Presidio Fort Scott Creek + Historic Garden_edaw_felson

Presidio Fort Scott Creek + Historic Garden

Design + Ecology In Practice ©2008

Presidio Fort Scott Creek + Historic Garden

©2008

Design + Ecology In Practice

Presidio Fort Scott Creek + Historic Garden

Produced by EDAW New York Office

Foreword On behalf of the Presidio Trust, I would like to express our gratitude for EDAW's excellent work on the Fort Scott Creek & Historic Gardens project. We were thrilled to have the Presidio selected as the focus of EDAW's "fusion" initiative for this year, and our expectations for both the design process and end product were more than exceeded. As managers of an incredibly complex landscape, we are continually challenged to strike a balance between competing demands -- from ensuring that the park's environmental and historic treasures endure to providing memorable opportunities for the public experience [of] the Presidio. It was refreshing to have such a talented and dedicated team come to the park and help us creatively explore new opportunities to balance and achieve these various mandates. It was a rigorous week, and we were all very impressed by the process and the outcome. In particular, I want to acknowledge the exceptional team that EDAW sent to the Presidio including Alma Du Solier, Alex Felson, Leo Edson, Debra Bishop, and Dawn Cunningham. They were an extremely dedicated and talented group of professionals. We very much enjoyed working [with] them and I continue to receive positive feedback from the many people who engaged with them over the course of the week. We deeply appreciate the contribution EDAW made in helping progress plans for the Presidio's future, and we look forward to working with your talented staff again. Sincerely, Micheal Boland Director of Planning and Park Projects Presidio Trust

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Acknowledgements Workshop -

Analysis and Book Production -

Analysis and Book Production -

The Team would like to express their

EDAW Multiple Office Participation

New York Office

Other Offices

appreciation to the Presidio Trust for the

Preparation and implementation of the

An interdisciplinary team in the EDAW

Fran Hegeler (Development Manager)

opportunity to work together to explore

workshop held at the Presidio occurred

New York office completed the post-

provided critical support and ongoing

the integration of ecology and design.

through a multi-office collaboration with

workshop analysis and book production.

funding for the production. We wish to

We are especially grateful to Michael

the Ecology and Design team including:

Alex Felson led the overall effort and

thank the C + P Initiative within EDAW

Boland (Chief of Planning and Design

Alex Felson (ecologist and landscape

content development, working alongside

for selecting our proposal and funding

at the Presidio Trust) and Allison Stone

architect, EDAW New York); Alma Du

environmental planner Brian Goldberg

this project. Other contributors to

(senior environmental planner at Presidio

Solier (landscape architect, EDAW San

with contributions from Renee Kaufman

the post-workshop analysis and book

Trust) as well as all of the workshop

Francisco); Leo Edson (wildlife biologist,

(designer). Anthony Blanco (graphic

production included Leo Edson, Alma du

participants. The time dedicated by the

EDAW Sacramento); Debra Bishop

designer), led the book layout and graphic

Solier, Debra Bishop, Curtis Alling, and

Presidio Trust staff was critical in helping

(environmental planning and restoration

design along with designers Hye Young

Liz Batchelder.

us understand the value of the existing

ecologist, EDAW Sacramento); and

Choi, Sean Cheng, Tim Terway, and Jaman

resources and the complexity of the

Dawn Cunningham (ecologist, EDAW

Pablo. Caitrin Higgins (designer) and

project site.

Sacramento). Other participants included:

Aaron Menkin (economic analyst) provided

Paul Tuttle, Aki Omi, Michelle Dubin, Curtis

additional research support.

Thanks to the Presidio Trust

Alling, David Blau, Steven Hanson, Chris Fitzer, David Lloyd, and Dixi Carillo.

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Table of Contents Introduction 1. Client + Practice Initiative: Design and Ecology p.12-p.27 Setting up the Client + Practice Initiative with the Presidio Benefits and Possible Outcomes of a Design + Ecology Practice Initiative Integrating Design and Ecology Contrasts between the Ecological Science and Design Professions Integrated Ecology and Design Approach: Opportunities for Fusion

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2.

3.

The Presidio: A Case Study in Integrating Ecology and Design

Finding a Middle Ground: Discoveries and Broader Implications from the Presidio Workshop

p.28-p.75

p.76-p.108

Presidio as a Pilot Study for Ecology and Design

Constructing a Middle Ground

Understanding the Presidio at Multiple Scales

Alternative Scenarios: Determining a Happy Medium

Interpreting the Presidio Trust Mission

Alternative Scenarios: Access: Wildlife Habitat and Public Use

Timeline Illustrating Evolving Land Use

Taking Advantage of the Multi-layered Park to Overlap Program and Activities

Existing Conditions: Community Gardens – Applying Historical Methods to Secure New Land Uses

Alternative Scenarios: Public Access

Existing Conditions: Restoration Ecology – Providing a Way to Align Stakeholders

Alternative Scenarios: Habitat Fragmentation/Wildlife Viewing

Existing Conditions: Historic Forest – an Ecological and Cultural Conundrum

Alternative Scenarios: Riparian Corridor

EDAW-Presidio Trust Interdisciplinary Collaboration

Alternative Scenarios: Ecological Restoration

Understanding the Stakeholders

Rendered Conceptual Plan

Day by Day Schedule

Rendered Conceptual Section

Day by Day Overview

Conclusion: Facilitating Collaboration between Designers and Ecologists

Lessons Learned: Site Visit Lessons Learned: Stakeholder Dialogue Lessons Learned: Design Charrette Lessons Learned: Design Process Lessons Learned: Presentation Insights into Setting Up the Workshop

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Introduction In November 2006, a week-long workshop focusing on both ecology and landscape design was conducted at the Presidio of San Francisco. The goal of the workshop was to develop conceptual design plans for the Fort Scott Creek + Historic Gardens project that would bridge the divide between ecology and design, and identify applied techniques for this approach in the future. We started with the assumption that designers and ecologists working together could produce better design solutions than those resulting from more independent work patterns. We discovered that our underlying disciplinary assumptions, the tendency to rely on what we do best, and limited opportunities for ecologists to participate in the design process, all create challenges for fusion among disciplines. At the conclusion of the workshop, the team was able to identify moments of successful integration as well as missed opportunities for collaboration and develop a diagram depicting the dynamic. This book presents findings about ways to facilitate interdisciplinary design and ecology work, describes the workshop collaboration and outcomes, and analyzes the process of designers and ecologists working together.

Key Questions What takes precedence in a historic national park: ecosystem function or historic preservation? Can public use and recreation be integrated with both habitat enhancement and controlled visitation? What is more valuable in an urban park setting: public access to water or riparian wildlife habitat preservation and enhancement? How can one ensure that opposing stakeholders reach a winning consensus rather than everyone feeling that they have given up too much?

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BRIDGING CONCEPTS

1. Client + Practice Initiative: Design + Ecology

DESIGN

ECOLOGY ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT SUSTAINABILITY

LONG TERM PLANNING

WILDLIFE CORRIDORS LAND USE

REAL ESTATE

LEGACY HISTORY NATIVE COMMUNITY NICHES EDAW’s Client + Practice Initiative on Design and Ecology focused on building a dialogue between practitioners of different disciplines within the firm. After extensive

HISTORIC FEATURE

BIODIVERSITY

GARDEN

PERCEIVED NATURE

SCENERY

ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION

discussions on how ecology and design might be integrated (Fig. 1-1), the team sought either a client or a project that provided the right blend of circumstances to apply an integrative design approach. The team found this blend with the Presidio.

PHENOLOGY/SUCCESSION

DISTURBANCE

TEMPORALITY

SEASONALITY

PUBLIC USE

RECREATION

OPERATIONS

MAINTENANCE

SUCCESSION

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES METRICS

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

AESTHETIC

FORM FOLLOWS FUNCTION

ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION

GEOLOGY NATURAL HISTORY

SITE FEATURES

HETEROGENEITY

MULTI USE

PATCH DYNAMICS Figure 1-1 12

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Setting up the Client + Practice Initiative with the Presidio In the summer of 2006, two landscape

With the goal of exploring the dilemmas

architects, a wildlife biologist, and a

and opportunities of interdisciplinary

restoration ecologist from EDAW teamed

design, the team participated in a

together to form an initiative exploring

one-week site-based visionary and

the fusion of ecology and design. The

consensus-building workshop for the

EDAW team approached the Presidio Trust

Fort Scott Creek + Historic Gardens.

in search of a pilot project for the firm’s

Collaborating with the Presidio Trust,

Ecology and Design Initiative. EDAW has

EDAW sought to achieve a balance

viewed the fusion of ecology and design

between enhancing public uses

as a fundamental aspect of its work for

and conserving the park’s valuable

decades. This funded effort emerged from

environmental and historic resources.

SUN

MON Kick off Discussion Informal Site Visit Landuse Analysis

TUE Stakeholders Meeting Define Opportunities + Constraints

WED Design/Ecology Charrette

THU Visioning Discussion

FRI Final Presentation Collect Feedback

conversations between EDAW ecologists and designers seeking to elevate ecological

This partnership with the Presidio Trust

design to a higher level throughout the

enabled EDAW to explore the intricacies

firm – a level where meaningful ecological

of stakeholder differences and site

function and value is incorporated into the

constraints. Applying ecological and

design on multiple projects.

design lenses to the Presidio, the EDAW

Key Initial Discussions Ecology/Design

Scales of Thinking Discussions

team exposed a number of key challenges The Presidio Trust’s commitment to

in the integration of these two disciplines,

achieving a balance between the park’s

and facilitated a process of exploration for

environmental and historic treasures, and

resolving these conflicts.

OVERVIEW ECOLOGY/DESIGN

SCALE

Discussions Eco-restoration: To what point in time? Naturalistic?

RESTORATION

Discussions Ecological Vision and Design Vision Overlaps and Conflicts

SITE / VISION

How should ecologists contribute?

DESIGN PROCESS

Lessons Learned

SYNTHESIS

its past success in completing projects that incorporate meaningful restoration ecology

A key goal on our part was to facilitate

with public use and design elements. This

communication and idea exchange

bridging of ecology and design indicated

through planned discussions and

a natural fit for the initiative’s pilot project.

informal interactions such as site walks.

For the focus of the workshop, Presidio

We organized the week's schedule to

Trust staff proposed the Fort Scott Creek +

foster a continual dialogue between

Historic Gardens site. The site is slated to

the designers and ecologists (Fig. 1-2,

become a future “Center of Engagement”

Weekly Plan Chart).

focused on sustainability.

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DESIGNER

ECOLOGIST

Figure 1-2

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Benefits and Possible Outcomes of a Design + Ecology Practice Initiative EDAW’s Client + Practice Initiative

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Develop a proposal that responds

on Design and Ecology provided an

best to the many stakeholders, site

opportunity for employees to work

constraints, and client demands

towards excellence through innovation, creativity and collaboration across

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Produce a case study exploring

disciplines. The EDAW C+P Initiative

fusion of ecology and design into

identified the following as goals of the

a specialized niche that positions

increased integration of the design and

EDAW as a leader in providing

ecology practices at EDAW.

integrated services

1

Initiate an interdisciplinary team

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Initiate relationships with the

effort to cross-fertilize design with

Presidio Trust to develop the

ecology and lead to integrated

proposal as a built project

and comprehensive landbased solutions

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Add value to landscape solutions such that the whole inter-disciplinary

2

Create a forum for discovering

collaboration is greater than the sum

obstacles and opportunities

of the individual efforts

for facilitating interdisciplinary communication

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Further refine our understanding and application of sustainability on

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large park projects

Flag moments where fusion could occur

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Learn about the Presidio's land

Meld science and design to develop

use history and current land

solutions that are educational and

management practices

reintegrate ecological processes into urbanized parkland

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Integrating Design and Ecology primarily on plant, animal, water and

investigating cities face the difficult task

our ability to apply these insights to public

urban designs, green building, and

nutrient flows occurring in urban

of incorporating the physical, cultural,

policy and land management.”

green infrastructure requires a deeper

settings, while avoiding the challenge

economic, and political urban terrain

(Grimm et al., 2000).

ecological understanding of urban

of translating political, cultural, social

environments. While ecologists currently

and economic actions into ecological

contribute to the design and construction

terms. People and the city are viewed in

of cities as consultants on design teams, urban ecology remains a fledgling field

The increasing demand for sustainable

N H

requires not only grappling with a number

The ambiguity of "ecology" as it occurs

of variables never before dealt with in

in human-populated environments, and

these cases as external forces affecting

ecological research, but also developing a

the lack of terminology or ecological data

biological conditions.

position on what urban ecology includes

describing the ecology of buildings, urban

with weak theoretical underpinnings and

and excludes, and understanding to what

space, and other human constructed

a limited shared vocabulary.

degree human patterns are ecological

landscapes thwarts efforts to bridge

(see Fig. 1-3, Human-Nature Diagrams).

disciplines. To help define this fusion

Ecology of cities takes a more holistic view of human society and its interface

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zone, a new vocabulary along with a

Most ecologists today avoid human-

with biological processes, looking at the

dominated environments, focusing

ecological implications of socio-cultural,

Fundamental conceptual questions

series of metrics based on viable empirical

instead on sites that are not primarily for

political, and economic urban patterns.

remain. Should humans be thought

data needs to be developed. Presently,

human use. Ecologists are happy if they

Various methods used to measure inputs

of (like other biological organisms)

the lack of definition or documentation

understand a system, while designers

and outputs of a city include system

as ecological factors? If so, can we

of the new ecological conditions created

aim to invent something new. When

metabolism at a variety of scales:

consider our manufactured systems

in urban environments make it difficult

(such as HVAC or zoning) ecological?

for designers to absorb ecological

What weight or value should human

understanding into the design process.

ecologists do get involved in design,

building, neighborhood, watershed, city,

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such as through restoration ecology,

or region. Urban ecology also examines

they typically employ a naturalistic design

the spatial distribution of these scales and

and biological influences that shape

aesthetic and work toward hiding any

the circulation of people and materials

urban spaces be given (see fig 1-4

In order to access a greater range of

evidence of the human hand. This

(Spirn 1984).

