morgan vandenack portfolio 2016

Landscape Architecture + Design

Morgan Van Denack 630-306-1378 [email protected]

Table of ContentsResume Page 3

Redefining Rome as a Pedestrian City Page 4

Parade Culture Diffusion Page 8

Storing Storm Water for Play Page 12

Inspired Seating Page 13

Unilock Internship Page 14

Integrating Edges and Species Page 15

Restoration and Water Management Page 16

Sensory Arboretum Page 18

Camellia Tea Infuser Page 20

Elmhurst Park District: Elmhurst, Illinois Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014Landscape Architecture Intern

Iowa State University: Ames, Iowa August 2013Destination Iowa State Team Leader

Elmhurst Park District Elmhurst, Illinois May 2012- August 2013Life Guard

Blue Frog Beads Villa Park, Illinois July 2009- April 2011Manager

Volunteer Experience Design 131 Drawing Mentor Spring 2013• Assistant instructor for 26 students in beginner drawing skills

Activities, Clubs, Leadership Experience Member of National Society of Leadership and Success 2015-present Member of Student Society of Landscape Architects 2014 - present Member of Iowa State Gaffer’s Guild 2014 - presentMember of Alpha Lambda Delta/ Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society 2012-present

Programs

PhotoshopInDesignIllustratorAutoCadUvisionSketchupMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelHand Drawing

SummaryDedicated individual who uses strengths in creative problem solving and leadership to meet and exceed goals. Known for a strong work ethic and ability to learn new skills and accomplish tasks quickly and efficiently. Extensive experience working in team-based collaborations.

Education Iowa State University GPA: 3.45 May 2016Landscape Architecture : 5th year Minor: Design Studies, Focus in Metal Smithing

York Community High school GPA: 4.2 2007-2011

Professional Experience Iowa State University: Ames, Iowa Sept. 2015- present Community Design Lab Design Intern

Unilock: Aurora, Illinois May 2015-Aug. 2015Landscape Architecture Intern

Morton Arboretum: Lisle, Illinois May 2014 - Aug. 2014Public Horticulture Intern

Redefining Rome as a Pedestrian cityRome is a unique place because it is a culture that is split across time. Rome was originally built to accommodate pedestrians but with the invention of the car the city is used in a completely different way than it was intended years ago. The ratio of cars to people is about 1:1 and although the city still belongs to the pedestrian every day commuting has become extremely difficult and in some places dangerous.

My design takes back the streets of Rome for the pedestrians by creating raised walkways with retaining walls and tree buffers that act as bollards. Pedestrians can be guaranteed a safe space to walk and ride bikes in their daily lives and also extra green space, a highly sought after commodity in the buzzing city.

Proposed raised pedestrian and bike path through an archway formerly used for vehicles. Palm trees are used as bollards to discourage parking at the access point.

Hospital

North Entrance

Wrecked Car

Cars Blocking West Entrance

Tents on Exterior Baroque Wall

Continually Locked Entrance

Stairs to Access Janiculum Hill

Cars Parked on Sidewalk Area

Cars Parked on Both Sides of RoadVandalized Car WindshieldSteering Wheel Lock Private Entrance Dog Park with Garbage Fenced Dog ParkSmall Island Park between Roads

Exte

rior W

all C

ondit

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Analysis of Sidewalks Surrounding Villa Sciarra, a Pedestrian Park

Villa Sciarra’s surrounding sidewalks have been taken over by a sea of vandalized and parked cars, steep terrain, dog poo, and busy streets. The park is only accessible from four out of six entrances and is extremely difficult to access because of the reasons mentioned and severely steep slopes, a result of its location at the top of the Janiculum Hill.

Accessible entrances Unaccessible entrances

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Known Function Unknown/Undesirable Function Transitional Space

1. Temporary housing2. Peacock Playground3. Wooded area4. Elevated walk5. Transitional paths6. The Lawn7. Turtle Pond Lookout8. Gazebo Lookout9. Estate Gardens

10. Cypress Walk

Current Landuse and CircultationCurrent Land Use and Circulation

Villa Sciarra was built in the Baroque era and has had several owners and renovations over the years. It currently is a public park and is in constant use, an extreme contrast to how it was used when it was a villa. In order to make the space convenient and safe to access I am proposing an elevated walk on the exterior of the park that keeps cars and pedestrians safe. The path also acts as an extension of the park and celebrates the rich history of the place.

