MALL OF THE POTOMAC
Jack Hardley, Ali Elbarrawy | WVU LARC 450 | Fall 2022
Jack Hardley, Ali Elbarrawy | WVU LARC 450 | Fall 2022
TYPE - Masterplan & Landscape Design
LOCATION - Alexandria, Virginia
COURSE - LARC 450 Advanced Landscape Architectural Design I
INSTRUCTOR - Stefania Staniscia
DATE - Designed Fall 2022
DESIGNERS - Jack Hardley & Ali Elbarrawy
This masterplan was created with the intention of providing a pedestrian hub for the neighborhoods around the North Potomac Yard in Alexandria. The design features two major mall strips from North to South. Along these strips, the buildings have been designated for mix-use with commercial space on the first floor and facades. Above these stores along the malls, you would see either residential or office space. Currently the majority of this neighborhood does not offer many safe walkable options, besides the new trail installed along the river side of the site. This design aims to slow down traffic in these corridors to put the pedestrian safety first. The form of the mall funnels people from one end to another allowing people to feel comfort and safety. but not confined. On the Southern end of both malls there are water features accompanied by planting beds. At the Northern end, the mall connects to a naturalistic green space. This space serves as a recreational park where users can engage with the Four Mile Run waterway.
Initial Design Idea
Form Evolution
Final Zoning Designations
Final Masterplan Design
The idea for the design began with the intent of creating a "hub" for the neighborhoods here. This hub would be place where people could interact with one another and have a social life. The town and area really lacked something like this in this vicinity, so a safe option these people could walk to was essential. Our design began with one large mall, and then evolved to have two malls which are a bit smaller.
After drawing out an initial design idea, we moved on to drafting the shape and form of the open spaces and building footprints. We wanted the mall to feel open and inviting, and not restricting in any way. For this resign we created a funnel shape to create a fluid movement throughout the site. In order to still provide a level of comfort and shade from the beaming sun, we included planters down the middle of the malls.
The zoning map shows the distinctions of building usage. You can see that the buildings along the mall contain mixed use buildings with commercial stores on the first floor. Above these buildings are either residential or office space, sometimes both. These design ideas meshed into our final product which is a simplistic, yet naturalistic space. The plantings soften the rough edges around the town and buildings to create a balance of texture.
For this final phase of the project, we decided to develop the two vertically oriented malls into more detail. Being that those took up most of the design we displayed the open space with the whole masterplan for continuity. Blown up are two different sections of the mall, one showing the planters and seating wall, while the other shows one of the fountain features. These images are shown without the plantings to understand what is going on beneath.
We wanted to create a naturalistic, but functional planting bed along the mall, so the plan has incorporated lots of stormwater runoff solutions. The main feature is the trench drain system that flows into the bioretention areas containing the roots of the plants in the center. The overflow water is piped away. In addition, the planting areas feature overflow drains to prevent the planters from flooding and pooling. The main goal of the project is to create a multiuse space for residents and pedestrians to hang out in or shop around in. This mall allows space for vendors as well as performers or art installations. This site should bring an area where people in the North Potomac neighborhood can collaborate and meet one another.
We decided to develop the streetscape of the road cutting through the two malls. This is a crucial point for pedestrians and cars to be aware of their surroundings. The trees have been lined with gray birch trees, elegant in summer and winter, yet not obtrusive for sight lines. The crosswalks have been painted with a bright green color to warn drivers they are entering a crossing zone. In addition, we have created a four-way stop at the intersection in the middle. This plan prioritizes the pedestrian which has resulted the circulation of the site to primarily go around the center malls. The street here also has been given light posts that light the street up at night, but also add a touch of colonial character to the streetscape. This character has been subtly added in the design through materials and organization. On the left mall, the street features on street parking for people making a stop on the mall. The majority of parking for the site is located underground below the mixed-use buildings along the mall.