-- Mapping Urban Ecology)? Can natural

ecological approaches, designers need

areas remain functional as healthy

to go beyond environmentalism and

ecosystems while also allowing

prescriptive design techniques, and take

human uses?

greater advantage of ecological science.

“Without understanding interactions

While green design is becoming

contrasts with the goal of designers, who often want to make a project visible.

Unraveling the ecology of urban

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environments and translating people

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into their research and analysis. This

One key issue to address in defining

and culture into ecological terms may

urban ecology is what role people,

not be so easy. Unlike more natural

technology, and the political and socio-

environments, cities are the result of

and feedbacks between human and

increasingly important to government

economic aspects of human society play.

human design rather than the product

ecological systems, our view of

agencies, clients, investors, developers, and

Most existing quantitative research

of millions of years of evolutionary and

ecosystem dynamics both at local and

designers, all parties are still working with

investigates ecology in cities, focusing

biogeographic processes. Ecologists

global scales will be limited – as will be

limited knowledge of what actions will

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Figure1-3 Human-Nature Diagrams

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lead to sustainable development. Once

new frontier, not least because current

implemented, questions still remain on

theories that define cities and human

how to maintain and operate the systems

activities in ecological terms are relatively

to provide prolonged sustainability.

rare. Today, ecologists and designers

Ecologists also lack extensive, rigorously

have an opportunity to bridge the gap

tested research about the function

between ecological analysis and urban

of urban ecosystems -- including

design to reorient society towards a more

dense urban, suburban, exurban, and

sustainable future.

brownfield sites. Often, in the absence of sufficient information, designers must

Incorporating ecological research

make educated guesses. Given the

components into urban development is

uncertainty and difficulty of predicting

a crucial part of advancing sustainability.

future outcomes of different strategies,

Not only will it provide opportunities for

developing effective sustainable practices

a growing population of ecologists to

requires testing and monitoring to ensure

establish research sites.

accurate information about the success of systems being implemented. More

A key goal to this fusion effort is to

rigorous and long-term research of urban

develop enduring solutions. These

ecological processes and patterns is

vibrant and long-lasting designs could be

necessary to evaluate the ecological

evaluated for performance and adapted

impacts of the various developments

overtime for efficiency.

occurring in managed sites. Ecologists have the potential to make significant contributions to urban design practices. They have already been contributing to the design and construction of cities through their roles as consultants (applied or restoration ecologists and ecological engineers) on design teams. Still, addressing urban ecology remains a

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Figure1-4 Mapping Urban Ecology

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Contrasts between the Ecological Science and Design Professions While there is growing interest in

ecosystem processes as well as of the

bridging the gap between practices

physical, cultural, economic, political, and

to facilitate green design and urban

ecological complexities of urban systems.

ecology, designers and ecologists differ

Fig. 1-4 conceptually illustrates how high

in significant ways that could slow the

design and rigorous science might overlap

process. Designers and ecologists rely

to provide a fusion zone. Integration

on different skill sets, approaches, and

of these approaches requires a candid

techniques to explore and comprehend

dialogue where differences are exposed

complex sites. These differences lead to

and goals are revealed at the start.

a lack of dialogue or to communication

Collaboration and commitment to dialogue

breakdowns. While designers direct a

are essential. The fusion zone represents

creative energy towards realizing human

synergy, wherein all parties participate and

experiences of a landscape, ecologists

are prepared to discuss concerns or ideas

typically use a quantitative process for

freely at any point.

understanding specific environmental processes and patterns (Fig. 1-5).

Recognizing the need for an understanding of how to facilitate design and ecology

Despite the unique paradigms of these

collaboration, EDAW’s Client + Practice

two distinct professions, today’s land-

Initiative has provided support for a

based challenges require integrated

multidisciplinary group to team with a

approaches and inputs to solve complex

client and explore novel situations. The

problems. Solutions need to arise not

Presidio Trust’s need for consensus-

only from an overlapping of disciplines,

building among stakeholders provided

but from a consistently integrated

a perfect partnership opportunity for

dialogue between ecologists and

exploring how the synergy of design and

designers. This broadening scope of

ecology could help overcome obstacles to

opportunities demands new approaches

achieving interdisciplinary solutions.

Ecologists have traditionally avoided

Designers modify the environment to

human-inhabited environments.

cater to human needs.

and input provided by interdisciplinary teams. In particular, the study of urban areas and other human-modified landscapes requires knowledge of

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Figure 1-5

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Applied Ecologists’ Approach Process Grounded in Scientific Method: As a science-based practice, ecologists attempt to adhere to a more objective approach, combining statistics, math, and computer modeling with biology, natural history, Designers

Ecologist

experimental research, and observation. Scale Individuals to Population or System: From micro-organisms to populations,

Environmentalism

communities, and landscapes, ecologists work at a broad range of scales in seeking to understand ecological dynamics. Scales are in part determined by where

Ecology

ecologists can identify and interpret boundaries. The ecologist’s scale of work has traditionally been limited to the extent of the system or population studied. In

Scientific Objective

addition, ecologists are often financially constrained or limited by the logistics of setting up large-scale experiments. Product Findings/Conclusions: The output of the scientific method is findings or conclusions which negate or support a hypothesis based on the initial research question. Researchers’ conclusions are generally

Figure 1-6A 24

stated to specifically answer the question

and address the hypothesis. Interpretation

and environmental scientists are generally

designers work. A large project for a

and applicability of these findings to other

interested in maintaining ecosystem

landscape architect may a large-scale project

scenarios requires scientists to step outside

function and processes. Traditionally,

for an ecologist (Fig. 1-7).

of replicating experiments and to accept a

ecosystem health and sustained operation

level of uncertainty. Due to the funding and

of plant, wildlife, water, and atmospheric

Product

time constraints of conducting research,

systems has been a defining goal of

Representation: Design is a representation-

ecologists must often predict and render

ecological efforts. Increasingly, human

based approach, where designers utilize

judgment about likely outcomes

systems and behaviors are being integrated

various forms of diagramming, sections,

and conclusions.

into the ecology process.

plans, computer modeling, and model-

Designers

Ecologist

making to analyze, explore, develop, and Designers’ Approach

Form

build human-related spaces and buildings. The exact and definite concept evolves

Driven by Science: Form is based on statistical data and efficiency. Experimental

Process

through the design process into a real form.

strategies developed over time that identify

Making Concepts a Reality: Designs

A designer’s ability to adapt a concept to

boundaries framing complex systems, such

emerge through a process of understanding

meet the applied challenge is essential.

as watersheds. Experiments typically use

the site. Through a creative exploration of

Aesthetics

potential site experiences, constraints, and

Form

opportunities, designers produce solutions

Art/Design/Dialogue: Form captures

that are realized in drawings, images, and

representative and symbolic interventions

examples where ecologists make design

montages. Many scientists have difficulty

influenced by culture, history, politics,

decisions. Often the default approach is to

understanding the value behind these

environment, and social elements of a

Design

design methods, due to the use of

site. Form is also driven by a designer’s

Process

subjective language, a focus on aesthetics,

education and mentors as well as

and the design process (Fig. 1-6B).

interaction with various design dialogues.

Also, understanding the latest ecological

Scale

Function

theories and finding ways of integrating

A Parcel, Building, Park, or Regional Area:

User Experience: Designers bring a

the scientific objective into design can be

The land-based, surficial scale of work is

creative energy that is generally directed

complicated (Fig. 1-6A).

dependent on the size and defined boundary

towards achieving a desired human

of land to be planned or designed. The

experience of a particular landscape.

Function

scales at which applied ecologists work

Landscapes can also be designed to

Ecosystem Health: Applied ecologists

can differ widely from the scales at which

encourage particular processes.

inexpensive materials with the simplest processes for capturing desired data. Restoration ecology is one of the few

design in a naturalistic manner. Designers tend to view the naturalistic design and

Language subjectivity

strong environmental stances as obstacles to bridging the divide between the practices.

Figure 1-6B

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Integrated Ecology and Design Approach: Opportunities for Fusion

L

Process

Constraints are very often the impetus

cultural, functional, and aesthetic urban

Function

of designers’ ability to synthesize

Ecologists are increasingly interested

for innovation. Obstacles provide

framework. Restoration projects could

Utilizing designers’ creativity and

multiple complex factors into cohesive

in experimentation, conservation, and

opportunities for designers to facilitate

benefit from ecologists questioning the

understanding of city composition,

physical forms. This could in turn make

restoration on urban sites, expanding from

the progress of a team through design

naturalistic design forms that are the

evolution, form, and function, ecologists

ecological research more public, visible,

their traditional presence in less human-

challenges. Thus, designers fulfill a

default in most scenarios. Designers

could begin to grapple with the ecological

and aesthetically ambitious, infusing

dominated landscapes.

fundamental role in building research into

have an opportunity to explore new

implications of urban space and culture

experiments with cultural meaning.

urban sites and into social consciousness.

forms for research projects, and to

in their research. By unifying traditional

establish diverse aesthetic approaches

ecological research methods with urban

to urban environments.

design, ecologists could take advantage

Ecologists are broadening definitions

L

M

of ecosystems, and (recognizing that

Scale

ecological systems are continually being

As cities become the subject of ecological

influenced by disturbances) revising

research, more opportunities arise for

traditional vegetation theory to include

designers and ecologists to communicate.

multiple processes, human influences,

M

S

S

Designer Ecologist

and spatial heterogeneity. Ecologists have

There is an increasing need for designers

also moved from considering populations

and ecologists to work at multiple scales

and ecosystems as relatively closed or

to address the zone of fusion between

autonomous systems, independent of their

their disciplines. Ecologists understand

surroundings, to viewing both populations

complex systems, and can provide

and ecosystems as “open” and strongly

multiple levels of analysis for designers.

influenced by input and output of material

Practitioners should search for scales that

and individuals across system borders.

complement one another.

Landscape architects have begun to take

Product

on a larger role in understanding and

Integrated projects that incorporate design

developing urban ecological systems.

and ecology will be long-lasting, dynamic,

They are beginning to appreciate an

and intimately tied to human society.

ecological process-based understanding

Figure 1-7 26

of landscapes and environmental concerns,

Form

and learning to access and incorporate

A designer’s creativity and exploration

ecological knowledge into their design

plays a unique and critical role in situating

processes (See Fig. 1-8).

ecological research and analysis within a

- art driven - metrics =

“success is being provocative, profound, memorable”

high design

design world

- site interpretation - site design - grading and drainage - planting plan - visualization - engineering - plans and specs - cost estimates -construction management

Figure 1-8

- science driven - metrics

aesthetic appeal people use and enjoyment

fusion zone

ecology world

? KEY EDAW VALUES create enduring solutions seek cultural and environmental fit foster positive change advocate collaborative exchange of ideas

ecological health of natural ecosystem sustainability

“success is when the hand of man is not evident”

high science

? innovation identity usability adaptability form function

=

restoration regeneration rehabilitation enhancement preservation management

- soils - hydrology - water quality - geomorphology - plant ecology - wildlife ecology - human ecology

Adapted from David Blau, 2001

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2. The Presidio: A Case Study in Integrating Ecology and Design

Through a combination of presentations and site visits, the workshop began with a crash course in the history and existing conditions of the site. The foundation being set, the workshop progressed quickly from discussions of interdisciplinary work, site analysis, visioning with stakeholders, and design charrettes, to the creation of a conceptual plan. Along the way lessons were learned about the integration of design and ecology, although some were only apparent with the benefit of hindsight. This chapter seeks to take readers on our design and ecology integration journey.

