forestry, agriculture, and hunting. Generally, many newcomers want town lands to remain as unaltered refuges for wildlife. Many moved to the West End for its rural feeling, but feel unsafe with hunters in the woods.

Public Process We, the planning team, met with members of the Conservation Commission to articulate goals for the project before meeting with the public. I led two public meetings. The first meeting introduced the community to the project, and gathered information on how people currently use the land and how they hope the land will be used in the future. At the midpoint of the project term, the second meeting’s presentation showed the analyses and the team’s preliminary recommendations for conservation and recreation. The team received and incorporated the community’s feedback before finalizing a phased plan.

Context

0 1 20.5 Miles ± FOCUS AREA OUTLINE

WATER BODIES

STREAMS

TOWN BOUNDARY

PROTECTED OPEN SPACE

!Þ PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY

0 1 20.5 Miles ± FOCUS AREA OUTLINE

WATER BODIES

STREAMS

TOWN BOUNDARY

PROTECTED OPEN SPACE

!Þ PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY

Scituate

Cohasset

Norwell

How do we invite folks into a forest full of muddy trails,

slippery rocks, hidden hunters,

and hungry ticks...

And help them feel safe?

How do we invite folks into a forest full of vernal pools,

boulder streams, beech stands,

and other places rich witheducational opportunity...

And protect these sensitive habitats?

Focus Area

How do we actively manage a struggling forest in a community

whose most powerful constituents disapprove of hunting deer

and culling trees...

And empower the community?

Applied skills in: • Public process• InDesign• ArcGIS

• Photoshop• PowerPoint• Excel

Public meeting

Page 14: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

12

Summary of Human Patterns

±0 0.50.25Miles Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

MassGIS, USGSMap co-created by N. Zimmerman, A. Best, E. Durost

H u m a n N e e d s • E c o s y s t e m N e e d s

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

k NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

%L PotentialVernalPools

BM2_CORE_HABITAT

WETLANDSDEP_POLY

AcidicPeatlandCommunitySystems vcpeatp1NHCODE

AWC

BG

GRF

SHF

STB

X

k NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

%L PotentialVernalPools

BM2_CORE_HABITAT

Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

WETLANDSDEP_POLY

Perennial StreamIntermittent Stream

Upland Forest

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

k NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

%L PotentialVernalPools

BM2_CORE_HABITAT

WETLANDSDEP_POLY

AcidicPeatlandCommunitySystems vcpeatp1NHCODE

AWC

BG

GRF

SHF

STB

X

k NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

%L PotentialVernalPools

BM2_CORE_HABITAT

Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

WETLANDSDEP_POLY

Perennial StreamIntermittent Stream

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

The project area protects a mix of upland forests interspersed with wetlands. It is surrounded by rural residential development. Three vernal pools and an area of Core Habitat (BioMap2) lie within the project area. A rare stand of Atlantic White Cedars remains to the southeast.

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

k NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

%L PotentialVernalPools

BM2_CORE_HABITAT

WETLANDSDEP_POLY

AcidicPeatlandCommunitySystems vcpeatp1NHCODE

AWC

BG

GRF

SHF

STB

X

k NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

%L PotentialVernalPools

BM2_CORE_HABITAT

Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

WETLANDSDEP_POLY

Perennial StreamIntermittent Stream

MassGISMap co-created by N. Zimmerman, A. Best, E. Durost

Summary of Ecological Patterns

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

k NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

%L PotentialVernalPools

BM2_CORE_HABITAT

WETLANDSDEP_POLY

AcidicPeatlandCommunitySystems vcpeatp1NHCODE

AWC

BG

GRF

SHF

STB

X

k NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

%L PotentialVernalPools

BM2_CORE_HABITAT

Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

WETLANDSDEP_POLY

Perennial StreamIntermittent Stream ±0 0.50.25

Miles Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

±0 0.50.25Miles Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

±0 0.50.25Miles Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

±0 0.50.25Miles Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

Access Point 1948Trail 1948

Access Point 2013Trail 2013

Coniferous: Likely farm fields abandoned 100-150 years agoMixed Coniferous & DeciduousDeciduous: Likely clear-cut within last 50 years

±0 0.50.25Miles Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

Wetland Forest

Project Area BoundaryProperty Boundaries

Different landowners managed their properties differently, resulting in diverse forest types across the project area today. Ten access points ringed the project area historically, but only two official access points remain today, reducing walkability. More trails traverse the project area today than did historically, but they include more wetland crossings.

