National Architectural Design Competition: WINNER FIRST PRIZE / LUNCA FLORILOR PARK, BUCHAREST

Publication: Arhitext Design Magazine, No.7.2008

[EN/ro]

lunca park_notes on project_landscape design winning project, national competition bucharest [2007]

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

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

We set off to highlight the element of water, to create  a proper living area and to enrich the continuously developing surrounding area. We did not want to change the main access alley, in fact we tried to highlight it by placing key elements alongside it; key elements like decorative fountains and different symbolic elements.

The symbolic element: The main waterfall is highlighted by the massive volume of the artificial hill and by the uneven platform (2,50m benchmark) accessible through the two gantries along the main track. The latter is advantaged by the other two directional elements. The decorative fountains underline the maximal flexion points of the parks main alleys.

Functionality: We wanted to enhance accessibility and flexibility of the generated space, thus making possible to freely access the area, not only by pedestrians, but also by alternative means of transportation (bicycles, roller blades, etc.).

Construction details: The details aimed to reinterpret the existing elements while keeping a low cost. So, the preserved main pool, the decorative elements, the night lighting and the water jets mechanism was thought to be executed with a minimum of effort.

Alternative source energy: This park uses alternative energy sources like photo voltaic cells and kinetic systems. The main purpose of this form of alternative energy source is to secure the necessary energy to sustain night lights and water effects. They will be places in central areas, resting areas and playgrounds and we  believe the alternative energy sources will be one of the main attractions of the park.

Park furniture: We plan to use only organic materials for the parks furniture. There are several categories, following the treatment of the different areas (boards): punctual elements (benches, local decorative elements, poles and board immersed elements and bulwarks for night lighting, recycle bins, drinking fountains, etc.)

Utilities (networks): The existing networks will not be significantly altered and only require new connecting pipes for the suggested elements (surfaces and water and light effects) and the suggested water recycling system, etc.

Key features: Considering the position of the park, oriented towards the lake star-formation, and the lack of water in the urban space, one of the key elements will be to recapture it alongside the main track. It is recommended to facilitate the access of the residents in the lake area and further signaling them in the park area, through both visual elements and sportive opportunities. Another key feature will be the employment of the alternative energy resources, both kinetic and solar, in order to animate the static spaces. The playgrounds have been appointed with perimeter steps, with a maximal height of 1,50m, designed to both secure the safety of the children and to place the alternative energy sources. The fences were designed from natural materials (stone, grass, wood) and they incorporate photovoltaic cells and generators, together with the perimeter benches.

The key of the entire project is to be found in the repetitive use of the natural materials and the chromatic succession along with the usage of different textures, both vertically and horizontally. The variation of the construction materials, adorned and brought to life by the pressure sensor activated water effects, will transform the park into a dynamic mechanism, sensitive to the presence of the visitors and will act as a main attraction not only by elements within it but as itself.

[en/RO]

parcul lunca florilor, bucuresti_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. Parcul ‘Lunca Florilor’, in urma cu un an era un caz tipic pentru parcurile de cartier bucurestene. In urma unor interventii nereusite, acest parc a obtinut o delimitare fizica si a beneficiat de titulatura ‘parc’. In lipsa oricarui sentiment de “spiritus loci”, nu am putut miza decat pe potentialul urban, cautand orice element care ar putea imbunatati calitatea locuirii in zona. Cele mai sensibile probleme ale parcului le-am considerat ca fiind orizontalitatea si ariditatea. Acestea aveau ca rezultat minimalizarea distantelor si generarea sentimentului de nesiguranta. Avand in vedere orientarea acestuia, in proximitatea salbei de lacuri a Bucurestiului, unul din punctele cheie l-a constituit regasirea elementului ‘apa’ in diverse forme, de-a lungul traseului principal. Alternanta materialelor naturale, succesiunea cromatica precum si texturile diferite, atat in plan vertical, cat si in plan orizontal, au constituit cheia proiectului. Parcul in sine a fost tratat asemanator unei ‘insule’, traversata de trasee geometrice, cu sectiuni variabile. Pentru a conecta spatiul verde cu vecinatatile locuintelor, si lacul din partea de nord, s-au propus traseele liniare directoare. S-a pastrat compozitia radiala initiala, insistandu-se pe accentuarea centrului, ca nucleu, si particularizarea functionala a zonelor perimetrale. Un alt punct cheie l-a constituit utilizarea enegiei alternative – cinetice si solare, pentru animarea spatiilor statice. S-au propus ca  accente locale, jocuri de apa, actionate prin intermediul dalelor conectate la senzori de greutate. Astfel parcul se transforma  intr-un mecanism dinamic, care interactiona cu vizitatorii, pe masura ce acestia il parcurgeau. Compozitional am intervenit prin afirmarea spatiului interstitial printr-o tratare de tip ‘patchwork’. Aceasta se supune regulilor de compozitie, respectiv tratarea traseelor directoare si a ‘link-urilor’ urbane, pe negativ. Din punct de vedere al elementelor emblematice, zona centrala era definita printr-un dialog intre orizontalitatea texturilor si verticalitatea zonei vegetale. Nucleul parcului anunta prezenta lacurilor in spatiu urban, prin intermediul iazul propus. Caderea de apa este valorificata  prin proiectarea sa pe volumul dealului artificial, si prin decalarea traseelor pietonale,  la cote verticale distincte. S-a urmarit cresterea accesibilitatii si flexibilitatii spatiului prin generarea traseelor organice alternative, posibilitatea parcurgerii continue, atat pietonal cat si prin intermediul mijloacelor alternative (biciclete, role, etc.). Functiunile, au fost distribite radial, astfel incat poluarea fonica sa fie cat mai redusa. Schimbarea liniaritatii sectiunilor, prin introducerea denivelarilor artificiale, cu inaltimi cuprinse intre 3 si 6 metri, aveau ca finalitate crearea unor zone cu grad de intimitate diferit. Locurile de joaca au fost prevazute cu un sistem de gradene perimetrale, urmarindu-se siguranta copiilor si izolarea fonica fata de blocurile cu care parcul se invecineaza. Gradenele, au fost proiectate ca ‘garduri vii’, din materiale naturale (piatra, iarba, lemn), incorporand la nivelul superior celule fotovoltaice. Sursele de energie alternativa sunt reprezentate de celulele fotovoltaice (stalpi cu captatori solari) si sistemele cinetice,  prevazute cu acumulatori, dispuse pe zonele cu gradene. Prin folosirea acestor surse se urmareste compensarea partiala a iluminatului parcului noaptea, si asigurarea energiei necesare pentru declansarea jocurilor de apa. Prin interventiile de mai sus am urmarit reintroducerea zonei intr-un mediu urban flexibil, prin cresterea atractivitatii si a calitatii locuirii. In cazul de fata, vorbind de un parc de cartier, ni s-a parut necesar sa insistam pe afirmarea intimitatii ca o necesitate primara. In plan secundar, toate interventiile au urmarit negarea caracterului static, si respectiv conturarea parcului, ca zona de interes si recreere pentru locuitorii zonei. S-a urmarit crearea unui spatiu identitar prin afirmarea ‘parcului’ ca un organism viu, dinamic, si respectiv accentuarea legaturilor acestuia cu tesutul construit existent.