Martin Klaeschen & Carl Ray Miller shared with us their first place winning proposal for the Noble Square Park in the Eckhart Park Design Competition. Their design focused on a donor recognition wall with an earthen mound that would act as both stage and seating for park activities. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The position of the public display is positioned facing Noble Street facing west which is the most public access point to the park. The spatial configuration of the design creates a clear transition between the sidewalk and the park plane. The design strategy is articulated by two distinct elements. A Corten steel band that functions as the display surface and as a retaining wall for an earth made mound. This mound has several slopes on all sides that provide opportunities of interaction with the park and street.
The steepest sloping side shows toward Noble Street and functions as the donors display wall. All other slopes are facing toward the park and provide sites for various activities to occur upon it. The mound’s performance to the park is not only thought of as a viewing platform that captures vistas of the playing fields and activities of its users but also as an initiator for a multitude of potential activities throughout the year such as a sledding slope, stage, seating for spectators, etc.
We propose a clear hierarchy organizing the individual levels of contributors. The Corten steel display is thought of as a canvas that will be able to accommodate an increasing number of names etched into its surface as individual donorship increases.