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Presidio as a Pilot Study for Ecology and Design with limited diversity that replaced native

together towards a common cause.

ecology, design, and history with public

park located at the Golden Gate Bridge,

dunes, coastal prairie, and coastal scrub

The Presidio Trust envisions the project

space (Fig. 2-1B).

provides a rich context for exploring the

communities. A highly charged discussion

site becoming an important destination for

collaboration between designers and

on this topic has been ongoing for years.

The Presidio of San Francisco, a 1,490-acre

ecologists. The Presidio is a distinct park

PUBLIC USE

Key Requests from Client:

buildings may be used for conferences

1. Develop a 21st-century approach that

site located at the center of the world's

Located in a highly urbanized center, the

and other events that could draw people

is sustainable, integrates state-of-the-art

largest urban national park, Golden Gate

vast green spaces at the Presidio seem to

with a common interest in addressing

technology, and is respectful of the site’s

National Recreation Area (75,500 acres).

be prime opportunities for diverse public

environmental and social issues. Historic

historic character.

The Presidio’s mixture of land uses and

uses. However, historic designations

competing stakeholder demands within

and stakeholders' interests often create

are yet to be restored, are common in and

an urban area has created a variety of

opposing demands. For example, the

around adjacent historic gardens. From

Creek and determine what role it might

obstacles to reaching consensus on land

Presidio's buildings encompass 6 million

the gardens, a small spring-fed creek

play in relation to other riparian corridors,

use decisions.

square feet. Many of the houses that

emerges and meanders along a valley that

as well as the historic landscapes.

ECOLOGY

DESIGN

A. Initial Framework

structures and artifacts, many of which 2. Develop the restoration of Fort Scott

were once occupied by military families

is itself being restored to provide important

In use as an active military post from

are now occupied by civilian families; there

ecological functions and values. Planned

1776 to 1994, the Presidio was folded into

are nearly 3,000 people currently living in

native plant restoration will enhance

historic garden and community garden to

the boundaries of Golden Gate National

these homes. These long-term site users

opportunities for park visitors to view

the ideas of sustainability and stewardship.

Recreation Area in 1972 after being

comprise a group of private stakeholders

designated a National Historic Landmark

inhabiting space within a public park.

3. Knit the district together, and tie the

wildlife along Fort Scott Creek. PUBLIC USE

4. Create an educational landscape with The Presidio Trust challenged EDAW to work

District in 1962. Congress established The

evolving experiences.

in a collaborative fashion with their technical

Presidio Trust in 1996 as a leadership body,

Additional issues at the Presidio arise in

and charged the Trust with preserving and

relation to other land management visions,

enhancing the Presidio as an "enduring

such as environmental restoration. These

plan, which enhances, interprets, and

issues and creates opportunities for

resource for the American public."

projects prompt a series of questions.

integrates the unique features of the project

people moving through the site.

The park’s 300-acre Historic Forest is a designated historic landmark. The forest is

HISTORY

DESIGN

ECOLOGY

What is the goal of restoration projects in

30

park visitors. Ultimately, the nearby historic

experts to develop a conceptual design

5. Develop a landscape design that solves

site. The initiative was originally focused on

an urban context? Which is more important:

developing designs that incorporate ecology

to restore a land’s native ecosystem, or to

and design into public use, education

a place where children in the Bay Area can

and interpretation (Fig. 2-1A). As EDAW

enjoy a meaningful outdoor experience.

B. Outcomes: History emerges

6. Children’s activities are key. Make this

recognized by many as a cultural landscape,

cater to human needs and try to allow for

shaped by the U.S. Army more than 100

some environmental value as well? In the

years ago, that significantly contributes to

case of the Presidio, there are a number of

it became increasingly apparent that

the Presidio’s historic identity. Others view

examples where restoration ecology proved

historic factors were a major influence. The

throughout the site to provide a sense of

the forest as a created, artificial community

a useful tool in bringing dissenting voices

working model was expanded to integrate

contact and intimacy with nature.

as a Key Component.

Figure 2-1

prepared and participated in the charrette, 7. Get people close to natural resources

31

Understanding the Presidio at Multiple Scales The Presidio functions at multiple scales: as part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and as a local park for San Francisco urbanites.

Regional Scale

City Scale

Overall Site Scale

Detailed Site Scale

Detailed Site Scale

Golden Gate National

San Francisco

The Presidio

Fort Scott

Dragonfly Creek

Recreation Area

Park connection

1,490 acre urban parkland combines a mix

Former officer’s quarters

Stewardship and sustainability Center

Historic sites

of Engagement

of land uses typical to a public park in a High-end real estate users

small city

Existing plant nursery

Population of 12 million in Bay Area

Long history of military use

Future tactical retreat center

Native American inhabitation

Historic buildings and landscapes

Pre-existing freshwater creek

Tying the San Francisco Bay together World's largest national park in an urban area

Historic forest and historic garden

Linkages from park to city

Land use plan Historic forest

Figure 2-2 32

33

Interpreting the Presidio Trust Mission

the natural, cultural, scenic, and recreational resources of the Presidio for public use. These efforts encompass the natural areas, wildlife, and native habitats of the park, as well as the historic structures and designed landscapes that make the park a National Historic Landmark District. The Presidio Trust is dedicated to ensuring that visitors to this spectacular place will have the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of the Presidio, its place in American history, and the plants and wildlife which once thrived throughout the region.”

The Presidio Trust’s mission (Fig. 2-3)

PARK

appointees and the Secretary of the

illustrates the inherent challenges of

Interior, or his/her designee, sit on the

planning, programming, and designing the

Board of Directors and set the direction

site. “Natural areas, wildlife, and native

and policies for the ongoing transformation

habitat” are identified as key resources

of this historic military post.

of the site which should be preserved

ENVIRONMENTAL

PRESERVE NATURAL AREAS

and enhanced for public use. “Historic The Trust is charged with making the

structures” and “designed landscapes”

Presidio financially self-sustaining. After

are also considered key resources to be

2012, the Trust will not receive annual

preserved for the public. Ideally there

appropriations, and is required to fund the

will be diversity in the types of locations

Presidio’s operations, maintenance, and

preserved at Presidio: both natural areas

ongoing upgrades with income earned

and designed landscapes. However, a

from rehabilitating and reusing the park’s

process for reaching consensus is required

buildings. The Presidio is sustaining itself

for to achieve this delicate balance.

like every healthy community – earning,

Given site constraints, accommodating

saving, and investing in the future. This

stakeholder demands will be challenging.

MAINTAIN WILDLIFE

ENHANCE NATIVE HABITATS + PLANTS

SCENERY

Figure 2-4 illustrates the overlapping and

park and will ensure its preservation.

competing interests in the Presidio as a

DESIGNED LANDSCAPES

RECREATIONAL

EDUCATIONAL

HISTORIC FOREST

national urban park. In particular, the role As the largest urban national park in

HISTORIC STRUCTURE

CULTURAL

simple economy generates the capital that is making the Presidio a great national

DESIGNED

PR

of preservation is embedded.

E ES

RV

U SE

“To preserve and enhance

the American people. Six presidential

ENT

environmental restoration.

the Presidio as an enduring resource for

NCEM

Trust’s mission is to preserve and enhance

AN DE N HA

historic preservation, recreation, and

AT IO N

Created by Congress in 1996, the Presidio

the world, nested within the Bay Area (population 12 million), the Presidio requires a unique resource management

P

model, which blends competing local

C LI B U

interests and needs with the broader, Figure 2-3 34

national constituencies supporting

Figure 2-4

35

Timeline Illustrating Evolving Land Use A military presence can be traced to the

the site. The US Army established a

parkland with non-military residents. These

Presidio as early as 1776. In spite of this

military post at the Presidio in 1846.

changes have had profound effects on the

human occupation of the site, until the

In the 1890s, a decision was made to

types of uses stakeholders seek from the

early 1800s the Presidio featured extensive

modify the existing landscape in order to

Presidio Land.

sand dunes and coastal scrub extending

mitigate harsh winds, stabilize shifting

across the coastal bluffs (see Fig. 2-5).

sands, and complement the natural

In particular, the transfer of the Presidio

beauty of the land.

from military to public parkland management has led to an increased

Parts of the Presidio were also grazed

c.700

especially during the Spanish occupation,

Over time, the demands on the land have

demand from Presidio residents and

leading to erosion and wind-blown sand,

evolved with the site’s transformation

adjacent homeowners for access to

which was carried and deposited across

from a military base into a public national

lands for gardening.

1776

1822

1846

Spanish Army

Mexican Army

Spanish colonists from northern Mexican frontier outpost Mexico establish El Presidio, a frontier fort, and build the first structure on the site of the Officers’ Club.

Mexican frontier outpost

1850

1883

1962

1972

U.S. Army Forested

Native Condition of Coastal Scrub Dune Scrub and Serpentine Grassland with early inhabitants including Native Americans

Figure 2-5 36

President Millard Fillmore reserves the Presidio for the U.S. Army.

Large variety of evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs. Blue gum eucalyptus, Monterey pine, Monterey cypress, and blackwood acacia are planted as part of the management plan.

Designated as a National Historic Landmark District

Incorporated within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

1994

The U.S. Sixth Army departs and the Presidio officially transfers to the National Park Service (NPS). Congress mandates that The Presidio Trust manage the site.

2002

New Forest ManagementPlan is adopted by The Presidio Trust

37

Existing Conditions: Community Gardens Community Gardens: Applying

including a victory garden and agricultural

Historical Methods to Secure

gardens used to grow food for the war

New Land Uses

effort. The community gardens available

The debates surrounding community

at the Presidio today include one historic

gardens at the Presidio are an apt

garden covering roughly a one-acre parcel

illustration of the conflicting demands and

of land. The well-established Presidio

expectations placed on the land.

Native Plant Nursery also employs a

The Presidio’s role as a community where

significant number of volunteers, providing

people live and work, as a national park

avenue for community members to work

at the edge of a highly urbanized area,

the land. The limited community garden

and its designation as a National Historic

space at the Presidio does not satisfy

Landmark District lead to inevitable

existing public demand. There is a long

conflicts. While community gardens are

waiting list for users seeking garden plots.

uncommon in national parks, they are a

Opportunities to expand the amount

wonderful public use component of many

of space for cultivation by community

urban parklands. They provide a venue

gardeners are constrained by strict

for community members to invest in the

guidelines and controls on the number of

land, they create habitat for insects and

gardens allowed to ensure maintenance of

birds, and they can provide a means for

an historic character. A variety of factors

maintaining the land (although management

including the Presidio’s historic district

requirements may increase). The National

designation which governs landscape

Park System acts as a stakeholder at the

changes contribute to the limited gardens.

Presidio, often finding its agenda in conflict

Competing land uses and the limited

with the surrounding homeowners, Presidio

availability of non-forested level land are

inhabitants, and historic preservationists.

also factors.

Historically, the site was established as a pleasure garden for officers and

38

their wives along with the Fort Scott

Figure 2-6 Aerial Photographs, 1948

Creek area. Other gardens existed at

of the historic garden which has been

the Presidio during its military period,

transformed into a community garden

39

In spite of these constraints, the

Historic preservation of the landscape

recreational needs and achieve a

development of the current community

makes increased public access and

beautiful landscape. The nursery’s role

garden in the mid 1990s is a great

public gardening interests difficult to

in providing land use opportunities,

example of a way to move forward in

achieve. Some might view the lack of

which satisfy urban residents’ demands

spite of stakeholder conflict. Eager to

community gardens as a lost public

for community gardening while meeting

establish garden plots, the community

benefit. Historic preservation limits

historic preservation constraints, is an

gardeners became historians by digging

the realization of what many view as

example of programming that can enable

out old aerials and images from the

an optimal land use allocation for public

additional public accessibility to the site.

historical library to identify possible

involvement. The Presidio Native Plant

locations across the Presidio that had

Nursery does provide some volunteer

once been used as pleasure gardens.

opportunities to actively restore sites.

Figure 2-7A (right): historical garden at Fort

The original gardens within Fort Scott

In several cases, the restoration

Scott Creek, circa 1944.

were identified so that they could be

approaches may circumnavigate historic

Figure 2-7B-D (below): historical

revived as gardens for the public.

preservation in order to both satisfy

photograph with bridge, current garden.

