Sam Dunlap Design Process 1

A Design science

Goals Articulation

• Defining the realm of possibilities for our site

• Brainstorm. Get it down, then get it good.• Qualities, things, problems, likes• Crops, elements, animals, functions• Functional analysis: what are their needs,

outputs, preferences, tolerances, etc.• Why do we want these things?• What is the inspiration for the design?

Goals Articulation

• Use Ethics and Principles to guide you• Client interview• Functional analysis• What does the land need?

Results• Goals Articulation Summary. Outline form. (2-5

pages)• Goals Statement. Approximately 3 sentences that

answers the question, “why?”.• It’s your mission statement• List of questions to guide your analysis and

assessment (Goals guide the A&A)• Given these goals, what do I need to know about

the site to achieve them?• Organized by the scale of permanence

Make your base map

Analysis & Assessment

• Connects the goals to the site• Analysis = what? (observations)• Assessment = so what? (interpretations)

Analysis & Assessment

• Undirected observation

• Thematic observations guided by the Scale of Permanence

• So, what is the scale of permanence?

Scale of Permanence• Climate• Landform• Water• Legal Issues• Access & Circulation• Vegetation & Wildlife• Microclimates• Buildings & Infrastructure• Zones of Use• Soil• Aesthetics

A&A• Overlay for each aspect of the SOP• observationsInterpretations

• Tools that we might use??

• Pick the 3-5 most important observations & interpretations from each overlay

Results• A&A Summary

-combination of the most important or influential observations and interpretations from all aspects of the SOP -summarizes the current reality on the site and its implications for design in relation to the goals-lays foundation for decisions in design phase

• A&A discovers the design

Design Phase

• Integration: integrate our imagination of what could be with our knowledge of what is (ie- goals and A&A)

Design Concept

• 3 sentence statement that integrates the site, goals & inhabitants

• Answers the question, “how?”• Accompanied by simple sketch• Offers guidance for schematic & detailed

design

Schematic Design

• Patterns & Relationships• Function, purpose, elements, and the

relationships that exist between them• Rough size, shape, location• Fat marker, big movements

Results

• A chosen schematic design• Simple bubble diagrams with writing to

describe the rough pattern, size, shape, location, & function

• Rough budget• List of habitat-defining species & elements

Detailed Design

• Refined schematic• As accurate as possible• Finer pencils/markers, smaller motions• Determine exact size, shape, location• Clearly define each “patch” and the site prep

needed

Results

• Design criteria for each patch, including primary and secondary purposes

• Accurate drawing• Refined cost estimates• Species master list

Patch Design

• Zoom in on each “patch” and design it in detail

• Decide what goes where, exactly

Results

• Know what goes where• Detailed drawings of each “patch”• Plan for site prep, establishment and

construction of each “patch”• Final budget estimates

Implementation

• Make it happen!!• Planting, building• And, oh yeah, maintaining!!

Evaluation

• Does your design meet the goals that you laid out?

• What have you learned?• How can you refine your goals based on what

you have learned?• … and here we go again

Sam’s PlacePleasant plain, ohio 2009-

Goals• The site exists as a private, partially wooded oasis, protected from

wind, passersby and air- and water-borne agricultural chemicals.• Water infiltration increases over time.• Water is filtered as it moves through the site.• The design pays tribute to the site’s history as a marsh/wetland.• Soils increase in fertility and organic matter over time.• A mix of annual and perennial crops provides foods throughout

the year.• Plantings reduce the area of lawn, and thus, lawn maintenance.• A diverse mix of plants attracts pollinators and other beneficial

wildlife.• The site offers space for education and learning• Disease-resistant varieties reduce the need for maintenance.

Analysis & Assessment• Climate, plant hardiness zones, etc.which plants will survive• Land is relatively flat increase vertical dimension through planting in diverse layers• Low spots with frequently waterlogged soilsenhance in some placesbuild up the soil Increase water infiltrationDeep-rooted plants• Place where snow is piled when ploweddon’t plant woodiesherbaceous plants

Analysis & Assessment• Farm equipment access Maintain• Primary wind directions plant trees as windbreak• Septic leach field don’t plant trees or perennials here• Buried cables and telephone lines• Hardpan soils. Clay. Restrictive layer. Anaerobic. But fertile, with decent soil

life. feed the worms Add lots of organic matter Deep-rooted plants• Lots of road frontage block it to create more privacy

A&A

• Sun sector• Ag chemical sector (everywhere!)