My master plan includes all of the patched programs described in my concept in a way that fills in any existing gaps by promoting their usage in a way that best serves the community. Redesigning green spaces throughout the site to be best utilized aesthetically and for community needs is a major focus of my master plan to promote as much activity on site as possible. Along the lost stream drainage way many rain gardens and other blue/ green infrastructure can be found to reinvigorate that corridor as a place that welcomes people in entering and exiting the site. The different housing development areas were chosen so best fit the existing character while promoting their activation and connection to already established neighborhoods within the site. Overall mending the entire Hill District together by focusing on the built and natural environments led to the final sustainable designed master plan.

The section elevations taken of my master plan were selected to show the variety of development interventions that occurred throughout the design process. Section A-A’ depicts the varied building types that occur throughout the central hub of the community that contains residential, mixed use, and commercial buildings. The implementation of infill and retrofitted in the area occurred to reinvigorate cultural landmarks in a way that encourages community development. Section B-B’ depicts the way a urgently run down area within the Cliff Side Infill Housing Development could be designed to support a variety of residential housing opportunities for Right of Return residents along with new members of the Hill District community. Encouraging a verity of buildings usages to the Hill District will promote a mixed community pattern like the one of the past will be present throughout the social fabric of the newly Patched Hill District Project.

The Lower Hill Masterplan was designed with the intention to create connections that highlight existing positive views on the site to the surrounding context. Careful consideration to design details were made to reinforce the Patch Project theme such as repetitive squared patterns on materials we well as with building design. Matching the surrounding context helped guide where major entryways are located to best serve the public and private members of the newly developed Lower Hill District.

While trying to design the Lower Hill I made an effort to understand the surrounding context including the PPG arena, Freedom Corner, and the two churches right next to it to determine areas that should be connected and highlighted as entry ways. Freedom corner became a major source of inspiration for the layout of my designs its view of the Lower Hill site along with its strong cultural presence make it somewhere that should be reciprocated in tits deign. I hoped that connecting the axis of the historical site throughout my design should serve to act as a strong connector between the Hill and the newly developed Lower Hill. The use of Lego models and hang sketches enabled me to visualize these connections and relationships in a way that led my deign process and over all design of the mixed use Lower Hill Redevelopment.

Depiction of building layout and types of usage illustrates the proposed density of the site and how the buildings relate to one another

The planting palette was carefully chosen to be native to our site and promote the increase in pollinators and related wild life. The variety of colors seasonally is meant to keep the site visually interesting throughout the annual seasons and encourage people to spend maximum amount of time in the natural environment while on site. The existing and newly developed urban canopy is to be highlighted in form and function throughout the site to connect it back to the Hill District.

This portion of my Lower Hill sire design was selected as it best encompasses the many ways I tried to create a connection between my concept within every aspect of my design details. Repetitive square patterns are visible throughout this sites design reinforcing the concept of the Patch project and unifying the site with the Hill District which has many similar design aspects. The connection of the axial pathway that connected the overlook point to Freedom Corner was meant to connect the built and natural environment with one another as well as the rich historical past with the new and exciting future of the Hill District. The streetscape and open spaces were carefully designed to best cater o the needs of the community and promote safe and well connected visually interesting pathways and views. Creating outdoor seating opportunities where ever possible was key to encourage users of the site to stay and enjoy where they are within the context of the City of Pittsburgh. The green corridor follows the main street but closes it off to auto traffic to encourage this portion of the Lower Hill being an area that values the relationship between people and place and the outdoor experience within a city.

All materials were chosen to meet requirements of the Green New Deal Super studio guidelines with native planting and re-purposed materials from demolished buildings of the Hill District to reconnect the new with the old of the Hill and Lower Hill District. Views were prioritized when considering axial pathways throughout the site and were highlighted by contrasting materials. Streetscape planting encourage drivers to slow down where pedestrian activity is very prominent while lighting along pathways within the site promote safe usage for individuals throughout the day. Connecting different zoned areas through green space and planting helps to make this portion of the Lower Hill one that mends to relationship between the built and natural environments together.

This diagram illustrates the pedestrian and bicyclist only blue\ green corridor proposed connect the people that make use of the built environment with the natural environment by enabling outdoor seating opportunities for people tp utilize as an escape from the strain of their work day. Outdoor cafes and commercials shops on the first three levels of the buildings directly connect to this streetscape and utilize it to have patrons stay and enjoy themselves outside for a while instead of just passing through and leaving once they have done what they initially planned. Creating bike only lanes is meant to encourage people of the Hill and surrounding neighborhoods that make use of the new Lower Hill to take alternative means of transportation and have the ability to feel comfortable and separated from automobile and bus traffic on the main roads. Storm water run off from buildings and the rest of the site is meant to be absorbed in the ample permeable groundcovers that make up the green way while connecting to the proposed open drainage channel.

The view from the point highlight Freedom Corner wile enabling its users to feel like they are tucked within a urban canopy that blocks unwanted sounds and views while enclosing the user within the experience of walking up and into the trees in among a dense urban setting. The axial pathway leads users into the public open space across the stretch of the entire Lower Hill Site. The overlook has a direct lone of vision to Freedom Corner while provided an enclosed context for users within the newly created urban tree canopy. Reflection pools and fountains are found within the site that work to muffle background noise as well as to promote serenity for people making use of it. This site is meant to become a new landmark that highlights the new aspects of the Lower Hill while paying a homage that connects it to the historical past of the Hill Distrust.