Landscape Architecture – Â鶹ĘÓƵ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:37:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /wp-content/uploads/2019/04/cropped-favicon_logo-32x32.jpg Landscape Architecture – Â鶹ĘÓƵ 32 32 Greening Chatuchak: From Market Waste to Green Spaces with Kasetsart University /stories/greening-chatuchak/ Sat, 10 May 2025 15:50:39 +0000 /?post_type=case_stories&p=19216 Read More... from Greening Chatuchak: From Market Waste to Green Spaces with Kasetsart University

]]> The Problem

Chatuchak District in Bangkok, Thailand, home to Kasetsart University (KU), faces serious environmental challenges. Every day, the district processes over hundreds of tons of waste, nearly 18 percent of which is food waste. A significant portion of this organic waste is generated by the weekly Wednesday and Friday markets, each producing over 200 kilograms of waste per day. However, most vendors are unaware of or do not use proper waste management practices. As a result, much of this waste ends up in landfills, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and inefficient use of organic resources.

Meanwhile, the green spaces that once helped mitigate Bangkok’s heat and pollution are steadily declining. Kasetsart University, once known for its lush campus, has seen green coverage drop from 45 percent to 35 percent due to urban development. This reduction in greenery not only affects campus aesthetics but also contributes to biodiversity loss and intensifies the urban heat island effect. For residents, students, and visitors, this means hotter temperatures, poorer air quality, and fewer shaded areas for relief.

The Opportunity

Rather than treating waste and urbanization as unsolvable problems, Kasetsart University and the Chatuchak District Office chose to see them as opportunities for meaningful environmental action. Their shared vision: turn organic waste into compost and use it to restore green spaces.

The plan was straightforward but powerful. Organic waste from local markets would be collected, converted into compost, and used as fertilizer for planting trees on campus and in surrounding areas. This approach addressed two challenges, namely waste management and urban greening, at the same time. If successful, the project could reduce landfill waste, enhance public green space, and inspire other districts to follow suit.

The Partnership

This initiative was made possible through the collaboration of key local institutions: Kasetsart University, the Chatuchak District Office, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Each partner brought unique knowledge and resources to the table.

Kasetsart University provided academic expertise and applied the Â鶹ĘÓƵ Model. As a member of Â鶹ĘÓƵ Asia, a regional network of Â鶹ĘÓƵ, KU enabled students to engage in experiential learning through real community problems. Second-year architecture students teamed up with environmental engineering students and volunteers to co-create practical solutions for the district’s waste issues.

The Chatuchak District Office and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration contributed their knowledge of waste systems, helped identify target locations for intervention, and supported implementation. Market vendors were also essential collaborators. By participating in a waste-sorting pilot program, they provided valuable feedback that shaped the project’s design.

A key innovation of the project was its human-centered design approach. Students worked directly with market vendors to co-develop waste-sorting tools that were simple, cost-effective, and easily integrated into daily routines. These included lightweight compost bins and clip-on collection bags that could be attached to vendor stalls and tents.

The Result

The project has already produced promising outcomes. Waste separation practices at the weekly markets have significantly improved. Instead of ending up in landfills, organic waste is now composted and used to fertilize trees. Compost produced from the markets is enough to support up to 100 trees on campus, helping restore lost greenery.

The benefits extend beyond the university. With better waste handling and more trees, the community stands to gain from lower greenhouse gas emissions, improved air quality, and cooler microclimates. Market vendors report that the sorting tools are user-friendly and easy to incorporate into their routines. Students, in turn, have gained valuable hands-on experience in environmental design, systems thinking, and civic engagement.

Looking Ahead

Sustaining and scaling this initiative is the next step. Kasetsart University and the Chatuchak District Office are committed to deepening their partnership by offering ongoing training sessions, organizing public workshops, and engaging broader community groups. Regular project evaluations will help refine activities and identify new opportunities—such as expanding composting programs and planting more trees throughout the district.

This continued collaboration will strengthen Kasetsart University’s role as a hub for innovation in urban sustainability and support Chatuchak District’s broader vision for climate resilience and livable cities. Most importantly, it demonstrates how local governments and academic institutions, through frameworks like Â鶹ĘÓƵ, can create real and lasting change by working together.

