National Architectural Design Competition: WINNER FIRST PRIZE / EXPO PARK, PITESTI

Publication: Arhitext Design Magazine, No.7.2008

[EN/ro]

expo park pitesti_notes on project_landscape design winning design project, national competition bucharest [2007]

by arch. ana-maria crisan, arch. alexandru crisan

published: [arhitext design, rewind, no.07 (185), 2008]

STARTING POINTS: THE SPECIFIC ELEMENTS OF THE PARK

THE ROMANTIC TRACK: ORGANIC HEADING; COMMANDING ELEMENT (ARTIFICIAL HILL); PROMENADE TRACK (DOUBLES THE URBAN PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION)

Perspective: The proposal aim was to amplify the romantic effect of the specific elements of the park, through minor interventions. The interventions set off to underline the uniqueness of the initial  elements. It was set in mind not to harm the specificity of the park by creating a green area surrounding the lake, thus emphasizing the organic perimeter of the lake. We also reorganized and rethink the main tracks and created open areas of promenade guided by water effects and additional symbolic elements, such as lighting poles, vegetal mazes and chromatic attractions and surprise elements. One of the key elements of the tracks is the artificial hill, that appears as an antithetic symbol for the water element.

Alternative lighting source – solar energy: This parks main concept is based upon alternative energy, in this case the solar energy. We took advantage of the main tracks East to West orientation and we highlighted it by placing several solar poles along this main path. Also we placed water effects and vertical lighting poles and a successful combination of different vegetal species. All this led to an amplified effect of promenade. The solar energy is based on a UPS circuitry and its main goal is to partially sustain the night lighting and some water effects.

Key features: We wanted to use at maximum capacity the existing vegetal resources and, as said above, it was kept in mind not to harm the initial vegetation of the park. Also we created special tracks for bikers and rollers holding on to the initial idea of the highlighted nature friendly environment.

Functionality: Creating a coherent track meant to set off to advantage the reinterpretation of the initial element, the lake, and to highlight the romantic element, the bridge – seen as an element of passing, a fluid transit of space, and the artificial area created by the water surface that can be crossed by leaping from one stone to the other.

Constructive details: We set off to highlight, with a minimal financial investment, the existing elements, by reinterpreting them.

Alternative energy sources: The illuminated suggested track is, in fact, the main track. (E-W) that has a lighting poles system that use solar energy for night lighting. Also we use the kinetic energy: the water jet mechanism is set in motion when activated by the pedestrians; this mechanism will be placed in a central area, thus becoming one of the main attractions of the site.

Park furniture: We planned to use only organic materials for this park’s furniture. The resting areas set along the generated tracks will be combined with elements generating alternative energy (steps with photo voltaic cells, lighting devices with solar energy panels, water surfaces artificially created, vegetal maze-like track, preserving the previous existing local ambient elements, etc.).

Utilities (networks): The park, although we have changed and developed a new path layout, will not suffer major vegetal alterations.

[en/RO]

parcul expo-pitesti_amenajare peisagera, concurs national ‘parcurile viitorului’, premiul 1 [2007]

de arh. ana-maria crisan, arh. alexandru crisan

publicat: [arhitext design, rewind, no.07 (185), 2008]