40

41

Existing Conditions: Restoration Ecology

Fort Scott Creek

Crissy Field Marsh

The creek is a natural spring targeted for restoration

Crissy Field is a former salt marsh and subsequent

Initiatives: Riparian initiative

military airfield/Restoration Background: Extensive debates on the importance of public access versus habitat value related to marsh creation

Site of native plant center

Restoration Ecology: Providing a Way

historical, educational, aesthetic,

to Align Stakeholders

and spiritual.

Planned sustainability center

Multiple restoration projects have been undertaken since the U.S. Army’s

Restoration ecology at the Presidio reveals

closure of the Presidio base in 1994. A

the challenges posed by conflicting

review of these projects reveals the

interests and incompatible uses. It

planning and design challenges posed by

raises the question: how can ecologically

conflicting and incompatible land uses,

appropriate restoration be compatible with

precedent land management decisions,

cultural and historic preservation interests?

evolving disciplinary, preservation, and

In addition, it can be difficult to change

conservation approaches.

prevailing public perceptions of ecological restoration. The public often views

In 1994, The Army transferred the land

restoration as replacing a park-like setting

to the National Park Service, and with its

with a less user-friendly environment.

mission of “preserving unimpaired the

Mature trees are understandably a much-

natural and cultural resources and values

loved component of parks, and restoring

of the National Park System,” the Park

areas of mature parkland to coast scrub or

Service began a fairly broad restoration

grasslands, for example, may not always

effort (Fig. 2-8). In 1996, approximately

mesh with the desires of urban residents in

80% of the Presidio was transferred

need of respite.

Coastal 20 miles of “social trails” Restoration initiative to replace these with one beautiful public trail

Neighborhood Restoration

Tennessee Hollow

Restoration initiatives have included:

The Hollow is the largest watershed in the Presidio, supporting a valuable wildlife habitat

Replacing lawn w/ native habitat

Restoration initiatives have included:

Phasing plan w/ buildings to be removed

Daylighting the buried creek Creating a new creek-side trail

to the Presidio Trust. Restoration can

42

be viewed as a fundamental tool for

The establishment of the Presidio Native

satisfying both the National Park System’s

Plant Nursery provides a way for Presidio

and the Presidio’s mission of enhancing

Trust, community volunteer and ecological

natural areas as enduring resources for

goals to align. The Presidio Native Plant

the public. The Natural Areas Program is

Nursery supports habitat restoration,

a program designed to preserve, restore,

creates a connection between the

and enhance San Francisco’s natural

park and the community, and helps

ecology and to develop community-

people understand the importance of

based site stewardship. The purposes of

environmental sustainability, restoration,

Natural Areas stewardship are ecological,

and parklands stewardship. Staff and

Restored Lake

Scale 1:12000 0

500

1000

1500

2000

Restoration initiatives have included: Development as a passive recreation area

Inspiration Point

Site of Chinese religious ceremony -- release of invasive Asian turtles, resulting in carp die-out; outcry and response with restoration

Site consists of rare native serpentine grassland. In the 1880s the Army planted, adjacent to this bluff, non-native Monterey pines as a windbreak

Removal of trail down to the water to reduce foot traffic Public participation in restoration effort, more than 2,000 volunteer hours spent in 2005 for removal of non-native plants and underbrush clearance

Figure 2-8 Background on ecological restoration projects at the Presidio

Used restoration as a tool to convince public to support the removal of the pines and the reintroduction of historically dominant serpentine grasslands

43

volunteers grow 60,000 native plants annually for habitat and forest restoration

to uphold its mission of providing resources for public use. Extensive participation

restore a land’s native ecosystem? Or

can often be driven more by a desire

maintained are naturalistic as opposed to

such projects more difficult to fund.

is it more essential to cater to human

to establish historical conditions than to

geometric in form.

Additionally, because much of the projects'

projects throughout the Presidio, collect

by volunteers in restoration projects is

needs, and allow for some environmental

instate a biological system that functions

seeds, care for plants, and construct

further evidence of public acceptance of

value gained through public access to

under current conditions. What form

Somewhat predictably, ecologists and

educate the public about the site

compost piles. There also exists in our

ecological restoration.

natural areas? In the case of the Presidio,

should a restoration project take?

designers have divergent views on

are curtailed.

there are a number of examples where

Ecologists typically view nature as a model

the forms that restoration should take.

society a general lack of public knowledge

systems are hidden, opportunities to

about the ecological merit of various

Restoration at the Presidio provides an

restoration ecology brought dissenting

for developing restoration projects, and yet

Generally, ecologists want to create

Because this approach minimizes the role

landscapes. Together these historic and

interesting case study of the intersection of

voices together towards a common cause.

the process of construction, maintenance,

something that looks like nature and does

of visible design, it discourages many

cultural factors position some stakeholders

planning, design, public use, ecology, and

and even the locations of many of these

not stand out, whereas designers want

designers from exploring configurations

history. In several cases at the Presidio,

Establishing restoration projects on-site

projects are far from natural. Naturalistic

to reveal the human hand. Naturalistic

and approaches that might have greater

design, by definition, brings little attention

ecosystem function. An approach to the

against ecological restoration. The Presidio’s highly urban context results in significant

ecological restoration circumnavigated

attracts a substantial volunteer contingent

design approaches may also be more

social demands on the land: for example,

historic preservation to satisfy recreational

to help demolish, grade, and re-plant the

expensive. Many building materials are

to itself. As a result, the public tends not

built forms of restoration ecology that does

residents want jogging trails and desirable

criteria and public use. For the community

landscape. Public acceptance of and

sold in geometric units; construction and

to recognize restoration projects, and

not always default to the naturalistic would

views from houses. From a different

garden and other restoration sites,

participation in restoration projects can also

maintenance can consume more time and

not to understand their place in human-

promote a more dynamic relationship

perspective, historians value the Presidio

gardeners and ecologists act as historians

generate a sense of community ownership

money when the forms to be created and

constructed environments. This can make

between designers and ecologists.

landscape as historical documentation of

or geographers, teasing apart the history

and investment. While many restoration

the past military presence.

of the site through local knowledge, old

projects at the Presidio have concentrated

photographs, maps and knowledge of

on providing habitat for endangered plant

Still, many environmentalists are calling

what was once in the area. Ecologists

species such as Clarkia franciscana and

for the complete removal of the non-

mine the evolutionary past to identify

Arabis blepharophylla, provisions have also

native Historic Forest planted on site and

a prior landscape condition deemed

been made for public use, access, and

its replacement with what was originally

appropriate for restoration. Because of

viewsheds. Thus, restoration has benefited

there, including sand dunes, coastal scrub

the urban nature of the park, the resultant

diverse interests, including historic

communities, and riparian habitats. The

built product may be a compromise

preservation, the natural environment, and

riparian habitat restoration has more

between an early landscape condition

public access.

easily garnered public acceptance, and

and the needs of the present.

indeed there are now several successful

There are a number of concerns about

examples of Presidio restoration projects

The battles at the Presidio reveal a larger

restoration ecology as an applied science.

that include coastal wetlands and creek

issue linked to environmental restoration:

How does a practitioner decide which

daylighting. The Presidio Trust also sees

what is the goal of a restoration project

historical landscape is most appropriate

value in ecological restoration as a strategy

in an urban context? Should one aim to

to reconstruct? The goals of restoration

44

45

Existing Condition: Historic Forest The Historic Forest: an Ecological and

of species with the planned thinning

Cultural Conundrum

of stands to encourage diversity and

The 300-acre Historic Forest is composed

re-growth. Unfortunately, this follow-up

primarily of single-species groves

did not occur, and the forest matured

(eucalyptus trees, Monterey cypress, and Monterey pine) planted in regiments

A

Foredune

B

Dune Scrub

C

Bluff Scrub, Coastal Scrub, and Serpentine Scrub

D

Coastal Prairie and Coastal Scrub

E

Coastal Prairie

F

Coastal Salt Marsh

G

Serpentine Grassland and Serpentine Scrub

H

Freshwater Marsh

I

Arroyo Willow Riparian Forest and Live Oak Riparian Forest

J

Live Oak Woodland and Coastal Scrub

K

Open Water

across the landscape. Today, this planted forest has matured, creating a dense canopy that inhibits the emergence of understory vegetation. A deeper understanding of the forest and its history illustrates how it has been shaped by preceding land management decisions and historical preservation. New ecological ideas are being explored and tested to possibly retrofit or enhance the Historic Forest for improved ecosystem function. Major William A. Jones’ “Plan for the Cultivation of Trees upon the Presidio Reservation” (1883), one of the largest landscape plans of its time, called for thousands of eucalyptus, pine, and cypress groves to be planted in rows, representative of military order. The plantings were envisioned to accentuate

A C

D C

D

plan, based on contemporary ecological understanding, called for a mixture

46

D

D

G

I

E

A

B

E

D I

the post’s size and create a clear visual distinction from the surrounding city. The

F

H

J

G G

B

Scale 1:12000 0

500

1000

1500

2000

K

Figure 2-9 ecosystems at Presidio

47

into a dense canopy with little sunlight or

landscape that has supplanted the native

native, diverse plantings (see Fig. 2-10).

space for understory vegetation -- Jones’

habitats. They note that any ecological

Further discussion of reforestation can

original vision never fully materialized.

value the Historic Forest might have is

be found in the “Restoration Ecology”

diminished by the fact that only 10 percent

section of Chapter 3.

Forest plantings were initiated on the

of the Presidio’s land supports the native

dunes in the 1890s and mostly completed

plant community that existed prior to

by 1906, but continued sporadically

landscape modifications. Over time, the

over a 55-year period, ending in the early

planting of non-native, limited-species tree

1940s. The straight rows of trees planted

stands has resulted in significant native

in groups have created a unique forest

habitat and wildlife losses. Consequently,

of mature single-species growth with

many ecologists and environmentalists are

a high canopy and minimal understory.

calling for portions of the Historic Forest to

This planted forest is celebrated as a

be modified and converted into a

cultural symbol of the Presidio’s military

native landscape.

past. The high canopy, which allows extended views across the shaded forest

Nonetheless, the existing forest does

floor, is championed by pedestrians,

have some significant ecological merit,

recreationists, and dog-walkers. Even

as it supports nearly 200 bird species and

some environmentalists view the forest

contains a few mixed tree species stands.

as a special place, a green respite within

It is also notable that a significant portion

the city. The National Historic Landmark

of public users view this forest as a natural

District designation granted to the Presidio

respite in the city. This perception, and the

in 1996 solidified the Historic Forest as a

value that people find within the woods as

key landscape feature.

a natural amenity, gives the Historic Forest inherent worth regardless of its actual value

Despite the intentions of the Army and

as an ecosystem.

Major Jones to use the forest plantation as an environmental management technique,

A 2001 vegetation management plan called

many ecologists and environmentalists

for changes to portions of the Forest by

currently argue that the forest is a symbol

removing some mature stands in danger

of an invasive and manipulated Presidio

of wind-fall and replacing the stands with

48

HISTORIC FOREST (18% of total area approx. 247 acres) Preserve and rehabilitate the historic forest to the historic boundary Remove nonnative plants and restore native vegetation NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES ZONE (36% of total area approx. 501 acres) Preserve and enhance existing native plant communities Remove nonnative plants and restore native vegetation LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT ZONES (46% of total area approx. 652 acres) Preserve and rehabilitate historic landscape vegetation Ensure conformance of new plantings SPECIAL MANAGEMENT ZONES (4% of total area approx. 56 acres) Areas requiring further assessment. Area is under consideration for designation by the USFWS Boundary

Scale 1:12000 0

500

1000

1500

2000

Figure 2-10 Landscape Management

49

EDAW - Presidio Trust Interdisciplinary Collaboration EDAW teamed with the Presidio

The week-long workshop was

Trust in a collaborative workshop to

organized as an ongoing dialogue

repurpose the Presidio’s Fort Scott Creek

between the designers and ecologists.

Area. The interdisciplinary exchange

Facilitating exchange, both in planned

brought together EDAW's technical

discussions and through informal

experts with multiple stakeholders

interactions such as site walks, was a

working with and/or within the

key goal. We created many situations

Presidio Trust. As the diagram (Fig.

for interdisciplinary communication,

2-11) illustrates, there were several

including evening events, lunchtime

exchanges required for successful

discussions, and hands-on activities

collaboration. First, the EDAW team

to promote dialogue and to reveal the

members needed to communicate

underlying goals and intentions of the

internally; second, the Presidio Trust

individual group members.