Levels of Villa Sciarra

Elevational Levels of Villa Sciarra

Elevated Walk Level Main Villa Level Exterior Path Lower Entrance

Lower EntranceMain Level

Elevated Walk Level Transition level

Proposed South Entrance of Villa Sciarra

Parade Culture DiffusionNew Orleans is known for their parades and festivities. What most don’t know is that parades are held almost every weekend by local Social Aid and pleasure clubs in the communities. All are invited to bring bands, food, and energy to have a good time and celebrate life. Parades can be held for weddings, holidays, funerals, honor of distinguished community members and even for simply being a Sunday.

By utilizing the already existing parade infrastructure I am proposing to make vacant lots in the Lower 9th Ward a part of parade routes to revitalize the area. These short cuts can be used by individual troops of social clubs to rally before parades, for people to cut in and out of different segments of the parade, food vendors, and also for entire parades of people to cut through.

When the routes are not being used for parades they can become public paths and pocket parks. The spaces will be an extension of the “see and be seen” mentality involved in the culture but instead of strutting in a parade they will be seen walking their dog or with friends in everyday life.

Collage of Parade Culture in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans. People can be seen dancing and sporting festive embellished uniforms to represent social aid and pleasure clubs they belong to. Others join in the festivity, playing music, dancing along, singing and cooking out with traditional New Orleans dishes

Parade routes in and around the lower 9th ward

CTC Steppers Big 9 Black Men of Labor

Context

LA 402 Urban DesignPage 2 Morgan Van Denack

Tupelo StreetPrieur Street

Gordon Street

Benton Street

Lot Route

Side Walk Markers

Lights

Bare NecessitiesWithin every corridor lot there will be lights, side walk markers and a paved route.

safety,most importantly, but

posts come in several colors!

markers are purely for visi--

leans color themed sidewalks are decorated by the com-munity to show case their blocks corridor entrance.

purpose of durability over

are meant to bring festivity to the community and beau-tify them for the future.

Combined Lot Route

Side Walk Markers

Lights

Developing “Choreography” for Vacant Lots Components of Vacant Lot Routes

“See and be seen” Culture that spreads from the parade to everyday life

Storing Storm Water for PlayIn this design I explored a float that rises when water enters its system through a one way valve. The pump can then be jumped on to pump water through a disk check valve to a location away from the site. The higher the amount of water in the pump system the more force is required to push the pump down. This requires children to collaborate with each other because at one level a single child could push down the pump but at a higher level it could take two or three.

The pump exterior is also an educational opportunity. In this example the focus is on astronomy. The star patterns can be used as a teaching device but are also can be used for imaginative play.

Inspired SeatingThe goal of the project was to create seating that was indicative of a place and was functional comfortable and compelling.

For inspiration I chose to look at the sculpture located on the lawn of the College of Design at Iowa State. Very few students know its name or the artist, however it’s iconic nature marks the space and is a symbol for the College of Design.

By taking the main hexagon shape I designed a bench with movable parts that can be used as benches leg rests as well as a perch or a reading nook. The movable components fit together like a puzzle but can also be adjusted for the individual users needs.

Unilock InternshipAt Unilock my main roles were to help customers in the Outdoor Idea center with picking out product as well as creating designs for homeowners who were not sure of what their design options were.

Through working with a broad scope of homeowners with unique lots and personalities I was able to do a lot of creative problem solving with budget, slope, weight allowances and square footage while still fulfilling wants and needs for the space.

What I enjoyed most about this job was the opportunity to go from the design phase to choosing a material, to figuring job materials then finding a contractor to make it happen. A few times I was able to come full circle and see the final product.

