FLOATING PARK UNITES NEIGHBOURHOOD
28 Sep 2016
Designs for a floating park to sit above a divisive highway in Atlanta, USA, will serve to bring a community together with the addition of public amenities and attractions, and an increase in pedestrian access to the city.
Rogers Partners Architects+Urban Designers and Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects have released preliminary designs for a new park floating above a divisive highway and commuter rail line in the Buckhead neighbourhood of Atlanta, Georgia. A 731m-long elevated traverse, Buckhead Park Over GA400 aims to bring the community together with safe, convenient access to the amenities and cultural attractions in Buckhead.
Lined by shade trees spanning the full length of the elevated traverse, the park itself provides a specialised experience to its visitors. The north end includes a common area complete with an intimate amphitheatre suitable for both formal and casual gatherings. A plaza in the heart of the park features retail, restaurants, and MARTA rail access. On the southern end is a garden oasis that will help mitigate the urban heat-island effect. The park will also add a destination to PATH400, a multipurpose recreational and commuter greenway trail running along the spine of highway GA400.
The design endeavours to improve the quality of life in Buckhead, such as by boosting the city’s walkability. With extensive pedestrian paths linking the park to neighbouring streets, Buckhead Park Over GA400 encourages city dwellers to use the park as they travel between work, home, and leisure. Custom-engineered stormwater capture systems will sustainably irrigate the gardens, while native Atlanta flora will minimise maintenance and maximise aesthetic impact.
“We truly feel we have struck the right balance with this initial design to make big changes with artfully-considered efforts, said Robert M. Rogers, FAIA, founding partner of Rogers Partners. We see Buckhead leading a national trend to create value, enhance quality of life, and improve connectivity by constructing inspired public spaces.”
The Buckhead Community Improvement District board will review community feedback and discuss the next phase of the project in October.