EDAW DESIGNER

EDAW ECOLOGIST

DESIGNER

and EDAW team needed to work

A

together; and third, this larger team

PRESIDIO TRUST

ECOLOGIST

B

needed to understand and respond to stakeholder viewpoints and concerns. The EDAW team built an initial relationship with the Presidio Trust through conference calls and planning.

DESIGNER

PRESIDIO TRUST

ECOLOGIST

Together, EDAW and the Presidio Trust devised the workshop schedule. This initial collaboration led to discussing and highlighting shared goals. The resultant shared goals helped build trust, and led to an exchange of critical information. The Presidio Trust provided

C

D

guidance throughout the event, helping to orient the team and enhance the results. Figure 2-11 50

51

Understanding the Stakeholders HISTORY

H

The Presidio Trust’s practice of planning and

design at Presidio. Throughout the site’s

public use, natural areas, and historic

design strives to balance the competing

history, there have been times when

designs need not be physically separate.

interests of public use and access (P),

the needs of historic preservationists,

In fact, the meaning of space intensifies

natural areas/restoration needs (N), and

restoration ecologists, and the public

as its layers of use increase. An urban

historical preservation (H). (see Fig.

have opposed each other; yet on

park is the apotheosis of this synergy.

2-12). These three types of land uses are

occasion, these interests have fallen

The Presidio is exactly this type of space,

essential to the Presidio Trust’s mission, its

into alignment.

combining ecological systems of plants, water cycles, and nutrient exchanges with

cultural identity, and its role as a public parkland within an urban area. Each of

At the heart of this challenge is the

the human framework of walking trails,

these drivers has shaped the Presidio up

need to explore how these different

historic preservation, community gardens,

until the present day.

interests can be brought together. In

playing fields, and picnic areas.

addition to the multiple stakeholder

PRESIDIO TRUST

P PUBLIC-USE / HISTORY

Figure 2-12 52

N

Figure 2-13 illustrates the diversity of

views, the designers and ecologists also

Our hope was that collaboration between

stakeholders that one might find within

bring varying perspectives to the table.

stakeholders could be used as a catalyst

each category. This variety of users

To create meaningful urban spaces,

for integrating the public use of natural

presents a primary challenge in reaching

designers, ecologists, the client, and the

areas into an urbanized setting.

decisions on planning, programming, and

stakeholders need to understand that

P

NATURAL AREAS / RESTORATION

RECREATIONISTS

OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS

HISTORIANS

ADJACENT LANDOWNERS

RESEARCHERS

ARCHAEOLOGISTS

SCHOOL GROUPS

N

BIRDERS

H

RESTORATION ECOLOGISTS

VISITORS (TOURISTS)

SCHOOL GROUPS

HISTORIC LANDSCAPE

REAL ESTATE (INHABITANTS)

NATURALISTS

HISTORIC STRUCTURES

Figure 2-13

53

Day by Day Schedule

Site Visit

Time 800 AM 900 AM

Monday

Day 1 11.27.06

Welcome + Introductions

Ecology and Design Charrette

Tuesday Day 2 11.28.06

Wednesday

Kick-Off, Day’s Agenda

Landscape History Slide Show

Review Day 1 Results

Site Tour: Visit other key sites throughout

Stakeholder Groups Interview

the Presidio including Inspiration Point, a

1000 AM

Stakeholder Interviews

restored pond, neighborhoods, Nursery, and the bluffs.

GROUP 1: Historic Preservation GROUP 2: Volunteer Groups GROUP 3: Ecological Restoration

1100 AM

Day 3 11.29.06

Kick-Off, Day’s Agenda Review Day 2 Results Initial Visioning (Facilitated Session, Full Group) Break Out Sessions 1) Ecology

2) Historic Restoration

3) Recreation

4) Education

Design Process, Plan Development

Final Presentation

Thursday Day 4 11.30.06

Friday

Refine Proposal(s)

Welcome

Ecologists - designers internal discussion and design

Project Presentation

charette Q+A Developing final plan proposal

Feedback Session, Group Discussion Wrap-Up + Next Steps

Site Tour: Fort Scott and Fort Scott Creek

1200 PM 100 PM

Day 5 12.01.06

Adjourn-END OF WORKSHOP LUNCH

LUNCH

LUNCH

LUNCH with client

LUNCH

sharing integrated concepts

200 PM

Site Tour: Continue site tour at Fort Scott

GROUP 4: Architects present site models

Present/Discuss

Presentation Preparation

EDAW Coordination +

and develop mapping exercises.

for the Sustainability Center.

Design Proposals

continued dialogue and effort

Initiative’s Next Steps Meeting

GROUP 5: Maintenance and Operations

300 PM

towards fusion Initial Visioning (Facilitated Session, Full Group)

400 PM

Wrap-Up

500 PM 600 PM

Site Visits Download

Discussion

(Pictures + Notes)

Scale/Areas of overlap and issues from

Discussion

the day

First Impressions, Ecological / Design Figure 2-14 54

700 PM

DINNER

DINNER and Discussion with Client Going over the process so far and our

DINNER

observations or concerns

DINNER

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Day by Day Overview

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Site Visit

Stakeholder Interviews

Design Charrette

Conceptual Plan Development

Final Presentation

and Summary Intent

Intent

Intent

Intent

Intent

Our goal for the site visit was to interpret

The convening of stakeholders was

We planned to bring in a large group of

The day was planned as a collaborative

Our goal here was to present our process,

the land from an integrated ecological

intended as a rapid outreach approach to

stakeholders for a second day to conduct

work session to clarify a few options

conceptual plan, and ecological design

and design angle. The team intended to

understand constraints, learn about site

a full-day charrette, with the intention of

and then refine the vision concepts

strategies. We attempted to get feedback

discuss and plan the visit thoroughly with

uses, and discuss potential opportunities.

bringing conflicting desires to the surface.

into a proposal for Fort Scott Creek and

from the invited guests on how they felt

an effort to integrate typical site analysis

The team hoped to appreciate the

The goal of this session was to begin to

Fort Scott. Beforehand, we discussed

the process went and the quality of the

strategies that ecologists use with designer

stakeholders' multiple viewpoints and

translate goals and visions into a physical

ways of working together to develop a

outcomes produced. We tried to evaluate

approaches. A brief initial slide show on

develop a deeper understanding of

layout plan. Ideally, we would develop

process to complete the work tasks.

how the public stakeholders responded

land-use history and site conditions helped

stakeholder needs. By the end of the

some alternative approaches and facilitate

The goal of the process was to facilitate

to the final product of a collaborative

establish a shared baseline understanding.

day, we planned to generate a list of

discussion to identify key problems and

the development of a final presentation

process. We wanted to hear concerns

A visit to key locations across the Presidio

stakeholder goals and objectives for Fort

their potential.

to the public that would capture the

expressed and alternative ideas offered.

allowed the team to experience the

Scott Creek and synthesize these goals

experiences of the week, laying out the

landscape and assess its ecological

into an overall approach.

solutions and compromises.

functioning. We planned to document the site together through mapping and analysis.

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57

Lessons Learned from the Presidio The Presidio workshop yielded many lessons about the viability of combining ecology, public use, and history through design. The process also exposed the multitude of planning and design challenges in addressing the Historic Forest, community gardens, and ecological restoration activities. A deeper exploration of these challenges, presented in the following pages of analysis, reveals a number of themes influencing planning and design at the Presidio. These included: conflicting and incompatible land uses; precedent land management decisions; evolving ecological and historical disciplinary approaches; and various preservation and conservation approaches. The following pages aim to introduce the Presidio site studied within the C + P Initiative, and to educate ecology and design practitioners about the challenges of moving toward consensus for land planning in an urban park.

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59

Site Visit Objective

Outcome

Our goal was to work collaboratively,

Participants learned about the larger vision

utilizing skills as designers and ecologists to

of the Presidio and saw examples of other

analyze the Presidio and to experience and

projects that had successfully navigated

interpret the Fort Scott Creek project area.

politics and found solutions through

Coastal Bluff and Golden Gate Bridge

Nursery, Historic Forest + Fort Scott Creek

Highway 101

WPA Steps Leading Down to Historic Gardens

Historic Palms as Seen From Warehouses

Historic Garden

WPA Staircase in Historic Garden Adjacent to Tennis Courts

View of Bioswale at the Botanical Garden

Nursery Shade Structures at the Botanical Gardens

View Looking Down on Fort Scott Creek and Forest

View of Parking Lot and Pollarded Trees by Old Officers’ Club

View of Fort Scott Parade Ground

Historic Forest By Fort Scott Creek

Historical Forest with Highway 101 in Background

View of Community Gardens on Historic Garden Site

compromise. The tour of the Presidio Process

was especially useful because questions

The group toured the Presidio with multiple

came from space ecological and design

experts to understand existing land use

perspectives, so the team became more

patterns and to see firsthand how the

educated as a whole.

Presidio Trust has been implementing its missions of land stewardship. Michael

The visit to Fort Scott Creek allowed us to

Boland and Allison Stone of the Presidio

familiarize ourselves with the site and to

Trust led the tour, which included a number

document it through hand mapping and GIS.

of destinations exhibiting site restoration or

The high points were the moments when

native habitats. These included Inspiration

an ecologist and designer walked together

Point; the Mountain Lake restoration;

and discussed ideas from both perspectives

multiple neighborhoods; coastal bluffs;

about that particular area.

a plant nursery; historic and community gardens; Fort Scott; and the Creek. Other

While executing the site visit with a mix of

participants included Betty Young, Mark Frey,

ecologists and designers generated trust

Laura Castellini, Damien Raffa, Barb Coff;

across disciplines, the site visit needed

Johna Maeck, and Jean Koch.

more direction, with specific activities to facilitate communication. An early

After a long debate, we voted to rely on our

concept that we explored in depth was

individual expertise and typical practices as

to develop a physical intervention as an

designers and ecologists. This differed from

artistic gesture and scientific experiment

our original idea to pair an ecologist with a

(see Fig. 2-17). For example. we discussed

designer in the field and encourage dialogue

ways of mapping ecology physically on the

on-site. The idea was that using the methods

landscape to make it more visible.

we would employ on any other project would give the client the best results.

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61

Stakeholder Dialogue Objective

Outcome

The goal of the stakeholder meetings

The stakeholder meetings were a

Cultural Historic Resources

was to learn about the various visions

formative part of the workshop. The

Preservation of Landscape

for the Fort Scott area and creek. This

perspectives shared during the meetings

Architectural and Military History

was achieved through a process of public

exposed the dynamic, complex, and

Limit change to landscape identity

engagement that focused on stewardship

pluralistic nature of the Presidio. The all-

Respect the past

and sustainability. The team interacted

day dialogue proved to be a tremendous

with the volunteer groups, historic

success for both the EDAW team and the

preservationists, restoration ecologists,

Presidio. The EDAW Team built trust with

the maintenance and operations group,

stakeholder groups through the dialogue

and the architects working on the

process, and clarified a working set of

sustainability building for the center.

goals and objectives.

CULTURAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES

In part, this exercise was valuable for

The EDAW/Presidio Trust team worked

the stakeholder groups and Presidio

together to establish a clear workshop

Trust because the workshop brought

schedule (Fig. 2-14).

some stakeholders together for the

Stewardship/Public Use/ sustainability Public Access Programming Activities Education and Demonstration

THE PRESIDIO TRUST

Process

STEWARDSHIP/PUBLIC USE/SUSTAINABILITY

Michael Boland; Allison Stone

ECOLOGICAL DESIGN TEAM

Alma Du Solier; Leo Edson; Alex Felson; Debra Bishop

first time. This event gave them an The Presidio Trust organized stakeholder

opportunity to learn more about each

groups for the EDAW team to interview.

other, to recognize opposing positions,

Each group met independently with

and to conceive of ways to move

the EDAW team, allowing the team to

forward in alignment.

efficiently and concisely understand the concerns and desires expressed by

The multidisciplinary discussion steered

each group (Fig. 2-14). Key players from

the energy of all participants toward a

Creek Restoration

each stakeholder group were invited to

common vision. The goals articulated and

Ecological Habitat Value

participate in a wrap-up strategy session

agreed to by the stakeholder groups built

Wildlife Corridor/Refuge

to develop goals and objectives.

on the Presidio Trust’s mission: to balance

Watershed Planning

CREEK RESTORATION

MAINTENANCE + OPERATIONS

Maintenance and Operations Reduce maintenance requirements Allow vehicular/fire truck access Keep it simple no complicated parts

historic preservation with sustained ecological systems while fostering public engagement. It is this attempt to satisfy

62

Figure 2-15

63

three potentially incompatible interests that

previously expressed. The disclosure of

At the close of the stakeholder meetings,

creates perhaps the greatest challenge

contradictory perspectives enriched the

our team realized that we were missing

for future design and ecology collaboration

dialogues by revealing the site's core

the cultural/historical perspective. The

at the Presidio.

planning challenges.

landscape’s cultural symbolism proved to

The Presidio Trust's inclusive approach to

The pre-workshop planning served us well

stakeholders meetings facilitated a deep

in ensuring that every stakeholder voice

understanding of their concerns within

was represented within the design team.

the EDAW team. EDAW’s multidisciplinary

It proved important to have someone

approach led to questions being asked that

on the team that people felt "carried the

enabled stakeholders to raise issues not

torch" for them.

be a critical stakeholder concern.

