The Gulf Coast Rose Fellows recently gave a presentation that explored best practices for disaster response. Their report was derived from lessons learned from the ground in the months and years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; on pieces of the recovery and rebuilding that were successful, and pieces that were lacking or nonexistent. The report expanded on the role of the existing community and advocated for disaster responses to tap into local formal and informal infrastructures. The fellows challenged the role of designers in the response effort and identified areas where they could play a greater role, but also acknowledged that there are times when architects and designers aren’t the most appropriate resource to have on hand.
The presentation was broken down into three chronological phases that follow a disaster and talked about best practices for each phase, as well as appropriate anticipatory measures to mitigate losses in future catastrophic events. Common elements persisted throughout the three phases, often morphing slightly to meet the changing needs of the population in the years after the storm.
The fellows are currently working on drafting the presentation into a format for wider distribution.
NYC-based Rose Fellow, Esther Yang working at Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation will be partnering with DesigNYC and Enterprise Community Partners as she executes extensive ground-level and roof top greenspace initiatives for Serviam Gardens, a senior housing development in the Bronx, NY. Serviam Gardens (designed by OCV Architects) is a two-phase, 243-unit, $65 million dollar rental housing development for low- and moderate-income seniors ages 62 and above. The project is comprised of four interconnected buildings, one of which is a renovation of a 3-story existing structure, and resides on the campus of Mt. Saint Ursula’s girl’s high school.
The partnership with DesigNYC and Enterprise will provide Fordham Bedford with pro-bono landscape design services from Robin Key Landscape Architects and a host of in-kind resources for the greenspace initiatives. The green space initiatives include an 8000 square foot rooftop garden terrace and 53,000 square feet of ground-level landscaping.
You can hear more about the DesigNYC partnership on the Brian Lehrer Show, aired February 24, 2010 in New York City.
The ground-level landscaping and roof terrace will serve to promote daily exercise, encourage social activity, provide shaded areas of rest and repose, and facilitate inter-generational connections. The roof-top garden terrace will include multiple planted regions that foster small walking circuits, intimate and large-scaled gathering spaces, shaded alcoves, and an urban farm furnished with handicap accessible raised planter beds.
Robin Key Landscape Architects, Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation, and OCV Architects kicked off the projects by acquiring feedback from current Serviam residents. The session was informative and very positive. The design teams were thrilled that some residents volunteered their own hand-drawn sketches and drawings of their landscape visions!
Both projects are expected to begin construction Spring 2010. If you are interested in helping with these initiatives, please contact Rose Fellow Esther Yang at Fordham Bedford Housing Corporation.