Partnership Contact Information

Department of Building Innovation
Faculty of Architecture, Kasetsart University
Associate Professor Dr. Pattaranan Takkanon

pattaranan.t@ku.th

Written by: Kay Phanthuwongpakdee, Jonathan Kroeze and Jenn Sauer

]]> Tyler County Strategic Plan Thoroughfare Plan Report + Poster /projects/tyler-county-strategic-plan-thoroughfare-plan-report-poster-3/ Wed, 01 Nov 2023 21:11:00 +0000 /?post_type=projects&p=20801 Read More... from Tyler County Strategic Plan Thoroughfare Plan Report + Poster

]]> In summer of 2016, the Tyler County and the City of Ivanhoe started collaboration with Texas Target Communities to assess current community conditions and explore future development strategies. The project aimed to enhance community-wide discussion through a public participatory process, resulting in the development of a strategic and comprehensive plan to help guide the future growth of the County and City.

Texas Target Communities Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
Bill Eisele
Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning

Local Government / Community Contact
Jacques Blanchette

]]> City of Buffalo Comprehensive Plan Implementation Table /projects/city-of-buffalo-comprehensive-plan-implementation-table-2/ /projects/city-of-buffalo-comprehensive-plan-implementation-table-2/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:38:34 +0000 https://portal.epicn.org/case-stories/city-of-buffalo-comprehensive-plan-implementation-table/ Read More... from City of Buffalo Comprehensive Plan Implementation Table

]]> TTC is working with the City of Buffalo to provide feedback and guidance on the city’s comprehensive plan, which will direct the growth and development of the city for the next two decades. The main purpose of this collaboration is to create a community-wide vision for the future of the city by determining goals and priorities.

]]> This studio project was organized around the plans for a new TriMet light rail line to Tigard, Tualatin, and Washington County. Though this Southwest Corridor project is still in the early phases of planning and design, the studio collaborated with TriMet planners and the City of Tigard to visualize the future of a site that is likely to become a major station area. In addition, the site is seen as a critical location for a Park and Ride structure as this point marks where traffic into Portland drastically increases. The merge from Pacific Highway (99W) onto Interstate 5 (I-5) lies one-half mile east of the site, and the intersection of the two sees daily congestion and long waiting traffic.
This site provides opportunities beyond transit. Older development near the site has potential to be acquired by the project for use as Park & Ride, LRT station, and for potential development of parking and transportation-related uses. Other adjacent sites can be critical
purchases for developers given the benefits of the transit station. The City of Tigard supports plans for these future developments that include sustainable transit-oriented design, and restoration of environmental assets, such as Red Rock Creek, as opposed to box commercial development that maintains an auto-oriented focus. Students were tasked with considering the area surrounding the future station site as well as places that may be developed in later phases.
The class divided into groups of various sizes, each focusing on a different approach to the transit-oriented development (TOD) proposed around the new TriMet station. Most teams developed 80- and 40-scale designs to create a cohesive master plan across the site before taking a more individual approach on an area with a smaller extent and more detail. Groups included:
• “Stormwater Impacts”, Chrissy Stillman
This design focuses on Red Rock Creek as its own entity. Chrissy calculated on and off-site storm water entering the creek, its ephemeral flooding zones, and the impacts of more hardscape in the area. Much of her design strategies for reducing the
“flashiness” of the creek occurred east of the study area toward I-5.
• “68th and Rock Creek Parking Structure”, Kailee Bell
This design focuses on the opportunity of an off-site parking structure west of SW 68th Parkway that could provide rooftop amenities and access to a multimodal path along the bridged rail line leading into the station. This alternative solution frees up space
for transit-oriented development in the site south of the station by providing at least half the required parking within a reasonable off-site distance.
• “Place over Parking”, Thomas Copper and Nick Sund
This design focuses on the maximum integration of parking in a high-density transit-oriented development site adjacent to the light rail station. This team focused on TOD1, the second thing likely to be built by developers after the station.
• “Positively Tigard” Adam DeHeer and Yumna Imtiaz
This team focused on a design of the station and the transit-oriented development with an approach of impact mitigation and sustainability. This group focused on the station plaza and TOD1 and worked closely with Chrissy Stillman for assessing storm
water impact of their design proposal.
• “Tigard Terraces”, Brianna Heese, Emma Stone, Bocong Li, and Tori Murphy
This team focused on the topography of the site to integrate a medium density transit-oriented development. The team proposed designs for the station plaza, TOD1, Red Rock Creek, and TOD2 to meet the long-term phasing goals of TriMet and Tigard.
Students generally found the site challenging in terms of balancing programmatic requirements with creating livable and enjoyable spaces. The student designs offer the best attempts to combine the two goals and do so in many ways. The required amount of parking was a challenge, and most students found that the best way to create a functioning transit-oriented development was either to invest in a parking structure below development or to site the parking across SW 68th Parkway. Additionally, if Tigard and TriMet desire sustainable and ecological designs, many teams suggest partnering with developers now and planning for elements to be incorporated. Finally, Red Rock Creek presents a potential flood problem for nearby development. Teams recommend multiple ways to reduce the flashiness of the creek, such as capturing stormwater on site for any new development.