THE PRESIDIO TRUST

Michael Boland Allison Stone ECOLOGICAL DESIGN TEAM

Designer Alma Du Solier Designer/Ecologist Alex Felson Wildlife Biologist Leo Edson Restoration Ecologist Debra Bishop

+

A. MAINTENANCE + OPS

B. CULTURAL/HISTORIC RESOURCES

Associate Director of Landscape Maintenance Bob Carlsen Director of Operations Steve Potts Director of Utilities Mark Hurley Chandler McCoy

Presidio Trust Historian Ric Borjes Randy Delehanty Senior Preservation Specialist Michael Lamb Sannie Osborn Chandler McCoy Amy Deck Christina Wallace Historic Architect Rob Wallace Historic Compliance Coordinator Robert Thomas GIS Specialist/Cultural Resources Hans Barnaal

C. CREEK RESTORATION

D. STEWARDSHIP/PUBLIC USE/SUSTAINABILITY

Presidio Trust Forester Damien Raffa Mark Frey Terri Thomas Amy Deck Laura Castellini Peter Ehrlich Presidio Trust Natural Resource Planner Tania Pollak

Sustainability Manager - Presidio Trust Damien Raffa Michael Boland Michael Lamb Chandler McCoy Terri Thomas Amy Deck Barb Corff John Maeck Betty Young Aimee Vincent Education/Outreach Coordinator Presidio Nursery Adam Sharron Presidio Nursery Kirra Swenerton Presidio Nursery Brittany Schaefer Director of Crissy Field Center (GGNPC) Christa Rocca

Figure 2-16 Stakeholder Diagram 64

65

Design Charrette Objective The team goal was to work in small

we hoped to generate a fusion of design

balanced with public access. In addition,

Key Themes Arising from the Charrette:

and ecology.

maintenance and durability were raised

a. Historic rehabilitation

as concerns.

groups to develop design strategies

b. Highlight historical heritage

that would achieve balance between

Outcome

four key areas: 1) Historic Preservation, 2)

The charrette revealed countless

Several distinct concepts were developed

Recreation, 3) Education, 4) Environment.

insights into the concerns of and the

as diagrams by each group: 1) Water as

areas of conflict between stakeholders.

Organizer, 2) Walk through Time, 3) Multi-

Process

The process proved to be a valuable

Faceted Gradations.

Four teams were formed, each including

opportunity for stakeholders and the

ecologists, biologists and designers. Four

design team to suggest alternative

alternative strategies were developed.

strategies for discussion.

ecology, history, and public use. “Water as Organizer” relies on ecological

a central note-taker synthesized the

Through a full day of drawing and

systems while “Walk through Time” is

discussions, captured the comments, and

discussions, the group worked through

framed by a public circulation network

brainstormed through notes and sketches.

many disagreements. We learned that

celebrating historic features. “Multi-

history is a dominant factor defining

Faceted Gradations” responds to

the Presidio's land uses, both past

topography, with levels of public use

and present.

shared with ecological system.

representation from each stakeholder group

A strong discussion centered around

The three proposals are compromise

including ecology, historic preservation,

rehabilitating the historic landscape and

scenarios that attempt to integrate

and public access. (Post-workshop analysis

and revitalizing the historic character of

all three themes. These compromises

reveals that the stakeholders’ ideas

Fort Scott and its surroundings. A second

typically emphasize, though not

addressed the three common Presidio

key focus area centered around what role

exclusively, a particular conflict area such

themes.) While some of the groups

ecology should play on the site. Should

as ecology, history, and public use. For the

focused exclusively on one theme, others

the area be partitioned off and made into

next charrette, we suggest the discussion

attempted to integrate all three.

a refuge? Public access and the ability

should focus on four to five key questions

The design charrette explored new organizing concepts for Fort Scott

e. Encourage education and demonstration f. Enhance habitat value g. Focus on water and green infrastructure h. Trails and habitat corridors

Creek. Groups were organized to include

66

d. Engage park users and create cultural stewardship

The concepts attempt to incorporate

Each strategy was presented, while

c. Provide public use

to get down to the water was a concern

about each conflict area, inviting each

Through a process of public engagement

to many, and it seemed that enhancing

group to state clear positions.

that focused on stewardship and

the ecological function and wildlife

sustainability, history, and restoration,

value of the riparian corridor had to be

67

Plan 1

Plan 2

Plan 3

Water as Organizer of Public Space

Walk through Time

Multi-Faceted Gradations

Develop the site as a treatment system

Channel pedestrian circulation within the

Integrate topography with function and

and freshwater resource for the Fort Scott

Fort Scott Creek area along the perimeter.

public use. The multi-faceted gradations

area. Develop a stormwater capture

A circuit located around the top of the

plan gives the site a larger, more

system with bioswale and storage tanks

Creek would connect local centers of

meaningful aesthetic that frames ecology,

for irrigation use. Under this plan, Fort

engagement, including the sustainability

history, and public use.

Scott Creek would include a system

and stewardship center, cultural

of culverts to create ponds for

stewardship center, and community

habitat restoration.

gardens, providing vantage points for creek views.

The open space and upland landscape

68

strategies would double as the

A narrow pedestrian bridge would cross

stormwater treatment system. The

the park perpendicular to the creek,

system would include environmental

providing ideal wildlife viewing and site

signage and site interpretation.

history interpretation.

69

Design Process Objective

accomplish, and this limited the opportunity

The goal for Thursday was to provide time

for communication between ecologists and

and space for the ecologists and designers

designers. We discovered that ecologists

to debate big conceptual ideas and discuss

and designers tended to operate on

areas of conflict.

different work schedules. Of note was that the ecologists also had strong opinions but

Process

did not express them openly, and in the end

We organized a morning design session

had no clear venue to voice their concerns.

and strategy meeting with the client, and

Thus, they felt somewhat left out and

production in the afternoon. The intent

unable to impact the design direction. While

was to facilitate ecologists and designers

the ecologists had valuable information

working through a design process together,

to share, the designer held the pen and

and to discover ways to synthesize the

ultimately had more influence on the

site visit and stakeholder meetings into a

plan representation.

cohesive interpretation. Both designers and ecologists also fell

70

Outcome

back into their comfort zones as a default

A conceptual framework was clarified

response to the intensity of the work and

and representation ideas were shared. A

time constraints. This was unfortunate,

presentation and plan were then prepared,

because fusion opportunities were missed.

including a conceptual framework (Fig. 2-17).

It suggests that a more rigorous approach

Montages were also prepared, but elicited

is needed for teasing out key concerns and

contentious debates within the group and

advancing solutions. Targeting areas of

from the client.

debate, and recognizing where the different

Local Centers of Engagement

disciplines alternately obstruct and facilitate

Dragonfly Creek

Visual Anchor

The effort to produce a cohesive design

development of concept plans, would

proposal within a week was ambitious.

provide essential direction. In the future, we

Processing, absorbing, and synthesizing

recommend establishing a set of process-

Historic Drainage Structures

different perspectives for developing

oriented exercises, creative reviews, and/

Elevated Pedestrian Crossings

the concept plans required more time.

or design charrettes so that ecologists and

Thursday became a production day in order

designers have ample opportunities to

to complete the work we had set out to

express their opinions.

Runoff Collection + Filtration system

Pedestrian Circuit - “A Walk Through Time” Cultural Center Historic Forest Nursery + Reuse Center

sustainability + stewardship center Cultural Stewardship Center community gardens

Historic Community Gardens Historic Field

Program overlaps within Dragonfly Creek.

Figure 2-17 Conceptual Plan

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Presentation Objective The final presentation was intended to

uncomfortable "selling" their ideas to

afterwards. A number of people referenced

of the site, and how these were being

For future presentations of this sort,

the audience and client, which resulted

these calls as an indication that the team

brought into our plans. Finally, discussion

we have two recommendations. First, encourage ecologists and designers to

articulate ecological design concepts for

in the ecological components of the

was thinking seriously about the habitat.

touched on our representation of the bridge

the vision, activities/program, circulation,

project being less well represented. The

This part of the presentation was a way

montage, revealing skepticism that what

explain the plan or some overlapping

hydrology, historic forest restoration, and

conclusion we reached was that it is part

of making a case for a particular stance

we were proposing would be adequate

element from their different perspectives.

wildlife habitat/viewing.

of the designers' role to represent the

on habitats versus public use.

for public space and private moments

Second, create a survey or suggestions

(see Fig. 2-18).

page that participants can fill out during

ecological vision. On the last day, we presented our proposal to the Presidio Trust stakeholders

72

or after the event to solicit further

Outcome

Process The ecological aspects of the presentation

The presentation capped a very successful

The bridge montage debate exposed the

comments from people who may not

did add value. Leo Edson used bird calls

week long stakeholder outreach exercise.

difficulty of arriving at consensus about a

want to share their thoughts publicly.

and the general public. While the

and images to prompt the audience

Questions during the presentation

key compromise. The bridge needed to

designers were deeply invested in the

to imagine the proposed refuge and

suggested some concerns over the

be large enough to allow public access,

final presentation, the ecologists did not

restoration. The entire audience listened

proposal to control access and to transform

but still fit into the natural area and not

Figure 2-18 and 2-19 Brdige Options

feel as strong a sense of ownership. In

attentively to the evocative and peaceful

the site into a refuge. Concerns were also

dominate it. The stakeholders felt that the

Showing the designers montage (left)

addition, the ecologists were somewhat

sounds, and there was a long pause

raised over the future of the historic features

scale of bridge proposed was too small.

and ecologists suggested style (right).

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Insights into Setting Up the Workshop The final Ecology and Design Collaboration

While our approach was to develop the

scenario where both ecologists and

deliverables produced at the Presidio

team without a clear hierarchy to avoid

designers were forced to acknowledge the

included a presentation of a plan and

favoring design or ecology, in retrospect,

site history. In the end, for our team the

section of the Fort Scott Creek area.

it would have been helpful to have had

historic significance became a stumbling

Organizing and participating in the

a leadership/facilitator. This facilitation was

block instead of a condition to build on.

workshop yielded valuable discoveries

most needed when participants turned

The lesson we took from this is that the

about the logistics of bridging disciplines,

back to what they were most comfortable

approach to the project needs to cater to

and about which tools and practices

with in the design process or ecological

site-specific factors.

can best facilitate collaboration among

assessment. Participants need to be

designers and ecologists.

more willing to “try on” new ideas; to take criticism; and to reflect on underlying

Organizing the Team

ideologies and beliefs.

Selecting team members is a critical first

74

step for setting up an effective dynamic

Choosing the Site and the Client

between ecologists and designers. During

Many of our early discussions were about

our planning effort, we sought people who

how to choose the site and the client. The

were expert in their focus area but also

decision to focus on a specific area can

sympathetic to the integration of ecology

inherently complicate the effort to facilitate

and design. A group of practitioners less

collaboration. In the end, we felt extremely

familiar with this type of integration could

lucky to have secured the Presidio, a site

be seen as a more typical representation

that embodies the juxtaposition of natural

from the firm, but might have been less

resource management and preservation

productive for this initial attempt.

with public use.

The team spent the early part of the

The tremendous importance placed

initiative exploring how and where to

on historic preservation at the Presidio

work together. This internal EDAW

created a clear identity and set of powerful

process strengthened the team’s working

constraints on the area we were designing.

relationship, and allowed it to act as a more

While this made it difficult to think freely

effective unit when collaborating with the

about the pure integration of ecology and

Presidio Trust.

design, it created a complex and realistic

75

3. Finding a Middle Ground: Discoveries and Broader Implications from the Presidio Workshop

Michael Boland- Wrap up interview 12.01.06: “When this opportunity came up for EDAW to come and collaborate with us on the design of the area near Fort Scott, one of the things that we were really struck by was the team fusion idea, the mix of designers and ecologists. The struggles that the team seemed to be tangling with were theoretical, in terms of rethinking the role of design and the way design happens. This seemed very consistent with the struggles that we have encountered in thinking about repurposing the Presidio. So there seemed to be a natural link between the issues that we’re struggling with and the issues that EDAW was struggling with, which we thought could create a fruitful collaboration.”

