Sunday, May 24, 2009

The Vogue of Branding

Whether trying to create 'districts' downtown (SONO - South of Nordstroms... sigh), or superimposing character on a neighborhood, is there a current vogue for naming things? The idea of 'branding' a few blocks of downtown seems a bit much like hoping that if they name it, it will come to fruition. I think in other places, there's a bit more of an organic development for such things. They gather momentum and a name happens when it should.

Gateways seem to be happening with road projects in Anchorage. So, whether a neighborhood is ready for it or not, there's an opportunity within funding to get one. As designers, we love to design things, so I think there's a temptation to try to develop something great for the neighborhood. It's not one percent for art, it's more 'graphic design for the landscape'. It's hard to be on a project and say, "this isn't the right place for one". That's why I'm curious as to whether we can develop criteria that could be used. This could be a fruitless or unnecessary task, but an interesting one (see collaboration link on left for Gateway Criteria). I think one of the issues is a funding one... with road projects, the capital funding is there... so, the urge is to use it. There likely won't be another pot of money for it again in the future...

When does good design go beyond reinforcing what's there (aesthetic planting & streetscape design) to upping the ante and branding things (gateway)?

Then, what's the definition of gateway? I'm using it as a larger iconic feature so far, but that's only one end of the gateway spectrum... really, a gateway can take many forms. So, perhaps I should be calling these objects "gateway features"... and they are incorporated into an overall gateway.

~peter

Gateway or Subdivision Sign?

In someone's comment they referred to labeling neighborhoods. We were in Turnagain yesterday hunting garage sales, and I saw something I'd never noticed before:











I imagine this is a pretty old neighborhood sign, now somewhat replaced by the larger gateway feature to the east along Northern Lights. We have these signs around town, but I tend to associate them with developments. But, every neighborhood was at some time a development. This sign isn't large, has some obscuring planting in front of it, and over time has aged to become somewhat invisible... but it has some character to it. This type of sign seems to be appropriate to neighborhoods.

Another one I have on file is for a newer development, Goldenview. This one seems more about a certain level of sophistication, and announcement that you're entering a more expensive development. Perhaps is reassuring people that they live somewhere special and there are higher expectations for the overall look of the neighborhood? The monogram above the main sign text especially seems a bit high-fallutin'. I don't know what covenants they have in Goldenview, but I would be curious if the level of signage for a development's entry is somehow in proportion to restrictions on how you have to maintain your house and yard?











The old turnagain sign seems to say something else entirely. Does it seem a bit more earthy and about a neighborhood and helping you find someone's house? "Turn right at the Turnagain - by the sea" sign?

So... how do these neighborhood signs relate to gateways? Have we relegated them to developers? When we're doing new work in these areas, are we super-sizing them to something more regal and dramatic like a gateway feature, when perhaps they could use a sign? I think that might be another of the successes of the Rogers' Park signage, it has much in common with the wooden Turnagain Sign... but is more visible.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Mountainview






















I'm not sure if these were intended as gateways, but they serve that purpose. From what I know, they were installed to calm traffic by limiting the number of direct vehicular entrances to the neighborhood. The feeling they provide is that they were set down, but didn't have the rest of the project done that would integrate them better. Are they intended to just act as partly-functional parking areas from the Mountainview Drive side? Mildly odd sitting areas from the neighborhood side? Their design has a boldness and largeness that they force you to look at them. The housing form for them is on the right track for the neighborhood, but the final design doesn't quite seem to get where it could have gone. Maybe it's that they're missing a site specific integration into their individual locations, and not necessarily drawing successfully from the neighborhood for how they 'feel'. This might be a case where as the neighborhood continues to develop, if small pocket parks were installed, then perhaps they wouldn't feel like they were kind of plopped down. My opinion is mixed. If I saw people sitting or playing around them, then I'd feel a bit better about them. Do they get used? Isn't it also odd that it's a pedestrian gateway, but then there are sidewalks on each side? For proportion and scale and other design aspects, they work well. We probably need a good photo with leaves on to see how the trees contribute to connection... but, that's only for summer anyways.

This feature had a specific purpose, so if anyone knows how well it achieved its goals for the neighborhood, please leave a comment. Sometimes it's about more than just design... but, since this one is obviously designed with thought... it's also open for comment.

Location: Along Mountainview Drive
Designer: Does anyone know?

~Peter

Friday, May 22, 2009

Turnagain Gateway












This was one of Laura's projects when she worked at LDN (Monique and I provided moral/design support and detailing help). Before it was constructed, we thought it would be big... but after being built, it feels a bit small for the space. The right-of-way is really wide here, so it really does relate more to the vehicular realm than the pedestrian. It feels good standing next to it, but seems small when driving. The proportion and balance are comfortable, and the design is abstracted well enough that it doesn't hit you over the head with a literal nautical theme. The sign's writing is maybe too small, or at least not visible enough (not enough contrast?). The translucent panels change a bit with different light, and add a bit of changing interest through that. I also like how the motif from the old Northern Lights landscape walls was reused in the circular base. What do you think?
~Peter


























Location: West Northern Lights
Designer: Land Design North

This gateway also showed one of the dangers of being in a right-of-way... having trucks spin out of control and wreak havoc. The protecting wall doesn't work if a vehicle gets air and lands on top of it. It has since been repaired... twice I think.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Gateway Criteria - Help Us

We will be adding more photos and discussion of Anchorage gateway elements. Help us develop criteria that could be used to guide gateway development in Anchorage. We're using Wikispaces to collaboratively work on documents, so if you click on this link - Anchorage Gateways Wiki - you can help us develop something. Even if nothing more than a conversation, such guidelines and thinking behind them will be good for us designers.

Rogers Park Gateway

























Anchorage has gateway fever. Only a few years ago, gateways defined larger neighborhoods and provided something special and unique to the city. It seems more and more projects want to add gateway elements. I think the city needs to have some criteria for location and design, to ensure that the idea of a gateway isn't watered down.

With that said, when the Rogers Park gateway elements went in, we were quite happy to see another good feature for the city. The success of these lies in the fact that there was enough road right-of-way to provide the space and focus that a gateway needs. The other element is that they are a very sensitive design that matches extremely well with the neighborhood. Their scale, materials and accompanying planting and roadway design all work together to create something that just plain feels right. Design is sometimes about gut feeling, and these feel good.

Location: Rogers Park Neighborhood
Designer: DOWL/HKM

~ Peter

A Wintery First Post

Peter's house in winter. An important thing we hope to talk about in this blog is how we design for all four seasons in the North. In this shot you see the aesthetic potential of how snow works in the landscape, but you also see the functional issues of snow. If asked, Peter will tell you in detail how it starts to get difficult shoveling snow onto a pile that's already five feet tall.

Sidewalk Chalk Talk

We take lots of photos. We live in a pretty cool place. Our office sees an opportunity to look at the northern landscapes around us and try to document things. We do this for ourselves and learning, but to also try to engage others in a conversation. What has worked up here? What hasn't? How do we make our communities in Alaska great places to live?

Fan Box

Corvus Design on Facebook