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

k NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

%L PotentialVernalPools

BM2_CORE_HABITAT

WETLANDSDEP_POLY

AcidicPeatlandCommunitySystems vcpeatp1NHCODE

AWC

BG

GRF

SHF

STB

X

k NHESP Certified Vernal Pools

%L PotentialVernalPools

BM2_CORE_HABITAT

Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

WETLANDSDEP_POLY

Perennial StreamIntermittent Stream

Impervious Surface

±0 0.50.25Miles Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous±0 0.50.25

Miles Coniferous

Mixed Deciduous/Coniferous

Deciduous

Page 15: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

13P

A

Parking and Access

Access Point

Wet Area Crossing

Teepee Rock

Gravel Pit

Current Trail

Proposed Trail

Proposed DrivewayProposed Universally Accessible Trail

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

0 0.250.125Miles±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

0 0.250.125Miles±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

Proposed Plan: Phase II of IIIRecommendations for Phase I are:• To mitigate high priority wet area crossings

• To create a universally accessible trail

• To provide better access and parking

• To display clearer, more informative signs

• To protect and enhance sensitive habitats

• To maintain visitor safety

• To encourage farming at Appleton Fields

CLAPP RD

ROUTE 3-A

SUM

MER ST

BEECHW

OO

D S

T

IND

IAN

WIN

D D

R

ROD & GUN CLUB

COMMUNITY HALL

FARM

A

A

A

A

A

A

A

P

Recommendations for Phase III are: • To further expand the trail system, crossing

wetlands responsibly

• To continue developing universally accessible trails

• To provide easier access for the greater region

• To turn the farm into an agricultural and educational resource center

Recommendations for Phase II are shown at left and are:• To expand the trail system without

crossing more wetlands

• To mitigate all existing wetland crossings

• To connect universally accessible trails loop

• To create more parking and access points

• To educate visitors on ecology and history

• To expand educational opportunities on the farm

H u m a n N e e d s • E c o s y s t e m N e e d s

Map co-created by N. Zimmerman, A. Best, E. Durost

P

A

Parking and Access

Access Point

Wet Area Crossing

Teepee Rock

Gravel Pit

Current Trail

Proposed Trail

Proposed DrivewayProposed Universally Accessible Trail

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

0 0.250.125Miles±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

0 0.250.125Miles±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

P

A

Parking and Access

Access Point

Wet Area Crossing

Teepee Rock

Gravel Pit

Current Trail

Proposed Trail

Proposed DrivewayProposed Universally Accessible Trail

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

0 0.250.125Miles±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

0 0.250.125Miles±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

P

A

Parking and Access

Access Point

Wet Area Crossing

Teepee Rock

Gravel Pit

Current Trail

Proposed Trail

Proposed DrivewayProposed Universally Accessible Trail

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

0 0.250.125Miles±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

0 0.250.125Miles±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

P

A

Parking and Access

Access Point

Wet Area Crossing

Teepee Rock

Gravel Pit

Current Trail

Proposed Trail

Proposed DrivewayProposed Universally Accessible Trail

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles ±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

0 0.250.125Miles±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

0 0.250.125Miles±

Frequent Ponding

Wetland

Core Habitat Atlantic White Cedar

%L Potential Vernal Pools

k Certified Vernal Pools

Current Trails Slopes %0 - 5

5 - 10

10 - 20

<20

Accessible Trail

(NHESP)

Page 16: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

14

GoalsA quilter asked for a beautiful, low-maintenance garden along a pathway to her studio. The studio sits in the lawn apart from her home, at the eastern forest edge. The site includes shaded and sunny areas, compacted soil, an adjacent septic drain field, the studio itself, neighbors’ walking path into the forest, and a client whose interest in an attractive garden exceeds her willingness to weed and prune. The site began as bare grass.

Design SolutionsInspired by the quilter’s bold fabrics, the design emphasizes varying colors, textures, and blooming times. The path to the studio delivers a sense of arrival with symmetrical, compact Cryptomeria, followed by the bold colors of Vibernum, Vaccine-um, Spirea, and Hydgrangea. The neighbors’ path exits the forest alongside evergreens (Danae racemosa, Aucuba japonica) and scented blooming shrubs (Sarcococca hookeriana, Daphne odora, Corylopsis pauciflora) to intersect the studio path.

