Fluid
Ribault River - Jacksonville
Design Studio 2024
FOCUS
This studio invites students to work with current technology (Internet of Things, point clouds, artificial intelligence, and digital twins) as tools and instruments that will help design and articulate proposals in a contemporary manner. The design studio will focus on the concept of FLUID within Landscape Architecture. The projects must consider such a concept as a driving compass as they will encounter it throughout their work, rendered as a flood of data, water, and people. Students’ work will entertain interventions underwater, at the shoreline, and on land.
DESCRIPTION
The design studio focuses on developing and revitalizing vacant properties contaminated with incinerator ash along the Ribault River. The City has nearly completed the remediation process for residential parcels in the Gold Merit and Pope Place Ash Site area and is actively working towards purchasing these properties. This design studio aims to transform these areas into a safe, accessible, and sustainable public space with targeted interventions to activate the area. Through collaborative efforts and strategic planning, the students will develop projects to remediate contaminated land, protect against flooding, and provide valuable community amenities.
DESIGN BRIEF
The design brief focuses on the interface between water and land in Jacksonville, emphasizing the restoration of the natural landscape and contamination mitigation. Projects should enhance flood protection while prioritizing sustainability. Key design elements include the design of public parks and flood-resilient infrastructures to activate the selected areas. Students will test their design in hazardous situations, such as the storm surge inundation caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022. The studio is partnering with St. Johns Riverkeeper to demonstrate the potential of these sites to the community and the city to prevent new home construction in flood zones and advocate for increased public access and natural buffers. We will have 2-3 visits to the site funded by the Riverkeepers.
Design studio poster
Project brief and objectives
Site context map
Technology focus document
Course module schedule
Mapping analysis figure
Transect analysis diagrams
Site data collection schedule
Midterm design studies and analysis
Final design module overview
Design exercises and development timeline
Course schedule table
Research references and analysis diagrams
Studio poster back cover
Sample of Student Work
Architectural rendering of a shaded waterfront walkway
Conceptual site sketch exploring landscape and circulation
Wetland boardwalk proposal with habitat elements
Conceptual sketch of architectural forms and site organization
Site plan showing buildings, landscape, and waterfront paths
Architectural floor plan with program layout
Layered site plan showing water and circulation areas
Sectional view of waterfront steps and boardwalk
Rendering of an elevated waterfront structure
Diagram highlighting roof and spatial elements
Preliminary line drawing of the project layout.
Blue-toned architectural drawing with plan and elevation elements
Aerial rendering of a waterfront campus proposal
Community site plan with surrounding water boundaries
Interior rendering of a covered market hall
Open plaza rendering with trees and people
Hand-drawn site concept with layered planning studies
Landscape and bridge proposal with plan and section studies
Bridge design drawings with site and elevation views
Rendering of a waterfront building with raised walkway
Linear elevation showing a low waterfront structure
Entrance rendering for a research campus proposal
Waterfront perspective with boardwalk and building façade
Images of the classroom
G1 and G3 design studio presentation with reviewers and project boards
Graduate student discussing design work with reviewers
Reviewer listening and speaking during the studio presentation
Design studio review with students and reviewers
Reviewers seated in front of project boards
Reviewers attending a design studio presentation
Reviewer speaking during the design discussion
Reviewers listening during the studio review
Students presenting their project
Students discussing project work with reviewers
Student experiencing a VR project presentation
Project boards displayed during the studio review
Student explaining project drawings during the review
Studio director observing the student presentations
Reviewers focused on the design discussion
Student presenting a waterfront design proposal
Student standing beside project boards during critique
Reviewers seated while examining studio work
Design proposal boards arranged for review
Reviewers watching the ongoing presentation
Professor speaking about the design studio work
Reviewer contributing feedback during the critique
Reviewer addressing students during the discussion
Close view of project boards from the studio presentation
Students and faculty gathering during the site visit
Students seated on a boat during the field trip
Boat captain driving during the site visit
Studio director guiding the group through the project context
Student speaking with a microphone on the boat
Faculty and students listening during the field discussion
Group conversation during the waterfront site tour
Boat captain operating the boat during the site tour
Students documenting the visit from the boat
Guide presenting information during the context visit
Professional addressing students during the boat tour
Students listening to an explanation on site
Students observing the project site from the boat
Faculty member speaking during the site visit
Studio director speaking to students during the boat tour
Boat navigation screen showing the site route
Front view of the boat during the site visit