]]> The transit infrastructure along Barbur Boulevard in southwest Portland creates significant
safety hazards due to intermittent bicycle lanes and sidewalks. The need for improved
pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist safety, as well as increased housing and public
transportation options in the Southwest Corridor (SWC) of Portland have spurred an
assement of the potential for transit-oriented development along Barbur Boulevard. TriMet
has asked students in the Landscape Architecture 4/594 Fall Planning Studio to analyze
and experimentally design a 2.5-mile segment of Barbur Boulevard to accommodate a
center-running light rail line.
This project aims to reduce automobile congestion; improve safety for all modes of
transportation; increase connectivity between neighborhoods adjacent to Barbur Boulevard and
downtown Portland; promote a diversity of employment opportunities, mixed income housing,
and urban amenities; and integrate stormwater facilities, trees, and public green spaces into
the streetscape.
The 2.5-mile segment of Barbur Boulevard was divided into seven distinct study areas. Threeperson
design teams were responsible for conducting in-depth analyses of their study area and
producing plans for three standard right-of-way cross sections identified by TriMet with potential
for the final street design.
Each team was responsible for analyzing current conditions within their site across six broad
categories: property viability and future development; urban spatial patterns and boundaries;
natural capital and systems; land use; off-arterial vehicular circulation; and pedestrian and
bicycle safety and circulation. Each of these six categories required multiple analyses and
methodological approaches. Analysis maps were used extensively to inform street design
and planning decisions throughout the studio. In addition, each team created projections
for building footprints and massing, land use classifications, and potential timeframe for
redevelopment to accompany their finalized street design plans.

]]> The focus of the assessment is affordable housing within the County, as well as tools to encourage more affordable housing options. Similar comprehensive housing studies have been conducted in the County, but were limited to the City of Bastrop and focused on the housing market as a whole. The two studies completed were a comprehensive housing study, conducted by Bastrop Economic Development Corporation, and a multi-family feasibility report, prepared by Capitol Market Research.
The objective for the housing assessment is to conduct an affordable housing supply and demand analysis based on expected population trends. This assessment recommends areas for where affordable housing should be encouraged based on a Geographic Information System (GIS) suitability analysis. Parcel-level data was used to highlight potential sites for affordable housing in the three major cities of the County: City of Bastrop, City of Smithville, and the City of Elgin. In addition, this assessment describes housing programs well suited for the area that focuses on non-governmental programs, which provides funds for nonprofit organizations.
The primary data and information source that we used to conduct this study include the following:
1) Population trends and demographic characteristics from the U.S. Bureau of the Census 2010 decennial survey, 2014 American Community Survey (ACS), Esri’s Business Analyst Online, Bastrop Economic Development Corporation, Texas Water Development Board, and Texas State Data Center
2) Social and economic characteristics from 2014 American Community Survey (ACS), and Esri’s Business Analyst Online
3) Housing market characteristics, including rental and ownership data, from U.S. Bureau of the Census 2010 decennial survey and 2014 American Community Survey (ACS)
4) Geographic Information System data from the U.S Census Bureau, Texas Natural Resource Information System, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