Quilting Studio Garden Design and Installation2000 sq. ft. garden with stone pathwaysAshland, VirginiaSummer 2012

C o l o r • Te x t u r e • E a s e

“My yard was nothing but weedy grass until Anna Best transformed it. Now, the garden outside my quilting cottage has lush perennials

and flowering shrubs, in a variety of shapes and colors.” -Dr. Barbara Myers, client

Pla

nti

ng

Pla

n f

or

Qu

ilti

ng

Stu

dio

Page 17: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

15

C o l o r • Te x t u r e • E a s e

Page 18: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

16

Related ExperienceR

ela

ted

Ex

per

ien

ce

Education MA Landscape Design and Planning (The Conway School 2013)

• Goal articulation, site analysis, design• Team and individual work in a studio setting• Surveying, map making, hand drawing and CAD• Layout of deliverables with InDesign

BA Geosciences (Earlham College 2007)• Landforms and how they change• How bedrock affects soils, landscapes, humans

Certification in Permaculture Design (New Community Project 2011) Related Courses (J.S. Reynolds Community College 2011-12)

• Landscape Plant Materials: woody plants and perennials• Drafting with AutoCAD• Greenhouse Crop Production

Professional Experience Environmental Scientist at S&ME, Inc. (Richmond, VA)

• Professional office setting with 40% field work• Sampled soil and water• Managed and analyzed data• Monitored remediation plans in action• Characterized subsurface• Modeled groundwater in AutoCAD

Hands-On Green Industry Work Landscape Installation and Maintenance

• Natural Progression Landscaping (Richmond, VA)• Gardens of Delight (Northampton, MA)• Meadowlark Landscape and Garden (Cummington, MA) • Hills Landscape and Design (Conway, MA)• Self-employed

Intern at Dragonfly Farms (Beaverdam, VA)• Gardening, landscape care, livestock care

Greenhouse Experience• Seedling manager for The Woolman Semester (Nevada City, CA)• Transplanter at Lavender Fields Herb Farm (Glen Allen, VA)

Page 19: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

17

Infl u

ence

on

Care

er D

evel

opm

ent

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Barnes & Noble D

rago

nfl y

Far

ms

Inte

rn

Land

scap

ing

Self-

Empl

oyed

Barnes & Noble N

atur

al P

rogr

essi

on L

ands

capi

ng

S&ME, Inc.Environmental

Scientist Barnes & Noble Bi

ke T

our

Gui

de

The Woolman Semester

SchoolCommunity

Intern

Earlham CollegeB.A. GeosciencesPatrick

Henry High

School

The Conway School

Masters in Landscape Design and

Planning

Land

scap

e D

esig

n &

Mai

nten

ance

Self-

Empl

oyed

Personal Development

Neutral

PositiveHighPe

rmac

ultu

re D

esig

n Ce

rtifi

catio

n

Gap

for T

rave

l

Gap

for T

rave

l

Career Development Timeline

Bike

Tou

r G

uide

Shilo

h Q

uake

r Cam

p Co

unse

lor

Sum

mer

Inte

rnsh

ip a

t S&

ME,

Inc.

Page 20: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

18

Gra

ph

ic S

am

ple

sHand Graphic Samples

Clockwise from top left: • A conceptual design

(colored pencil and marker, fall 2013)• Another conceptual design

(colored pencil and marker, fall 2013)• A landscape illustration

(pencil, fall 2013)• Section of existing landscape

(ink, fall 2012)• Conceptual illustration

(ink, fall 2012)

Page 21: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

19

24'-5" 8'-5"

32'-10"

5'-5

"3'

-6"

8'-1

1"

4'-7"

5'-8"

10'-0"

1'-8

"

21 2"

2" Sink Drain

2" Tube Drain

3" Toilet Drain

112" Vanity Drain

18" Poured Concrete Footers

8" Concrete Block

4" Concrete Slab

FOUNDATION PLANSCALE: 1/4" = 1'-0"

18'-

0"9'

-0"

27'-

0"

jj

AN

NA K

.M.

