mmcdesign portfolio 0513
TRANSCRIPT
Michael A McDonald, RLA, CLARB, LEED AP
“Landscape Architecture is best employed in its most
simplistic, purist form. Successful design is a process of
elimination and accentuation that arrives at the
optimum compromise of the client’s desires through the
appropriate manipulation of a given site. All good
design is sustainable by nature and responds to the
context of the environment in which it dwells. Great
design must evolve through human interaction.”
Landscape Architect / Vision Planner
Domestic Experience
The following are representative
examples of projects that I have
directed in the US. All but a few
perspective sketches and
Photoshop plan illustrations are my
personal work. Much of this work
has been successfully implemented
and has proven to be sustainable.
Suwanee Station (TOD) Suwanee, Georgia
Urban
Planning
Perspective Illustrations by Addison Young
144 AC mixed use site with varied
housing, retail and office uses.
Pedestrian friendly trail system
connecting internal common areas,
county wide open spaces and to
future rail station
Urban
Planning
Marina Design Charrette
Anguilla, BWI
Molokai Ranch
Molokai, HI
Resort Planning
Career rooted in resort-oriented
environments for coastal
communities. Planning and site
design for world class resorts,
including participation in the
formulation of many progressive
zoning codes.
Illustration by others
Illustration
by others
Upland /Lowland
River Trail System City of Clarksville , TN
Public Design
Led team which designed trail
system for river flood plain, then
transitioned to extreme gradients up
to connect with abandoned train
trestles. All within thematic design
set for the city’s historic district.
Middle East / UAE
Experience
The following are examples of
large scale vision planning projects
directed in Dubai
Begin with the
physics of wave
interaction to create
differential flows of
energy
Map
concentric
circles
into
context of
the site
Set grid
system of
roads and
circulation
hierarchy
International Experience
Vision Planner
Establish land uses
corresponding to the
ebb and flow of energy
from the site
Served on a small team of
seasoned planners that
relayed back and forth to the
Dubai office of Burt Hill.
Duties included directing an
interdisciplinary, multi-
cultural team of designers
and consultants through
thematic design and
branding presentations for
new communities in the
Middle East and beyond.
Capital District
Abu Dhabi, UAE
2000 Ha TOD site
with central Medina
theme with radial
fingers of greenways
each with cultural
themes
Vision Planner for
Mega-Scale Communities
Al Awir Sharjah, UAE
Jabel Ali Race Course Dubai, UAE
Audio analysis of horse gallop
Thematic
Design
Rumble strips with
horse gallop sound
Photoshop Illustration by others
Current Project Work
China
Due to highly restrictive file transfer in
China business culture, some of the
following images were
photographically reproduced and are
not the best quality. They are included
to demonstrate my quick hand
technique and conceptualization skills.
All work in China is presented in
PowerPoint, and these images were
incorporated into full presentations.
Recent China Work
Lake Front Resort and Convention Center – Yunnan
Province
This was an expansion of an existing 5 star resort with lakefront
cottages and themed retail center to connect the two facilities
together. Made strong appeal to client to alter site plan from
existing proposal due to detrimental effects on overall
landscape character of the lakefront.
Golf Course Landscape Plan – Zhejiang Province
Enhancement plan of golf course with emphasis on reforestation
and thematic design of signature holes. Work with famous golf
course design firm to achieve resort level landscape. Made
major recommendations for enhancement in golf holes that were
accepted by client and designer.
All Seasons Resort – Heibei Province
Master Plan phase with multiple land use components. Use of
native material and details, coupled with a program for
preservation and enhancement of agricultural lands to boost
income resource for local villagers serve as a sustainable model
for the community. A blend of tourism into an old community.
All Seasons Resort
This mountain resort contains
an exiting ski field which is to be
expanded and updated. The
task for this 50 sm site is to
transform a small ski resort into
a major, destination resort with
facilities and activities for year
round use. This is the entry
village showing front gate
activities with preservation of
existing culture
All Seasons Resort
Another village concept showing a new
gateway preserving the agricultural valley
juxtaposed to the enhancement of an
existing populated village.
Lake Front Cottages – Pu’er, China
Images show progression of design process through analysis to illustration. Cluster plan replaced
banned layout due to more efficient and value added design.
Lake Front Cottages – Pu’er, China
Images show logic behind cluster layout utilizing the
architecture to respond to the steep terrain.
本地块设计宛如一条龙,蜿蜒盘旋在这片有山有水的乐享生活之地。
Golf Course Enhancement Plan - Ningbo City, China
Thematic design recommendation of signature hole for this golf course representing a dragon’s
back In the landscape formed by contoured fill against a rock cliff to be viewed in plan from above
and the hole and long view in elevation from hotel site
Wetlands Park and Golf Course – Yongzhou, China
Concept with wetlands park and cultural facilities that served
as an amenity for the surrounding residents. The land
configuration creates a high degree of difficulty for a
contiguous plan.
Freehand Detail at 1:6000 Scale
Wetlands Park and Golf Course – Yongzhou, China
Enlargement of plan shows intricate nature of the concept to
include a network of roads and pedestrian connections
preserving long vistas and scenic naturer of the site.
Wetlands Park
and Golf Course
Wetlands Park and Golf Course – Yongzhou, China
Concept with wetlands park integrated within a golf course
to connect amusement park to river corridor
Freehand Detail at 1:6000 Scale
Wetlands Park and Golf Course – Yongzhou, China
Enlargement showing integration of wetlands park and cultural center within the fabric of the golf
course. Golf is routed on the periphery and designed to protect park goers from errant shots.
Water Park Eco-Tourism Site - China
This illustration is showing a rapid hand sketch of a
park bordering an existing golf course in central
China given a terrain of rice fields and grasslands.
Architectural Character Study Yunnan Provence, China Mid-High Density Residential Site – Shijiazhuang, China
Concept for residential courtyard landscape theming around a waterscape. Fire access was
maintained with pedestrian promenades and multiple usage of water features throughout.
Architectural Character Study Yunnan Provence, China Commercial
Area
Option Two
Urban Water Park
Beijing ,China
Two iterations of a water front
urban park that connected a
major cultural facility to the
surrounding mixed use
neighborhood. These were very
quick studies to solicit client
input prior to proceeding into
more detailed design
Equestrian and Music Venue
Design Directive Plan All Seasons Resort – Chong Li, China
As lead planner for this project, the main objective was to brand the Entry Village as the major draw
for the resort. A multi-tiered collection of venues were programmed for the site which set the tone
for the entire development.
Design Directive
Sketches All Seasons Resort –
Chong Li, China
Quick Start concept
sketches for initial phase
of development for camp
sites, comfort station
and entry gate.
Design Directive
Sketches
All Seasons Resort –
Chong Li, China
Quick Start concept
sketches for additional
phase of development
for observation tower,
corporate retreat and
concessions.
All Seasons Resort – Chong Li, China
Quick Start concept for architectural character to renovate an existing structure into a Water Bar.
Poet’s Vineyard – Beijing, China
Sections and sketches to brand the concept of a vineyard
anchored with a literary theme.
Lake Front Cottages – Pu’er, China
Perspective sketch of the retail village
connecting the existing hotel resort to the
lake front cottages. The thematic design was
of an Italianate shoppingvillage.
309 Rusty Gate Pass
Woodstock, Georgia 30189
Domestic Mobile: 770.652.6463
Skype: michael.mcdonald3555
Michael A McDonald,
RLA, CLARB, LEED AP