adam fearingportfolio

landscape architecture

contactPhone: 339-933-1745Email: adamfearing15@gmail.comAddress: 9 River Dr. Hadley, MA 01035Blog: instagram.com/the_land_arch

blogissuu

bio

I have had a strong affinity for the natural world since childhood. Through my studies and extensive work experience I have formed an inseparable bond with nature and have found great passion in designing the landscape.

What has struck me most in studying landscape architecture is the importance of navigating between natural and man-made spaces and the effect that this relationship has on humans. Through careful observation and practice I have determined that landscape architects are more than just artists or designers. We are sociologists, ecologists, preservationists, and activists. Landscape architects play a vital role in the future of the built environment and the preservation of environmental resources.

Modernists built our nation for the automobile. Now it is time to re-imagine the role of the bicycle, the pedestrian, the sidewalk, and, most importantly, the human being.

Landscape architecture is my calling to change the world. I am excited for the future and am eager to devote my life to the fields of landscape architecture and urban design.

The following selection of works contains graphics that I created. All sketches, logos, graphic design choices, and infographics were a labor of love. I hope you enjoy.

Thank you, Adam Fearing

cont

ents

Park DesignSpringfield’s NatureScape ProjectMetro Park 06-15

Urban EcologySpringfield’s NatureScape ProjectThe Riverfront 16-17

Urban DesignSpringfield’s NatureScape ProjectEast-West Boulevard 18-19

Housing + EcologyMulti-Family Housing Studio 20-21

Furniture DesignChair + Bench Design 22-23

Hand SketchesSamples 24-27

ResumeCredentials + References 28-29

Proc

ess

Park

Des

ign

Project Overview

Project Area

Springfield’s NatureScape Project was a product of a 14 week urban design studio. In teams of three, we generated master plans that aimed to re-connect the Springfield, Massachusetts downtown with the Connecticut Riverfront. I focused on providing a playful yet functional design program for Metro Park and the Riverfront. I also wanted to establish a streetscape that carefully considered the needs of pedestrians along East-West Boulevard.

Adam Fearing 7

Proc

ess

Sketching: The Hand + Mind UniteMy approach to the design process always begins with a pen and a sketchbook. I am constantly sketching ideas and observations.

Exploring my ideas by sketching has allowed me to visualize my thought processes and better understand the spatial qualities of both my own designs and the world at large.

Adam Fearing 8

Mas

ter P

lan

court st. pedestrianboulevard

people’s plaza

interstate 91

metro park rock gym

memorial bridge lawn

court plaza + overlook

river boardwalk

restored riparian ecosystem

unio

n pl

aza

+ ov

erlo

ok

sout

h en

d p

ark

apar

tmen

ts

mea

dow

wal

k sy

stem

stat

e pl

aza

+ ov

erlo

ok

over

look

hill

stag

e

the

gran

d la

wn

MG

M c

asin

o

pros

pect

hills

high

way

bos

que

met

ro park

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river

side

law

n

wet

land

ove

rlook

south end neighborhood

new mixed use edge

east-west boulevard

south end playground

meadow walk system

affordable housing

basketball hall of fame

restored riparian ecosystem

stormwater remediationgardens

east

-wes

t bou

leva

rd

sout

h end park

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Met

ro P

ark

A Green “Heart” for Springfield’s NatureScape Project

river

side

boar

dw

alk

over

look

dec

k

river

wal

k

the

gran

d la

wn

stag

e hi

ll

stat

e pl

aza

the

grov

e

rest

ored

rive

rfron

t

Metro Park provides a hub of activity for the proposed NatureScape design. Being the “heart” of the design, the park is a place of constant action. Featuring an arts fair in the spring, Frisbee in the summer, a harvest concert in

the fall, or even sledding in the winter, the park provides a place for year-round fun and excitement. The design consists of several large civic spaces that range from open to secluded. Every visitor can find a space here.

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t

The

Gra

nd La

wn

The Grand Lawn provides a place for large events. Outdoor events stimulate the local economy and establish a sense of pride and community among Springfield residents.

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Met

ro P

ark

The Meadow Walks that traverse the entire park system serve as remediation spaces and introduce a successional woodland ecological system to Springfield. Constructing a meadow showcases nature’s primitive beauty and provides space for wildlife.