BES

TD

RF-

231

SU

MM

ER '1

2FI

NAL

PRO

JECT

JULY

31,

201

2

12" BITUMINOUS JOINT

4 IN. CONCRETE1 IN. RIGID FOAMINSULATION

4 IN. SAND8" CONCRETE BLOCK

1-1/2" HONEYCOMB FILTER MEDIA

CONCRETE CANT

5"

1'-6"

GRAVEL AND DRAINW/ 4" PIPE AT BOTTOM

GRADE

FOOTING SECTIONSCALE 1 1/2" = 1'-0"

NORKUS & LEIGHTON44 Critt enden Hill Road Shelburne Falls, MA 01370

ANNA K. M. BESTThe Conway SchoolGraduate Program in Sustainable Landscape Planning & Design332 S. Deerfi eld Road | PO Box 179 | Conway, MA 01341413-369-4044, www.csld.edu Fall 2012 1/18

NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION. THIS DRAWING IS PART OF A STUDENT PROJECT AND IS NOT BASED ON A LEGAL SURVEY.

SLOPES & DRAINAGE

The house sits on a ridge which runs northeast-southwest. Steep slopes of 15-30% or greater encircle the house on three sides. The house itself sits on slopes of 2-10%, and these relati vely fl at grades conti nue to the northeast forest edge.

Most of the driveway slopes 15%, but a few small areas slope up to 20%. The maximum slope for a driveway in this snowy region is 10% without—or 15% with—four-wheel drive. Access to the house from the road could prove diffi cult in winter.

If disturbed by excavati on or vegetati on removal, these steep slopes could erode under stormwater fl ow. Erosion could damage the aestheti cs of the land as well as the ecosystems of wetlands and waterways downstream.

Legend: Drainage

Legend: Percent Grade

0-5 %

Up to 10 %

Up to 15 %

Up to 20 %

Greater than 20 %

Surface Water Flow Directi on

Roof Surface Flow

(No Data)

(No Data)

**

***

Design Directi on• Minimize slope disturbance• Stabilize steep slopes• Maintain positi ve drainage

away from house• Explore soluti ons to ice

accumulati on and roof runoff • Reduce water velocity

on steep slopes

0 20 40 80 100FEET

0 20 40 80 100FEET

Drainage Problems Around House

Drainage can be an issue on the north and east sides of the house. Ice lingers* on the stone steps, entrance walkway, and garage ramp on the north side of the house. These slippery areas could cause dangerous falls.

As compared with the other roofs, roof water from on the east side of the house falls three to six feet further before striking the ground* because the ground slopes eastward. This fast water may erode the hillside. Also, snow accu-mulates at the eastern basement door*, making it tough to access the snow plow and other tools.

Rainwater fl ows away from the house, keeping Ed and Linda’s basement dry. However, there are some other drainage problems around the house, as noted to the left .

Water fl owing into the southern meadow fi rst fl ows over lawn, then through the grove, bringing with it any harmful chemicals used in the lawn or gardens. The grove vegetati on fi lters and slows down the runoff , reducing contaminants and erosion.

From the house and ridge, water fl ows downhill to the north, northwest, west, and southeast. Water exits the property at the northwest corner and along the western boundary onto the road. The southern porti on of the property was not surveyed. However, fi eld observati ons and other topographic maps of the rolling terrain show that water drains south-southeast from the meadow and forest to aff ect the neighboring residenti al property.

Slopes

Drainage

Grove

Lawn

Lawn

Gardens

Lawn

House

Computer Graphic Samples

Clockwise from top left: • Slope analysis showing percent grade

(Vectorworks over hand drawn map)• 3D Conceptual illustration

(SketchUp)• Base map of existing conditions

(AutoCAD)• A hypothetical footing section and

foundation plan (AutoCAD)

Page 22: Portfolio for Anna Best, MALD

Ob

ser

ve

an

d I

nte

ract

. •

Ca

tch

an

d S

tore

En

erg

y. •

Ob

tain

a Y

ield

. •

Ap

ply

Sel

f- R e g u l a t i o n . • A c c e p t Fe e d b a c k . • U s e a n d Va l u e R e n e w a b l e R e s o u r c e s . • P r o d u c e N o Wa s t e . • D e s i g n f r o m Pa

ttern

s to D

etails. • In

tegra

te Ra

ther th

an

Sep

ara

te. • Use S

ma

ll an

d S

low

So

lutions. • Use and Value Diversity. • Use Edges and Value the Marginal. • Creatively Respond to Change.