2009 VA ASLA Awards

Communications Student - Charlottesville Downtown Mall

Honor Award 

Project: Landscape Additions: Charlottesville Downtown Mall
Student Landscape architects: Emily Anderson, Joshua Blankette, Catherine Brown, Elizabeth Broyles, Zoe Edgecomb, Wan-Jou Lin, Karl Krause, Lucy Kenyon, Evans Martin, Elise Mazareas, Ryan McEnroe, Meghan Mullaney, Serena Nelson, Lauren Noe, Emily Rogers, Chiro Shinohara; University of Virginia

Instructor: Elizabeth K. Meyer

The project was undertaken as part of an 800 level landscape architectural design studio at the university of virginia in the fall of 2008.  students were asked to assemble a set of drawings documenting the existing conditions of the charlottesville downtown mall along with research relevent to the city's impending changes to this historic work of modern landscape architecture by lawrence halprin and associates. The resulting book is to be given to the city of charlottesville and the university of virginia as well as being presented at public meetings and exhibitions.

Students were required to research and present one of five topics; the history of the downtown mall and charlottesville, the work of lawrence halprin, pedestrian malls, case studies in landscape additions, and the theory of landscape preservation.

The documentation of existing conditions includes a plan of the mall cut at 3' above grade, context plans interpreting the mall's relationship to the city; a longitudinal section, cross sections of side streets, construction details, photographs, and other products intended to communicate the existing character of the mall.

The intent of this project was to reveal the history of the place and design, but also to enlighten the public about the complexity of the issues involved in landscape architectural additions and alterations.

It is significant to the profession in framing the modern designed landscape as worthy of preservation; in claiming landscape additions as a design act, not simply a "preservation treatment"; and in highlighting the role of landscape architecture in civic discourse and city building.

Some of the jury's comments were:
- This is equal to if not better than most professional documents
- Most jurors wanted a copy or requested that "we forget to send it back"!
- Thorough history and analysis, excellent graphics and format
- It should be published for sale.