In vara anului 2007, compania Petrom a organizat o campanie de reamenajare la standarde europene a parcurilor nationale, sub moto-ul ‘Respect pentru viitor’, selectand intr-o prima etapa trei parcuri, amplasate in Bucuresti, Pitesti si Moinesti. In comparatie cu  parcul  “Lunca Florilor” din Bucuresti, parcul din Pitesti a constituit o provocare diametral opusa. In primul caz  am  cautat acele calitati ale spatiului urban, care sa-l defineasca si sa-l sustina. In cazul celui din Pitesti aveam de-a face cu spatii urbane intretinute, unitare din punct de vedere estetic, cu caracter bine definit, asimilate vietii urbane. Provocarea a fost sa reusim sa intervenim, fara a altera calitatile parcului, sa-l adaptam astfel incat sa raspunda tuturor categoriilor de varsta. Punctul de plecare l-a constituit identificarea elementelor specifice, respectiv: trama organica (traseul romatic), alpinariul (element de prestanta), elementul central (lacul) valorificat insuficient, aleile tip promenada care dubleaza circulatia pietonala. Propunerea a urmarit, ca prin interventii minore, sa amplifice efectul romantic al elementelor existente, astfel incat sa se pastreze specificul parcului. S-a urmarit accentuarea conturului organic al lacului, prin crearea unei zone verzi plantate – elemente vegetale cu inaltimi medii si grad mare de transparenta, dispuse perimetral. Reorganizarea traseelor principale, s-a realizat intervenindu-se asupra spatiilor verzi, tratate ca insule de vegetatie, cu siluete individualizate. Adaugarea elementelor punctuale romantice de-a lungul traseelor (bazine de apa, labirint vegetal, accente de culoare) s-au dorit interventii care sa directioneze parcursul, si sa-l individualizeze. Regandirea traseelor, s-a desfasurat in paralel cu regandirea functiunilor pe traseul principal. Acestea au fost reevaluate individual, iar traseele secundare grupate perimetral. S-a individualizat o zona centrala orientata pe directia E-V, directionata de jocurile de apa si de stalpii de iluminat prevazuti cu captatori solari. Succesiunea atractiilor, jocuri de apa, semnalele verticale, capetele de perspectiva conturate cromatic, au avut ca finalitate accentuarea traseului identitar. Prin extindere efectul alpinariului a fost amplificat, devenind finalitate cu functie de reper in cadrul parcurgerii secventiale a spatiului generat de elementele componente.

Punctul cheie al proiectului era reprezentat de succesiunea imaginilor perspective determinate prin suprapunerile cromatice: cresterea organicitatii parcului prin utilizarea si valorificarea maxima a fondului vegetal existent. S-a propus un traseu identitar semnalat printr-un sistem de iluminat particularizat. Folosirea traseelor sinuoase, cu capete mixte de perspectiva, a urmarit altenanta cromatica a fronturilor, a zonelor cu luminozitate diferita. Am revenit asupra unei interventii din proiectului initial, datand din anii 1970, materializand legarea celor doua maluri ale lacului existent printr-un pod de mici dimensiuni, perceput fluid asemeni unei coli de hartie. Centrul atractiei se focaliza in zona centrala, determinat fiind prin jocul de apa si pasarela ce strabate suprafata lacului. Compozitia urmarea un traseu prestabilit, simplificand accesele si perceptia graduala a ‘elementelor surpriza’. S-a insistat asupra redefinirii insulelor vegetale prin cromatica si volum vegetale diferentiate vizual pe zone de interes. Elementele emblematice definitorii pentru proiectul propus: promenada centrala accentuata de elementele verticale (surse iluminat), suprafetele de apa, elementele punctuale romantice (labirint vegetal), etc. Compozitia centrala mizeaza pe o concentrare a reperelor vizuale care intra in dialog: platforma promenadei, silueta liniara  a podului amplasat peste lac, oglinda de apa, jeturile verticale de apa, succesiunea stalpilor de iluminat. Functionalitatea parcului s-a redus la crearea unui traseu coerent care sa puna in valoare elementul existent reinterpretat, lacul. S-a dorit accentuarea ‘trecerii’, a parcurgerii fluide, liniare, a spatiului. Aceasta s-a propus prin intermediul podului ce realizeaza legatura intre aleile organice ale alpinariului si lespezile cinetice punctuale care traverzseaza oglinda de apa artificiala. Din punct devedere al surselor de energie alternativa, s-a propus energia solara prin intermediul celulelor fotovoltaice incorporate in stalpii de iluminat, compensand partial iluminatul nocturn. Energia cinetica se constituie ca accent izolat in zona centrala: dalele prevazute cu senzori de greutate, sunt activate de trecatori, punandu-se in miscare mecanismul jeturilor de apa. Prin interventiile de mai sus am urmarit afirmarea parcului ca insula verde in mijlocul orasului. Mijloacele de utilizare a energiilor alternative, le-am subordonat vizual elementelor vegetale, nealterand imaginea generala a parcului. Redefinirea parcului pe baza caracterului sau organic, accentuarea caracterelor romantice, crearea unui traseu identitar, s-au constituit ca finalitate a demersului.