I just wanted to share good quote =P
Abstract : Concept of project2.002
The existing Desoto Park is suitable for bird habitat because of few human accesses and wildly grown vegetation which provides creates abundant food and habitats. It is a great chance to have this ecological habitat in the city where there is no wildlife experience availability. However, the current Desoto Park space has no special meaning other than it has been abandoned for a long time and filled with garbage.
Easy reading is damn hard writing.
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Abstract : Concept of project2.002
The existing Desoto Park is suitable for bird habitat because of few human accesses and wildly grown vegetation which provides creates abundant food and habitats. It is a great chance to have this ecological habitat in the city where there is no wildlife experience availability. However, the current Desoto Park space has no special meaning other than it has been abandoned for a long time and filled with garbage. Therefore, even this project is to preserve the ecology of Desoto, human manipulation is needed in the initial stage to form a stronger series of habitats.
Overall, this project will show the human control towards nature but that assist natural ecological habitats. In addition, this park should give a great chance to children to learn about river system, bird, fish and insect habitats and wetlands at outdoor classrooms and several view decks.
The different bird habitats are formed based on each species’ natural habitat characteristic, food, and food; plant materials, water accessibility and tolerance for interruption. In this project, four types of bird habitats will be designed. Generally, marsh habitats for egrets, ducks, red-winged black birds, forest for purple finch, open woodland for doves and humming birds. As the project’s purpose of ecological habitat conservation, public access is regulated to minimize human interruption into bird habitats. In order to achieve that, trails go between of the different habitats and visitors can enter into some habitats partially by bird blind that is branched out from the main corridor.
Late update
Before the studio started individual design project, all of our class did research about river systems to understand Desoto park better and expect how it will the park.
I did research about “Subsidence”
The whole process of research(visiting other department buildings and interviewing and emailing professors) and understand more and more about geology and geography were very new to me. Sometimes I got frustrated about not getting information that I want but overall, I liked collecting information and get to know more by proactive actions.
Here are my conclusion about subsidence in Louisiana. I made diagrams from large scale, Louisiana, to small scale, desoto park. Feel free to leave comments if you have any question.
Collection _ precedents
There are some good examples(I think) for ecological preserve/conserve parks on asla; Aogu Wetland Forest Park and First San Diego River Improvement Project.
http://www.asla.org/2011awards/index.html
0.006 {inventory. Desoto}
From previous blog…..
“I think micro-scale observation is a way to know a relationships in natural environment.” – Elizabeth Hwangbo
This episod, no, post is about….Inventory
Last Friday, I visit the site prepared to see the highest water level that I’ve seen. Going over the whole Desoto in a micro scale was fun!
Below is the inventory diagrams that I made from this observation. Yes, now I have inventories of not only the Visitor Center but also the DeSoto park.
(I’m planning on update it with their scientific names soon)
0.006 Adventure
The last Site observation is self planned adventure (An adventure that is planned sounds ironic…;P).
My project site will become ecological preserve research center, just ecological research center or ecological outdoor classroom or ecological park that is not only for the researchers but also open for public. So far, the site observations are mostly done for last project site, which is Visitor Center side. I need more experience and measurements from the DeSoto side. To know more about what is going on in Desoto park, especially to know an ecological system, I think doing micro-scale observation will be effective.
The micro scale observation location will be along the edge to the river side, the most dynamic space and macro scale observation throughout the rest of the park. The river edge dynamic does not only apply for river level but also for animals and vegetation. During the last observation, I found some evidence for the statement. I found different foot prints near the edge, where river water intrudes and make temporary lake! How exciting!!
However, I will shorten the micro scale observation time into 20-30 minutes per section that I marked so that I can observe through out the Desoto site. 
I don’t expect to see ecological evidences from the dashed line section since it is landings for barge but for now, I’ll put it in my plan just because it has different condition which is the highest human usage rate area. I’m hoping to see some what different amount of vegetation and animals that I haven’t realized so that it can help me to get idea for my next project.
The deliverable media will be photos, sketches and recordings that will be compiled in illustrator and photoshop.
0.005
Last Friday afternoon(4:20-6:30pm), I went to Desoto park for 2-3hrs of meditation.
I picked the my spot approximately in the middle of Desoto park but towards the edge next to Mississippi River. (Thanks for introducing the nice space to me , Nick! ) The way to get to my spot seemed like a secret path. After walking through bushes and over some hills, I saw an open view to Mississippi River – although it was mostly blocked with barges.
Anyways, I picked my spot, made myself comfortable with cardboard that I picked up at the parking lot (maybe one of our classmate used it?).
[pics]
Sitting in the quiet wild nature was interesting. Even though I was surrounded by abandoned and wild nature I wasn’t too scared since I can still hear/see traffic, boat and people talking in the air. I always thought those sounds and sights are not pleasant in the park but now I think maybe, if the park is more wild and unorganized style, it’s better to have civic element constantly to make the user comfortable.
The observation was busy. I was busy writing down what just happened and at the same time busy with keeping my sense awake. It was so interesting and actually fun to see how much things going on so quietly when you were just walking by.
Among my observations, some of them are highly related and some of them seems isolated, independent. The observation scales vary from micro to macro. Micro-scale may not seem connected to macro-scale but in my opinion, they are all connected in some way especially if they are in the same space. We might not figure out those connections from the temporal changes observation. However, life is a circle; circle of life. Therefore, both macro and micro scale observations are all related each other.
Micro and Macro scales are affected by the time period of the day. Especially micro-system is more relying on the macro-scale; sun, climate, traffic, water quality, etc. For example, if had I observe the site in the dawn or at night, the result would have been totally different. Since both dawn and night time, most of creatures have less activities and I will have much less changes in observation than I have in a daytime. To understand better about the site, I think temporal change observation need to be done at least 2-3times.
From this exercise, I even believe stronger that micro and macro temporal change observation is essential to analyze a site. I believe only the people who actually been experienced current site consistently long can see the true opportunities and constraint of the site. Because you will miss such a huge life that is going on at the site unless you sit down for 2-3hours. But one thing but very important thing to keep in mind; open your senses, relax – and record!!! =P`
The following is my diagram that I made.
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