Bigger Vision

Addressing the needs of the homeless community in Athens, Georgia has been a major concern for the Athens-Clark County community. One organization helping fight this concern is Bigger Vision, a local homeless shelter in northern Athens. Its mission is to “provide help to those in the Athens, GA area who are experiencing homelessness, to keep them safe and comfortable, to help them achieve self-sufficiency, to assist them in achieving their goals, and to advocate for their best interests on an individual and collective basis” (Bigger Vision).

Bigger Vision was founded in 1998 when a woman named Ann Clark “noticed the Salvation Army’s homeless shelter had an overflow of men standing outside each night. In response to this community need, she partnered with St. James United Methodist Church to host an overnight emergency overflow shelter during the cold season.” After moving around to a few different locations, Bigger Vision was given a generous donation in the form of a forgiven mortgage for their permanent building location at 95 North Avenue in downtown Athens. Bigger Vision has been operating out of this location for over 10 years now and has “become a year-round shelter for up to 35 guests each night.” On average, over 10,000 meals and over 7,500 volunteer hours are donated annually. Bigger Vision hopes that this impact has a positive effect on its guests' life so that one day they may be able to have the opportunity to return to being self-sufficient citizens.

Bigger Vision is steadily growing and seeking assistance wherever the opportunity arises. With a desire to beautify their property, our team of landscape architecture students will assist in the remodeling of their outdoor space. Part of the mission of Bigger Vision is to ensure that guests feel comfortable and safe while present at the facility. Through improvements to the landscape, they desire to help guests feel more comfortable and at ease during an extremely stressful time in their life.

Team Members: Eleanor (Ellie) Hair, Morgane Coleman, & Kristin (KP) Partlow

source: https://biggervisionofathens.org/

[Written by Kristin (KP) Partlow]

Existing image of Bigger Vision, located in downtown Athens.

Source: https://www.shelterlistings.org/details/39471

Current front entry landscaping at Bigger Vision. This area is of high priority for resdesign.

Source: Kristin (KP) Partlow

Current landscaping off of Willow Street. Landscaping that can be seen off of Willow Street and North Avenue are of high priority.

Source: Kristin (KP) Partlow

Phase 1: First Community Outreach

Staff member selecting which outdoor program items she wishes to see in Bigger Vision's landscape.
Source: Kristin (KP) Partlow

Prior to diving into the design process, our team wanted to ensure that we had an adequate context of the site as well as an understanding of the needs of the people we were serving. In order to understand the site context, our team took a tour with staff members at Bigger Vision. During this time we got to sit down and discuss the project goals and expectations as well as walk around the lot and get lots of images (see bottom left image).

In order to understand the needs of the people we are serving, our team came up with multiple outreach activities. Our biggest priority in conducting these activities was to understand the flow of daily tasks at the shelter, get to know the desires of guests that regularly stay here, and dig deeper into the wants and needs that staff members have for the outdoor spaces.

Our team visited Bigger Visions as volunteers on two separate occasions. On our first night, we served dinner and assisted in the nightly routines of regular volunteers. We were able to get a better grasp of what Bigger Vision stands for and how they operate. On our second night, we conducted two separate surveys to get the opinions of guests and staff. Our first survey consisted of participants placing 3 stickers under the items which they thought would best serve the landscape of Bigger Visions (see image to the left). Our second survey was a written questionnaire that asked about preferred feelings, style, color, and items they would like to have on the site (see bottom right images).

Our team found this outreach step very beneficial. These various site walks, conversations, and surveys will help guide us in our next steps of design. Due to different constraints such as flood plane zoning, funding, and past damage to the property, we are sure to have our hands full.

[Written by Kristin (KP) Partlow]

Team members taking a tour of the site with staff member Sam Motley.
Source: Kristin (KP) Partlow

Team member Eleanor (Ellie) Hair passing out the questionnaire to guests and staff members.
Source: Kristin (KP) Partlow

Guest filling out landscape ideas for Bigger Vision's outdoor space.
Source: Kristin (KP) Partlow

Phase 2: Design Options Review

(Top) Morgane Coleman's Landscape Design Plan.

(Middle) Ellie Hair's Landscape Design Plan.

(Bottom Left) KP Parlow's Landscape Design Plan.

(Bottom Right) Our group meeting at Bigger Vision to discuss the three design plan options.

Once we had the information gathered and analyzed from phase 1, our team of three individually produced three separate design plans. We ensured that these plans were different from each other in layout, plant palates, and theme.

We returned to Bigger Vision to meet with the main clients and stakeholders. As a group, we sat down and walked through each design, and the differences between them. The clients were thrilled with what we had come up with and expressed how they had never had a student group be so involved in a Bigger Vision project before.

After a week's time the clients sent back a survey we had provided them, describing what they liked and disliked about each design. Our group analyzed the information, asked some clarifying questions with the clients, and finalized their wants. From this phase, we learned that the clients liked adding benches down the sidewalk, having a "positive message board" out front, colorful and floral plants, opening up the front yard to increase views through the site, two murals placed along the building (one out front and one along the side), having small plant fencing to keep people off plants, and having shade structure over the benches along the sidewalk.

This client input gave us the clarity and direction that we needed to move forward with one cohesive design plan.