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77

Constructing a Middle Ground Objective

stakeholders. This internal EDAW process

ecological requirements, visitor desires,

The goal of the week-long session was to

also strengthened the working relationship

and historical integrity into its daily fabric.

create an integrative design process, where

of the team.

Sometimes the messier areas, where needs and desires overlap, are also where

the EDAW team worked in collaboration with the Presidio Trust and with the

Outcome

the richest landscapes develop. Much

multiple stakeholders involved. Of greatest

The multiple activities allowed designers

of the Presidio’s value, and that of many

importance was the integration of ideas and

and ecologists different opportunities for

other urban parks, lies in its flexible ability

the development of solutions that brought

showcasing their strengths. The mutually

to satisfy the plethora of demands placed

multiple perspectives towards a fruitful

agreed upon workshop goals (to develop a

upon it.

middle ground.

conceptual design for the Fort Scott Creek Area, to facilitate discussion between

The design process, we discovered, can

Process

stakeholders for the Presidio Trust,

serve as a catalyst to bring these complex

The team collaborated with the client to

and to create a platform for ecologists

and overlapping factors together into a

come up with a meaningful and efficient

and designers to interact and discover

cohesive proposal.

workshop strategy that would ensure the

obstacles and solutions for EDAW)

best results for both the Presidio Trust and

allowed team members to focus on their

We discovered through this process that

the C + P design and ecology initiative.

own incentives as well as the project.

solutions that aim for compromise are not

Working with the client, we were able to

As an urban national park, the Presidio

– ecology, public use, and history –

arrange several high quality sessions with

proved to be an excellent case study

required each area to give up some of

a wide participatory audience from the

in terms of ecological, public use, and

its strength, weakening all three. This

Presidio Trust and associated stakeholders.

historical demands. The EDAW team

calls attention to a pitfall of compromise –

In the relatively short time span of one

was inserted directly into a contentious

solutions that attempt to integrate multiple

week, the team was sufficiently cohesive

debate with a variety of potential solutions.

themes may fail to realize the full potential

to grasp a very complex site and to make

Public parks are a universally valued

for a site. Instead, a concept that

valuable contributions.

urban resource; as such they must satisfy

strongly advances an ecological approach

demands that often seem irreconcilably

or an historical approach may foster a

The workshop planning discussions among

divergent. Yet public parks possess the

more engaging, sustainable, or historically

EDAW and the Presidio Trust solidified this

ability to accommodate the physical

preserved site.

central, collaborative team for effectively

necessities of seemingly disparate uses in

facilitating broader communication with

one space. The Presidio can and does fold

always better. Compromises in each area

Figure 3-1 78

79

Alternative Scenarios: Determining a Happy Medium The following pages include proposed concepts for Fort Scott Creek showing site circulation, treatment of the riparian corridor, ecological restoration plans ,and creek pedestrian experience plans. Each layer explores the mixture of ecology, public access, and historic preservation, with some layers emphasizing one element over the others while other layers explore integration of the three

Wildlife Refuge

Working Nursery

Park with Historic Identity

driving themes.

The site could be developed as a refuge

The Creek could be utilized as a large-

Fort Scott Creek could be designed as

for species such as the violet green

scale nursery landscape with multiple

an accessible public park with benches,

These three alternative visions on the

swallow or varied thrush. With its natural

paths running through it for planting,

open space, ponds, and other amenities.

right for Fort Scott Creek – refuge,

freshwater spring, the site provides a

maintenance, tours, and education.

This strategy could build on the historic

nursery, and park – represent a gradient

significant wildlife attractant. Working

Aquatic zones could be enlarged and

features of the site to create a colorful

of visions, ranging from the ecological-

with the Native Plant Center, the site

other plant zones could be clearly defined,

experience for Fort Scott inhabitants and

driven approach of “the sanctuary” to

could be restored with high-value food

both for education and for growing plants

visitors. The park could complement the

the mixed-use approach of “the park,”

and nesting plants. While this proposal

for restoration projects on Fort Scott.

future Sustainability Center with native

which balances public access, historical

has significant value for restoration and

This operational landscape would evolve

plants, xeriscaping, and educational

preservation, and ecology.

wildlife, it reduces public access. Given

seasonally depending on what is being

signage and demonstrations. The Park

its location surrounded by housing, along

grown for planting. Habitat quality might

concept reduces habitat potential on

with the future plans for Fort Scott, the

be diminished because of the continuous

the site in part because of the number

site lacks the isolation ideal for a refuge.

disturbances of plant removal and

of visitors, but also because of the

Nonetheless, it could provide public space

replacement, and of visitors and workers

hardscape and open space components

opportunities for a diverse audience.

moving through the site.

that would be required.

Scale Approximately 1:400 0

80

400

800

1200

1600

81

Alternative Scenarios: Access: Wildlife Habitat and Public Use

Alternative 1 preserves the creek, but the human experience and opportunities for contact with nature are minimized.

Alternative 2 facilitates more public access and experience with urban natural areas, but imposes potential significant impacts

Wildlife Enhancement Public Use

WILDLIFE HABITAT

NO HUMAN ACCESS

WILDLIFE VIEWING

CONTROLLED ACCESS

INTEGRATED PARK

OPEN ACCESS

to the natural area.

Alternative 3 brings public experience into the natural area by maximizing public contact with urban natural systems. However, this alternative imposes direct human impacts on the creek that are difficult to control.

82

Stewardship + Sustainability Center

Fort Scott Creek Ecological Restoration

Historic Forest

Historic Garden + Community Garden

83

Taking Advantage of the Multi-layered Park to Overlap Program and Activities Legend Existing Buildings Stewardship + Sustainability Center Fort Scott Creek Tactical Retreat Center Historic Retreat Botanical/Community and

Forts Scott Tactical Retreat

Sustainability + Stewardship center offices Native plant nursery (public areas)

Convenience store

Transit center

Wildlife center

Urban youth education center

Cafe

Redwood overlook

Tactical retreat center

Stewardship and Sustainability

Tactical Retreat Center

Historic Gardens

The SSC is planned for the northern

Linking the site to Fort Scott, the area

Building on the historic identity of

edge of Fort Scott Creek. A series of

serves visiting groups by providing

the site, its current use as a native

linked public spaces and active learning

meeting spaces, outdoor classrooms,

plant center, and community gardens,

centers would tie the ridgeline together

walking loops, views, and a historic

Fort Scott Creek could become a

with views out to the Creek. The current

garden, where order and upkeep would

conglomeration of working and historic

Native Plant Center would be incorporated

provide a tranquil environment for

gardens. Historic features could be

and enhanced. Fort Scott Creek itself

meetings and strolling.

integrated with formal and informal

would become part of the identity of the

paths and water features related to

center as a wildlife habitat, with a focus

the Creek. The history of the site itself

on sustainable management practices.

could be woven in. The community

The goal would be to provide an education

gardens and plots of vegetables would

destination point for Presidio visitors.

provide color, scent, and seasonality.

Cultural stewardship center/ Community center/ Cafe Community Gardens tool shed / Interpretation kiosk

Scale Approximately 1:12000 0

84

500

1000

1500

2000

85

Alternative Scenarios: Public Access

Perimeter Nature Trails

Seasonal Trails

Permanent Accessible Pathways

Relegating pathways to the perimeter of

Narrow seasonal trails, in addition to the

This approach prioritizes public use

the site would limit human disturbance

perimeter walk, would provide controlled

and access over wildlife enhancement.

within the riparian zone, providing a refuge

access to the site. This would limit wildlife

Existing trails, pathways, and sidewalks

for wildlife but limiting the opportunity for

disturbance and minimize site grading.

connecting Fort Scott Creek’s core with

people to enjoy the site's many qualities. The

At specific times, guided tours organized

other site features – such as Fort Scott’s

perimeter path could provide vantage points

by the Stewardship Center’s staff would

meadow, the community gardens, or the

for the best views of the creek and the rest

be conducted along the seasonal trails.

Presidio Promenade – would provide easy

of the park beyond.

During these tours, visitors and volunteers

access and logical routes to and around

would have an opportunity to view the

the site. Interpretive signage and/or

creek, touch the water, and experience

subtle markers could be added along

the entirety of the site.

these existing connectors to unify them and to highlight Fort Scott’s character.

* ADA * Historic * Regulated * Wildlife disturbance Scale Approximately 1:400 0

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Alternative Scenarios: Habitat Fragmentation/ Wildlife Viewing

Contiguous Un-Fragmented

Limited Fragmentation

Fragmented Habitats

The No Path Alternative maintains the

The One Path + Bridge Alternative would

The Multiple Paths + Bridges Alternative

largest patch of contiguous wildlife habitat.

protect much of the area designated

would fragment the habitat with trails

Implementation of this alternative would

a wildlife habitat while allowing

and visitor disturbances, and therefore

enhance wildlife habitat by reducing

opportunities for visitors to observe birds

reduce both wildlife diversity and any

human disturbance. Compared to existing

and other wildlife. Limiting access within

resultant viewing opportunities. The area

conditions, the abundance and diversity

Fort Scott Creek exclusively to a bridge

would be less attractive as a destination

of resident and migratory wildlife species

would minimize the potential to affect

for birdwatchers and other visitors hoping

would be expected to increase under this

sensitive riparian and wetland habitat

to see some of the rare wildlife species

alternative. Wildlife viewing opportunities

along the creek. The bridge would provide

found at the Presidio. However, greater

would be enhanced with the increase in

outstanding birding opportunities at

public access would provide more

habitat value, but visibility would be limited

eye-level. Although the patch of wildlife

opportunities to explore and interface

due to restricted access. Wildlife along the

habitat would be more fragmented than

with the site. The potential for habitat

edges of the habitat area could be easily

under the No Path Alternative, sufficient

degradation from visitor use (e.g. trampling

viewed. Planned treks could occur to take

habitat would be present to allow animals

of vegetation) would be higher under this

advantage of preserved areas. The Creek,

to find refuge. As a result, wildlife diversity

alternative when compared to a bridge or

where wildlife diversity is expected to be

and abundance would be balanced with

raised boardwalk.

highest, would be largely inaccessible.

public access.

Scale Approximately 1:400 0

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800

1200

1600

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Alternative Scenarios: Riparian Corridor

Ecological Restoration

Water Quality Enhancement

Water as Design Elements/ Features

Fort Scott Creek is currently somewhat

Features would be incorporated into the

The spring at the headwaters of Fort

degraded, primarily due to non-native

overall design to capture stormwater

Scott Creek is a natural gathering point for

invasive vegetation. Nonetheless, the

runoff into small treatment wetlands. In

residents of and visitors to the Presidio.

creek’s perennial water flow provides

addition, flat areas such as the parking

In its current condition, it is difficult to

ecological value. Enhancement actions

area could be transformed into a large

appreciate its value. With removal of the

based upon the current hydrological regime

treatment wetland. Creek flows would

overgrown non-native vegetation, the

might focus on replacing the non-native

also course through a carbon filter

spring would be enhanced with grading

vegetation with a native community. A

with ripples and pools to facilitate

and the creation of fountains with native

native community would be designed to

denitrification. This strategy would

plantings to restore its original aesthetic

maximize ecological values for wildlife

increase habitat values at the site while

value. Along the entire corridor of the

(particularly native songbirds) while restoring

providing improved water quality.

creek, structures, trails, and other facilities

historical aesthetic qualities.

would be sited using the creek as a focal point of design.

Scale Approximately 1:400 0

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01

02

03

Alternative Scenarios: Ecological Restoration In this alternative, the Historic Forest is

Three Restoration Alternatives:

prioritized by maintaining the similarly

01 Leave As-Is

aged trees and limited understory. Thus

02 Transform Understory

alternatives need to be defined.

03 Selectively Remove and Replace Canopy Species

In this alternative, the forest is maintained as-is and the Eucalyptus is allowed to regrow.

Native

Scale Approximately 1:400 0

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400

800

1200

1600

In this alternative, there is a transformation from Eucalyptus to native forest.

Non-Native Time

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Rendered Conceptual Plan Though the open design process did

as a destination, providing educational

satisfy multiple stakeholders' goals and

opportunities for users of diverse

allowed the design to progress, we felt that

interests and ages.

it also constrained the design process and led to less-than-ideal compromises on

While the plan does address conflicting

the proposal. The plan produced at the

stakeholder demands on this urban

workshop (see plan on the opposite page)

public park, the resultant design controls

exhibits the challenges of collaboration

access into the riparian corridor and does

across disciplines.

not allow direct access to the water.