]]> The following report documents design concepts that address stormwater management for the TriMet Southwest Corridor (SWC) light rail project. Students in the University of Oregon’s Landscape Architecture course on stormwater management worked with TriMet and its Southwest Corridor partners as part of the Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP). Students were divided into teams and tasked with proposing concepts for stormwater infrastructure at certain stations of the future SWC line.
The stations addressed were as follows, from north to south:
• The Woods Corridor, Team 1
• 13th Avenue Station, Team 2
• 50th Avenue Station, Team 3
• Tigard Triangle Station, Team 4
• OPS Facility Station, Team 5
This report outlines and identifies key concepts produced by each team for each of the above stations. Although the overall purpose of the project was to design at each station, the class was also asked to approach their projects with the “triple bottom line” in mind. Therefore, each team approached their stormwater design concepts with social, economic, and environmental considerations. The report is divided into sections based on the assigned SWC stations. Each section’s design concept includes technical details of stormwater infrastructure and illustrative examples to reinforce their ideas

]]> The Class of ’69 worked with one landscape architecture course to develop a redesign of a plaza on campus to focus attention to the Aggie traditions of muster and silver taps.

Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.

Texas Target Communities Contact Info

University Faculty Contact
Russell Reid
Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning

Local Government / Community Contact

]]> /projects/traditions-plaza-redesign-2/feed/ 0 Minto-Brown Island Park Studio /projects/minto-brown-island-park-studio-2/ /projects/minto-brown-island-park-studio-2/#respond Wed, 01 Nov 2023 03:37:25 +0000 https://portal.epicn.org/case-stories/minto-brown-island-park-studio/ Read More... from Minto-Brown Island Park Studio

]]> The City of Salem asked the Minto-Brown Island Park research and design
studio, led by University of Oregon Landscape Architecture Professor Deni
Ruggeri, to provide a new interpretive trail plan for Minto-Brown Island Park
located in Salem, Oregon. The primary considerations, as given by the City of
Salem, for the development of this interpretive trail plan were to investigate new
trails and connections that would facilitate improved way-finding within the park,
provide interpretive opportunities and increased access to the Natural Resource
and Conservation Service (NRCS) restoration areas and the Willamette River,
and increase pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to downtown Salem via a
future bridge and easement linking the northern perimeter of Minto-Brown Island
Park to Riverfront Park.
In order to develop a proposal for a new interpretive trail plan, this studio
launched an intensive investigation to understand the natural and cultural fabric
that defines Minto-Brown Island Park at present, and the potential to enhance
the value of the park for Salem’s present and future residents. This investigation
revealed a multitude of opportunities to engage the community of Salem in a
variety of park experiences, both new and traditional, that would help generate
support for, and increase awareness of, the value of this park to the city. These
exciting investigations led to the decision to develop and propose a new master
plan for Minto-Brown Island Park in conjunction with the development of the
interpretive trail plan.

]]> The City of Gresham, Metro, Multnomah County and the City of Troutdale
collaborated with the U.O. Sustainable Cities Initiative in executing a trail
planning and feasibility study reported here. Students of landscape architecture
conducted the study. It investigated the problem of “closing Portland’s 40-
mile Loop” in its biggest gap along its eastern edge through Gresham and
Troutdale. The “40-mile loop” was originally proposed by John Charles Olmstead
in 1903. It intended to link Portland’s open spaces and greenways to create a
public accessible trail system. That loop has grown to a much more extensive
contemporary trail system and the eastern gap is arguably the most challenging
part of today’s 40-mile Loop system to complete. Unlike most of the rest of the
system, there is no existing right-of-way or river or other landscape corridor to
follow. A new trail here must traverse the suburban landscape though parks,
along roads, along unused rights-of-way, near creeks, or along the edge of
private properties. This report summarizes the planning and urban design
processes the students undertook, and the proposed solutions for creating a
path from the Sandy River waterfront in Troutdale to the Springwater Trail though
southeast Gresham.The class first did regional studies of many potential trail links and their good
and bad impacts as candidates to assemble into alternative trail alignments.
Proposed better alternative trail alignments were then mapped. The class then
developed more detailed designs for segments of alignments selected by city
and Metro planners.
7
The project began with field studies of many existing trails in the Portland region
and a combination of field and GIS analysis of the study areas. During the field
trips that visited trails, students recorded trails’ layout and construction, site
furnishings, trail experience, access, and context.

Sustainable City Year Program Contact Info
Megan Banks
Sustainable City Year Program Manager
mbanks@uoregon.edu
(541) 346-6395

University Faculty Contact
Mark Eischeid
Landscape Architecture

marke@uoregon.edu

Local Government / Community Contact

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