[Written by Ellie Hair]

Phase 3: Final Design Plan

After listening to the client’s input, we generated one cohesive design plan that included all of the aspects they liked from the 3 individual plans with a few additional features. Our plan includes natural bed lines with low maintenance plants that will provide beautiful color year round. Added murals, a message board, plant fencing, benches and shade structures were added per request from the community and stakeholders.

We returned to Bigger Vision to show them posters that included our design plan, 3D model perspectives, a plant palette, and a seasonal chart showing how the landscape will look throughout the year. We got a lot of positive feedback from the community, and they were happy that we included many of their ideas into the plan. Overall, the community was very impressed with the amount of thought and effort that was put into generating the final design plan.

[Written by Morgane Coleman]

(Top) The team at Bigger Vision presenting the posters

(Top) Poster of 3D model perspectives

(Top) Poster of plant palette and seasonality chart

(Top) Poster of master plan

The detailed plans included specifying materials, generating a planting plan, and drawing construction details for specific elements within that area. While this phase of the project was mostly done individually, there was collaboration on the chosen materials that would be used throughout the park. A general template was also created for each team member to place their final materials into in order to keep a cohesive look similar to the other deliverables produced throughout the semester.

The goal of these details is to supply the community with an in-depth look into how each area of the park could be constructed and planted.

Final Reflections

Meaningful Impact

For me, this was one of the first projects in which I felt as though I was truly making an impact on the people I was serving. When first presented with options for what studio project to choose from at the beginning of the semester, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be a part of the Bigger Vision team. Being able to work with and assist the staff and guests of Bigger Vision have been such a joy.

Every engagement activity and meeting brought its own set of lessons and challenges.

This project challenged me to go beyond the typical design process that I had ever encountered. With so many various opinions and restrictions, it oftentimes was difficult to see if there was any light at the end of the tunnel. Oftentimes during engagement activities, guests did not show any interest in the activities that we were conducting. However, it was the two or three guests that were always interested and encouraging that kept our spirits high. I believe that even amidst these struggles, my team and I created a beautiful plan that will serve the organization well.

I will always remember one of the staff members telling us that we were "the best group of students that Bigger Vision had ever worked with." Our work meant more to them than just plants drawn on paper. It meant new growth, new beginnings, and hopefully, a new chapter for Bigger Vision. I am very thankful to have been a part of helping out a local non-profit that provides so much for this city! I am excited to see the outcome and lasting impact that this project will have in the years to come!

[written by Kristin Partlow]

(above) Some encouraging feed back that we received from a guest!

Impactful Connections

We worked with the staff at Bigger Vision as well as guests to create a landscape design for Bigger Vision Shelter. Our team of three became familiar with the community of unhoused individuals of northeast Athens and their allies. Multiple outreach experiences led to a final planting plan, layout plan, and project implementation how-to sheets. Our design embraced the ideals and creative spirit of the guests which it will serve.

This was an amazing experience for many reasons. To work so closely with a client on a project is rare in the studio class setting. To see so much of the design process as we did - start to near finish - is also rare for students. The most significant impact that the Bigger Vision design project had on me, however, was the understanding of the importance of inclusion of marginalized communities in place design.

People who are experiencing homelessness are often users of public spaces, in some cases, the main user group. The ethical importance of including those who are experiencing homelessness in landscape design and land planning processes is something which I have studied extensively outside of this project and this class. To see the process in action, and to see the effects that it had on the community, was such a privilege because it instilled in me the impact that participatory design has on a community. Guests of Bigger Vision lit up when they got the chance to talk with us about their ideas, and in that first night of outreach, many guests expressed to us their excitement for the project and to see the final product. In the last night of outreach when we presented the designs to the guests, those who were there that first night were joyful to see the project come to fruition and everyone expressed to us how excited they were for the project to be implemented. As important as it is to include marginalized communities in the design process, its nice to see the emotional uplifting that comes from design engagement and to know that our outreach not only benefited Bigger Vision Shelter, but brought some joy to it's guests.

[Written by Ellie Hair]

We Are One

With the semester wrapping up, it is a bittersweet feeling. As a student, this was my first “real world” project, and now I know I can say with 100% certainty, that landscape architecture is the right profession for me. This experience grew my passion for serving a community and enhancing peoples connection to the world around them. I have gained a deeper understanding of my duties and responsibilities as a future landscape architect.

As a community, we are one. When people from different areas of the community work together, they often discover that they have a lot in common. When groups that often feel ignored now feel that their opinion matters, they can gain a greater sense of control over their lives and their community. Because the staff and guests at Bigger Vision were so involved in the design process, it is likely they will show a greater commitment to help make this project happen. The more people that are involved in the process and are willing to work toward the goal, the greater the chance it has at being successful. Collaboration is key to achieving positive change within a community.

I still remember stepping onto the site for the first time, and how my mind was racing with ideas about my new vision for the space. This project taught me to pause, and let the community speak first before I decide what I think would be best. I learned how to effectively listen and learn from the community. Looking at our final design, it is rewarding knowing that we created something that fits the wants and needs of the community. Thank you to all the members at Bigger Vision and my team for an amazing adventure!

[Written by Morgane Coleman]

Image source: https://www.ellevatenetwork.com/articles/8538-quotes-about-the-power-of-community

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