03 02

07 06

01

Stakeholders raised concerns over The conceptual design allows the Creek

04

05

this compromise.

to incorporate overlapping programmatic

11

09

15

historians, and recreation advocates.

10 18 19

In order to balance wildlife viewing enhancement, there is only limited access provided to the riparian corridor. Much of the access is visual from a bridge that cuts through the pocket of high value habitat. A trail system through the adjacent Historic Forest provides a way to avoid the highervalue riparian habitat while still allowing some access. The bridge ties the historic community garden area with an active cultural edge along the ridgeline overlooking the Creek. This maximizes the views from the existing hilly topography. An overall goal was to establish Fort Scott

94

16

08

elements desired by designers, ecologists,

opportunities with habitat preservation/

12

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Transit Center (bus station, bike rental) Bioswales Stewardship and Sustainability Center Nursery Areas Cafe Overlook Wildlife Center Treatment Wetlands Pond/Spring/Fountain Upland Scrub Shrub Planting Riparian Corridor Meandering Streams Threading through Landscape Bridge (pedestrian with vehicular access) Potential Tactical Retreat Center Parking with Water Storage Redwood Grove Wet Meadow Historic Garden Raised Boardwalk Path and Drainage Channel Historic and Community Garden Historic Forest Fort Scott

13

14 17 21

20

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Rendered Conceptual Section The section through the site indicates the topographic changes and variety of proposed garden types. Concept planning for Fort Scott forced the charrette team to find compromises between approaches that emphasized ecological value and those focused on public access.

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Conclusion: Facilitating Collaboration between Designers and Ecologists Fostering Interdisciplinary

to create a venue where contentious

this exercise, the discussions themselves

The Presidio's rich history provided the

were not desirable because the very goal

Collaboration

topics could be discussed openly with an

were as important as achieving agreement.

necessary foundation for us to build upon.

of ecology is to impact large areas that

There are a multitude of influences on

interdisciplinary group of practitioners and

Land use history proved to be a unifying

encompass as much of the “natural”

urban environments, ranging from the

decision-makers.

A significant lesson learned from the

force for design and ecology during the

world as possible. For designers, scale

project is the need to think more deeply

workshop. The military history of the

is usually related to the human body or

economic to the ecological, from the physical to the political, and from the

The purpose of the Presidio workshop

about how to foster dialogue at key

site emerged as a factor of importance

to vehicles, houses, and other human-

cultural to the biological. This multiplicity

was to facilitate collaboration between

intervals of the design process in a way

equal to the ecological and design angles.

constructed environments, and can

creates both opportunities and challenges

designers and ecologists, and to foster

that enables sustained communication

The comprehensive presentation of the

range tremendously without impact on

for applying integrated approaches

a more effective negotiation process

and integrated approaches to design.

natural and human history of the site

a project's "importance." Since the goal

to urban space design. Combining

between stakeholders. In probing the

included the often changing needs of the

of designers is usually to create the best

widely differing practice fields into one

various ecology and design issues of

In our exercise, stakeholder dialogues,

public, the diversity of visitor experience,

possible human user experience, a small

process means not only must different

the project, participants were able to

meetings before and during the charrette,

the evolution of vegetation, and remnant

site can be just as, if not more, interesting

disciplines work together, but also the

identify opportunities for collaboration

and site visits presented opportunities

ecological community preservation.

and rewarding as a larger site.

design process must adeptly incorporate

amongst stakeholders. Each stage

for the exchange and cross fertilization of

These diverse historic themes exposed

disparate stakeholder interests. In order

of the accelerated schematic design

ideas. The stakeholder dialogues produced

design opportunities but also challenged

Collaboration in Design

to be successful, the design process

process – the site visits, stakeholder

an agreed-upon set of goals and objectives

the potential of ecology and design

Different roles played by ecologists

must adhere to reliable strategies and

and client meetings, charrette and

for Fort Scott. At the stage of site analysis,

interventions in the face of history.

and designers emerged spontaneously

yet avoid repressing open exchange

internal design process, as well as the

designers and ecologists discussed the

and creativity.

presentation – provided new avenues for

underlying assumptions behind design

Front-loading this historic perspective

revealed how the different roles can

exploring communication and its intrinsic

choices and ecological reasoning. Site

established a common baseline of

facilitate comprehensive resolutions

In this case study, EDAW’s C + PI

barriers. The goal of this publication is to

visits, which provided moments for ad

information. This early establishment

(Fig. 3-2).

nitiative brought together ecologists and

document strategies that evolved through

hoc interactions, were likewise fruitful for

of commonality facilitated subsequent

designers for a rigorous exploration of

the process, to better enable dialogue

opening channels of communication and

dialogues, the outcomes of which were

The collaboration of ecologists and

interdisciplinary collaboration for the

between ecologists and designers, and to

informing the design process.

dependent on integrated design and

designers in the design process

Fort Scott Creek project at the Presidio

demonstrate the benefits of collaborative

ecology perspectives.

exposed the complementary roles of the

in San Francisco. The challenges the

interface in design.

Presidio Trust faces with any decision to

98

throughout the workshop. These efforts

Identifying Common Ground

practitioners and the value of integrated

Early in the process our team realized that

Scale discussions also served as ways

approaches in design. Addressing

alter the landscape, given the constraints

The Dialogue

for this effort to be successful it would

of interfacing ecological perspectives

regulations provides an example where

of public expectations for a national

Dialogue is a tool for reaching across

be important to identify common ground

with planning and design. The project’s

complementary roles can become

park within an urban context, provided

disciplines, sharing ideas and interests,

between designers and ecologists that

small scale was an initial topic that the

valuable. The design team discussed

the incentive for hosting an innovative

recognizing differences, and reaching

would allow the team to work from a

team discussed at length. From the

the often negative impacts of regulations

workshop. The Presidio Trust's goal was

agreement. As such, for the purposes of

shared base.

ecological perspective, smaller sites

on the design process. Ecologists, on

99

d

f

e project approach in their respective fields time »

typical

scope team formation

evaluation rfp response

Ecologists and designers typically craft their own scopes, neglecting to use each other's expertise.

research

design analysis

Ecologists are typically involved in rigorous front-end analyses and evaluation.

co

sd

dd

construction cd

Ecologists currently struggle to add effective input during the design process. While designers can incorporate ecology into design, ecologists cannot perform design tasks as easily.

site preparation

implementation

The role of ecologists and designers is typically reduced during construction.

post-occupancy 1yr

2yr

5yr

10+yr

Designers typically have limited post-occupancy maintenance plans.

ecology design mean

time »

ideal

ecology design mean

Figure 3-2 100

scope team formation

evaluation rfp response

research

design analysis

co

sd

dd

construction cd

site preparation

implementation

post-occupancy 1yr

2yr

5yr

10+yr

Ecologists should rigorously monitor design projects to assess performance over time and educate designers to integrate lessons learned. This will create knowledge building feedback loops for future projects. value added to project through collaboration

Collaboration on scope definition is essential to define means of interaction throughout project life cycle. This will maximize knowledge transfer through collaboratively defined tasks, leading to a stronger overall product.

Designers can increase their understanding of sites through an integrated approach, ultimately improving on ecological analyses with strong information representation skills.

Therefore, the designer should facilitate ecologists involvement in order to more rigorously address key issues. Still, the ecologist needs to permit the designer “room to breathe.”

Communication during the construction period will maximize efficiency and accountability in following the established planning and design goals.

101

the other hand, embrace and respond to

putting their individual and creative mark

The Role of the Ecologist in the

regulations as a fundamental part of their

on the land. This fundamental difference

Design Process

work. Design innovation, coupled with

in attitudes can lead to an adversarial

Realizing the value of ecology in design

knowledge of regulatory frameworks,

relationship between designers and

requires targeted efforts to incorporate

can lead to improved strategies and can

ecologists, with ecologists defending

ecologists into the design process in

suggest alternative solutions, relieving

their interests (and underlying aesthetic

meaningful ways. One production goal

some of the regulations' constraints.

agenda) and designers reluctant to allow

of the team was to synthesize conceptual

ecologists into the design process.

ideas into plans and montage drawings

Addressing Form, Function,

Landscape architects often fear that

for presentation to the stakeholders. The

and Aesthetics

ecologists will impose a naturalistic style

team’s attempt to refine concepts for

In early discussions, the team avoided

on the design.

the proposed pedestrian bridge over Fort

confronting key issues such as naturalistic

Scott Creek provided a critical opportunity

design or the role of high design in

Naturalistic design, while perhaps viewed

to create a site feature that satisfied

influencing ecological restoration. As it

by ecologists as being neutral in meaning

multiple parties. The bridge, which would

turned out, these topics were unavoidable

because it imitates nature, in fact carries

provide public access looking down to

and simply reappeared later.

a number of significant implications. First

the riparian habitat and creek below, was

and foremost, it challenges the notion

an idea that emerged from the charrette

The idea of form and function requires

that "form follows function." Naturalistic

with the Presidio Trust director, Michael

further resolution in ecology, and an

design is more difficult and expensive

Boland, and others. Unfortunately,

improved understanding of how it

to accomplish approach because by its

there was little open dialogue among

translates to design. Ecologists who act

aesthetic nature it cannot be constructed

designers and ecologists about the form

as designers, through restoration ecology

of the mass-produced modules typical of

and scale of the bridge. Although the

for example, tend to apply a naturalistic

construction practice.

ecologists had strong opinions about

design language to their work. In fact,

the environmental education value and

the underlying ideologies of the fields

Additionally, creating a naturalistic design

about minimizing the structure's size

of ecology and design differ greatly.

diminishes society’s recognition of the site

to reduce environmental impact, they

Ecologists tend to avoid human-dominated

as man-made and misleads people into

did not have a venue to convey these

landscapes, and to prefer to see natural

thinking that sites are entirely "natural."

concerns. Instead, the bridge idea was

environments over human-modified ones.

Restoration is costly and requires upkeep

quickly represented by the designers,

Designers, on the other hand, direct their

and interventions. Raising the visibility of

and minimally informed by the ecologists

efforts at human experience. Landscape

design can encourage people to continue

(see Fig. 2-19). This visualization process

architects specifically look for ways of

to support these efforts.

missed an opportunity to convert

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103

concepts about a bridge into tangible

process. However, this approach limits

Building Trust and Breaking

representations for reaching consensus

ecologists’ opportunities to impact

Down Barriers

amongst stakeholders.

the design.

The Presidio reveals ways in which historic

On other occasions, the designer and

Teamwork

public use have guided land management

ecologist roles were less divided -- though

As important as it is to find common

decisions for one truly unique site. An

sometimes less fruitful. On the site tour,

ground, understanding differences in

integrated approach to design necessitated

designers and ecologists realized the

approach is fundamental to building

balancing these various influences

most benefit when they allowed their

trust, deconstructing barriers, and finding

and interests.

roles to blur. Touring the site together

innovative solutions. The integrated team

allowed designers to interpret ecological

approach created the right environment

EDAW's over arching goal at this land

features while ecologists interpreted

for stakeholders to reveal conflicting

planning and design workshop was to

experiential qualities and public use

concerns and to discover opportunities for

develop methods that foster collaboration

characteristics. The two groups were

synergy. An integrated approach to design

between ecologists and designers. In

not nearly as successful at collaborating

necessitated finding balance among these

this case, dialogue between the two

when it came to the design process. It

various influences and interests. This is

disciplines led to some innovative means

became apparent that ecologists need

clearly illustrated with approaches towards

of accommodating the physical, cultural,

to determine ways in which they can

the historic forest. Ecological restoration

economic, political, and ecological

better interface with designers. Often,

and greater public benefit have been realized

complexities of an urban park. The effort

ecologists internalized frustration while

through selected-area forest removal. At

led to a deeper understanding of the two

designers were more assertive.

the same time, historic preservation of key

disciplines' perspectives, and an awareness

tree stands has enabled the forest to retain

of the likely obstacles and opportunities

The role of the ecologist in design

the symbolic, cultural influence of the site’s

associated with interdisciplinary practice.

is an area of tension for designers.

military history.

preservation, ecological restoration, and

Many prefer the perceived freedom of

In the end, individual practitioners need

integrating environmental issues with

Many issues became most apparent

to reach across the divide between their

a variety of other opportunities and

during the more detailed development of

professions by talking openly about differing

constraints, and with various design

the design by the EDAW team after the

goals and ideologies. Our experience at the

styles. The designers expressed a preference for ecologists to provide

workshop. The clarity that we now have

Presidio revealed that trust and openness

on these differences of opinion would have

are instrumental to success in creating the

ideas and insights early on, and then

been useful to discuss during the process,

kind of synergistic relationship that results in

remove themselves during the design

and to share with stakeholders.

vital solutions to complex sites.

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