Mea

dow

Wal

ksM

etro

Par

k

riverside ecology

boardwalk

successional planting

river walk + bike path

lawn walksgrand lawn events stage

Adam Fearing 13

Rive

rsid

e Bo

ard

wal

k

The Riverside Boardwalk system provides a direct visual and physical connection to the Connecticut River. Establishing a space directly along the river where visitors can be in close contact with the water creates a more immersive experience. The boardwalk celebrates the restored riparian system while providing an escape from the bustle of the urban setting.

grove walk urban forest meadow walk meadow walk west columbus ave. urban forestmeadow ecologytrain tracks

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Educate through DesignWith an emphasis on ecological restoration, stormwater management, and habitat rehabilitation, the NatureScape Project becomes an educational platform for future urban development. With issues such as climate change and resource management affecting our environment, it is important that landscape architects provide a sustainable design approach that is visible and sets precedents. In doing this, we become teachers of sustainablity and advocates for the natural world.

The sustainable program elements throughout the project can inspire future generations. The park systems serve as engaging preserves that connect the city’s youth with nature. This will invoke a sense of wonder for the natural world, which has too often been lost in urban settings. Whether on a field trip or a picnic, children can have a fun and educational experience in the parks.

Met

ro P

ark

Inspire the Youth

Adam Fearing 16

The

Rive

rfron

tReconstructing an Urban Riverfront

When examining an urban riverfront, we must consider the existing conditions and realize a plan for reconstructing a healthy riverside ecology. The following proposal was created to restore Springfield’s degraded, disconnected, and under-utilized urban riverfront.

The renewed riparian corridor is a major element in contemporary ecological restoration projects; re-establishing the ecology of the riverdside is not only an environmental benefit, but also an aesthetic and educational benefit.

Visual and Physical Disconnect

Invasive Plant and Animal Species

Trash Accumulation

A Neglected Urban Riverfront

Toxic Waters

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Invasive Plant and Animal Species

Trash Accumulation

Re-introduces a Successional Riverfro

nt

Re-establishes a Connection with Nature

Celebrates the Views of the River

Native Woodland System

Toxic Waters

An Accessible Riverfro

nt

Overlook Decks and Seating

A Restored Riverfront System

Native Plants and Animals

Restores the River’s E

cology

Adam Fearing 18

Designing for the Pedestrian Often we find that city streets were designed for the automobile. This once modern conception has degraded the human-to-human interaction so valuable to urban streetscapes. Establishing an interconnected transportation system consisting of pedestrians, bicycles, public transit, and automobiles is vital to the future of our cities.

Designing this street system with a green backbone is also neccesary in develping a streetscape that is economically, aesthetically, and environmentally beneficial. The sidewalk must be treated as a habitable space, rather than a margin. It has and will always serve as a meeting ground. Designing a human scale street is key to effective urban design.

mixed use edge

lively sidewalk and storefronts

parkingbike lanes

raised crosswalks

bike

lane

bike

lane

traffi

c la

nes

traffi

c la

nes

filtra

tion

swal

e

filtra

tion

swal

e

sidew

alk

sidew

alk

a sustainable street system

infiltration/rain garden

garden detailstorm water management

E-W

Bou

leva

rd

Adam Fearing 19

garden detail

The Festival of Lights is a celebration of the night through art and performance. Local artists and shop owners coordinate with youth volunteers to adorn the boule-vard with lanterns. The festival features live performaces at participating venues along the boulevard.

Kids’ Night Out is a monthly event held during the spring and summer months. Participating venues along the boulevard open their doors and hold activities that all youth and young-hearted can enjoy. The event is free and draws visitors from the surrounding areas.

Springfield’s Arts Night Out is a monthly event that showcases local artists. Participating shops and galleries along the boulevard welcome visitors to view local art and en-joy light refreshments. This event promotes the local economy through a shared love of art.

Festi

val o

f Lig

hts

A Lively Streetscape

Adam Fearing 20

Mul

ti-Fa

mily

Hou

sing

Rediscovering the StreamThe goal of the multi-family housing studio was to provide a master plan for a proposed affordable housing development located in Amherst, Massachusetts. I worked with one other team member to produce a plan that was inspired by Ebenezer Howard’s garden-city model, as well as Stein and Wright’s separation of car and pedestrian in their design for Radburn, NJ. Along with promoting a strong sense of community through design, we aimed to reconstitute a stream that would feed into the adjacent meadow and dell. Through meticulous grading, we melded the existing landscape with the new housing units, preserving the character of the site and allowing a stronger connection with the magnificent surrounding landscape. With this ecologically-minded design, we hoped to promote a passive recreational experience for all community members.

