Masterplan
Day View
Night View
Observation Tower View
Entry Hall View
Section
Section
Section
Section
Fall 2022
For this project, students were asked to redesign the Lower Gardens of the Fairchild Botanical Gardens in Miami, Florida. Fairchild spans across 83 acres and is a staple for research and preservation of exotic species in South Florida. The High Gardens are full of programming, shade and infrastructure, and are usually where you can find most visitors. The Lower Gardens present a number of issues that needed to be addressed; there is essentially no shade, a number of lakes with murky waters and mosquitoes and no program. Furthermore, the gardens are located right next to the ocean and will be experiencing a total sea-level rise of 6’ in the next decades, meaning that the entire Lower Gardens could be flooded in the near future.
With that in mind, the design proposed a change in the topography in the site, making it so that most of the lakes would be concentrated on the eastern portion of the site - the lowest area. An array of new programs would be added: a café right next to the entrance with space for exhibitions and events, an events lawn, a playground, an amphitheater, an observation tower and flower garden. The main program and pathways would be elevated 8’ using soil so they wouldn’t be affected in the case of flooding or rising waters. Additionally, restrooms, seating, trash cans and lighting poles are to be spread throughout the gardens.
With that in mind, the design proposed a change in the topography in the site, making it so that most of the lakes would be concentrated on the eastern portion of the site - the lowest area. An array of new programs would be added: a café right next to the entrance with space for exhibitions and events, an events lawn, a playground, an amphitheater, an observation tower and flower garden. The main program and pathways would be elevated 8’ using soil so they wouldn’t be affected in the case of flooding or rising waters. Additionally, restrooms, seating, trash cans and lighting poles are to be spread throughout the gardens.
The project was thought to maximize the site, spreading the program so every area of the gardens would be properly enjoyed by visitors, and also to withstand the test of time and climate change.