Sketches

Angie’s List: budget pergola patio in the city Roof Deck in the City

Suburban lot with odd elevation drop Suburban lot requiring retaining wall Suburban lot requiring tasteful privacy

Roof Deck in the City

Before After

Edge Study : woodland to grassland with integrated pedestrian path

Scarlet Tanager Bull Snake

Edge Study : woodland, to mowed grass edge blending into grassland

Integrating Edges and SpeciesThe Scarlet Tanager and Bull Snake have specific requirements for their habitats. The Scarlet Tanager requires a large undisturbed deciduous forest and the Bull snake requires edges between grasslands and woodlands. Both of these habitats can be expanded by extending the woodland with a meandering edge, increasing woodland area and also the surface area of the woodland grassland edge. This design improves conditions for both species to hunt, breed and nest.

In addition, a bike and pedestrian path can be added as a means to access the school near by and explore the area. This path will bring people closer than ever to this area but discourage the independent creation of habitat-hindering paths created as short cuts to the school. Both species are appreciated by bird watchers and nature lovers. Here is an opportunity to mesh the habitats of species, including the human species.

Constructed wetland

Restoration and Water Management

Vegetation Circulation Pervious and Impervious Water Sheds

The town of Oakland, located in Iowa on the Nishnabotna River has a history with drainage issues. The goal of this project is to design a BMP to aid in the collection and cleaning of a calculated amount of water. My design includes a bioretention basin and a constructed wetland intended to treat waste from the human population and Construction Industries.

I decided that a constructed wetland was the most suitable BMP to collect waste from the Highway and drainage tile contracting company,located up hill, from the wetland location. The wetland is the mid point between the construction companies and the Nishnabotna river so it acts as a check point for water to be cleaned before it enters the larger system.

The most suitable BMP to collect runoff from the community is a Bioretention system. The location of the system is intercepting a main pipe that leads under the highway directly out to the Nishbnabotna.

Overall the combined storage of these systems can handle 96% of their combined watersheds.

Highway 6 and 39Drainage Tile contracting company

High

Moderate

Low

Population

Inlets

High

Moderate

LowRecord of aSolid WastePermit from a Well Drilling Company

Suitability for Constructed Wetland and Bioretention System

Bioretention System Built in a Dead End Street

Sensory ArboretumThe sense that is showcased in the illustration to the left is the sense of smell. Plants such as Blue Spruce, Ponderosa Pine, Russian Pea Shrub and a female Ginkgo supplement more pleasing scents like Korean spice viburnums, magnolias and many others.

The form of the design was meant to reflect a sequence of experiences in a circulatory pattern allowing the visitor to continue on the exterior path or move towards the center after moments of confinement between pleasant and unpleasant sensory plant rooms. The Concerto Clearing showcases plants with berries to attract birds and also Populus species for the effect of wind on leaves; its amphitheater shape amplifies the experience by surrounding the visitor.

Heavenly Lookout

Prickly Pass

Aroma Allee

Concerto Clearing

Darling Greenhouse

Exploration of circulatory shapes

Aroma Allee Darling Greenhouse

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My experience as a hybrid landscape architect/ artist has resulted in the production of work relating to nature and ethical issues engaging humans and nature in a whimsical way.

The Camellia Tea Infuser addresses issues found within the tea industry, specifically related to the tea producing plant Camellia sinensis. Camellia sinensis is used to create Sheng Cha, an aged tea grown in China. Historically, the camellia shield bug has damaged crops by feeding on seeds, buds, stems, and flowers of the plant causing farmers to use pesticides to increase crop yield. Ironically, this treatment is only moderately effective because of the prolific egg generation of the insect.

The design of the tea ball is based on shapes of the Camellia plant’s seed, pistol and stamen with drainage holes representing the shield bugs egg patterns. The counterweight reflects the body of the shield bug and is connected to the tea ball with a handmade chain. The piece is fabricated using: raising, die forming and lost wax casting.

Camellia Tea Infuser

Thank you!

Morgan Van Denack 630-306-1378 [email protected]

morgan vandenack portfolio 2016

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