LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

Project Narrative

The purpose of designing the White Mountains Pavilion is to develop the abounding subway in Cincinnati which has been silent for more than 50 years and consider the wastewater to improve the subway. The wastewater treatment building is located on the west side of the research area. The aim is to pipe the wastewater through the tunnel and three vacant lots near the subway. Moreover, bring the sludge to these vacant lots and provide warm, cool water and energy for the pavilion and the community around it.
The concept of the White Mountains is based on the idea of a windcatcher, a traditional architectural component invented in Iran and used to create natural ventilation in buildings. The cool air enters the interior space through the openings that are made towards the prevailing wind, and the warm air circulating inside the interior space is pushed out through openings created on the opposite side of the windcatcher. Natural ventilation like a wind tower is cost-efficient and depends on natural outer factors such as the wind and the temperature of the outside. The plan was inspired by the traditional plan of the windcatcher and subtracting voids according to the user's need. When we are on the site, we will see just towers, narrow light openings, stairs, and tree canopies. Windcatchers work better with some architectural elements such as a courtyard. Therefore, there is a big courtyard between the towers to improve the air quality, which is a landscape picture of the site. People can lean on the towers to watch the sky and approach the courtyard to see the greenery landscape inspired by the hills in Cincinnati.
Wastewater can treat on the tunnel before expanding to the vacant lots, and above the ground, some windcatchers cool the water during the summertime; however, during the wintertime burning sludge supplies energy and warm water for the community for around half an acre from the site. Some shaded plants grow in the tunnel near the abandoned lots, and by creating some openings on the ground, we can bring sunlight for plants, and the water can be used for watering the plants in the tunnel and finally to water the trees of the courtyard and create a pond in the courtyard. In addition, people can use the stairs on the ground to discover not only five different typologies including a Bar and a Restaurant, a Burning Sludge, a Gathering Space, and a Thermal Bath for adults, and children, but also, they can pass the tunnel to see the plants as well. Towers can be considered an element for Cincinnati's wastewater. As a result, these towers can be expanded to other vacant lands with different functions based on the needs of people.

                                           

Project Details

Submission Category

Landscape Architecture & Community Planning - Planning & Analysis Projects

Date of Completion

April, 2022