Adam Fearing 21

Re-estblishing a stream system rather than piping and retaining stormwater on site will provide a sense of place within the commu-nity and serve aesthetic, recreational, and ecological purposes.

Adam Fearing 22

This particular chair design was completed in groups of two. We used three materials to contruct the piece. It is held together by tension and was shaped with ergonomics in mind. I later went on to present the design at the Massachusetts Research Convention as an individual. This project piqued my interest in industrial and furniture design and has led me to further study the processes involved these fields.

Initial Individual Structural Concept Model

Furn

iture

Des

ign Line + Curve

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Line + Curve I draw inspiration from master designers like Mies van der Rohe and Charles and Ray Eames, whose furniture design processes pay close attention to both aesthetics and function to yield objects that are artful and useful.

This particular design for a bench system started in the pages of my sketchbooks. The process of sketching and studying master works has led me to explore all scales of design, from the park system to the park bench.

Land + Object

Initial Individ

ual Sketches

Adam Fearing 24

Hand

Ske

tche

s

Adam Fearing 25

Adam Fearing 26

Hand

Ske

tche

s

Adam Fearing 27

EDUCATION

ACTIVITIES

PROGRAMS & SKILLS

University of Massachusetts Amherst (2011-present) (3.5 GPA)BSLA Landscape Architecture Class of 2015

Silver Lake Regional Vocational School (2007-2011)Diploma in Conservation & HorticultureFocus: Landscape Design, Floral Arrangement, Greenhouse Management(4.32 GPA) (Valedictorian)

Vice President of UMASS’s Boston Society of Landscape Architects Student Chapter (Present)

Treasurer of UMASS BSLA Student Chapter (2013-2014)

Student Volunteer at National ASLAConference (Boston, MA) (2013)

Member of National Society of Collegiate Scholars (2012-Present)

Chosen to attend Green Living Technology’s greenwall/green-roof training seminar sponsored by CityScapes (Boston, MA) (2010)

InDesignPhotoshopIllustratorSketchUpAutoCadArcGISHand SketchingHand RenderingHand LetteringWatercolorGraphic Design

EXPERIENCE

HONORS &AWARDS

City of Chicopee Planning Department (Chicopee, MA) (March-April 2015) (Intern)

Treefrog Landscapes Inc. (Northampton, MA) (March-Sept. 2014) (Landscape Designer, Project Manager)

New England Greenscape (Sunderland, MA) (June-Sept. 2013) (Construction, Masonry, Design)

TNB Landscaping (Falmouth, MA) (May-Sept. 2011) (May-Sept. 2012) (Lead Construction Team)(Significant Projects: Falmouth’s Highfield Hall Sunken Garden and West Garden)

Hamilton Woods Landscaping (Duxbury, MA) (2009-2011) (Maintenance, Lead Construction Team)

Alumni Achievement Scholarship (Awarded by LA Department for Academic Excellence) (2014)

Presented at Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Convention for object/seating design (March 2014)

Dean’s List (2012-2015)

Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts Scholarship (2012)

2011 Career & Technical Education Student of the Year Award Sponsored by Massachusetts Association of Vocational Admin. and the Massachusetts Vocational Association (2012)

Composed and received grant from MassAg for my horticulture program to support local agriculture (2010)

Resu

me

REFERENCES

HOBBIES

Patricia McGirrAssociate ProfessorUMASS Undergraduate Program Director413-545-6621mcgirr@larp.umass.edu

Frank SleegersAssociate ProfessorDipl.-ING, MLA, Registered Landscape Architect413-577-0848sleegers@larp.umass.edu

PaintingSketchingDancingBonsaiGardeningTravelingCooking

Man is that uniquely conscious creature who can percieve and express. He must become the steward of the biosphere. To do this he must design with nature.

Ian McHarg

Adam FearingLandscape Architecture Portfolio

adamfearing15@gmail.com

339-933-1745

9 River DriveHadley, MA 01035

blog: instagram.com/the_land_arch