SAGUARO LOOP
NARRATIVE
LOCATION: 7290 E. Tanque Verde Rd., Tucson AZ 85715
SIZE: 172.8 Acre
COURSE: LAR 301/610 Design Studio
Morris K. Udall Park is a city park in need of an update. Visitors may find a busy athletic field, underused planting beds, little shade, and a disconnect from the Sonoran Desert flora. The Udall Park Master Plan 2011 shows that Arizona ranked 26th in adult obesity, and 30.7% of children ages 10-17 were overweight or obese (Udall Park Master Plan 2011). This highlights the need for a design that activates seasonal movement, social gathering, and will adapt to future culturally diverse community.
CONCEPT: ADAPTING THROUGH TIME
Tucson will get warmer, and we have only a few chances each year to capture rainwater. This project learns from the saguaro, which has adapted to the semi-tropical climate of the Sonoran Desert by transforming the landscape into a seasonal refuge from the heat, aligning with the new year traditions of its first occupants: the Tohono O’odham people. The site must have a strong foundation to withstand future climate and cultural shifts while accommodating user needs, informed by the latest master plan and community engagement findings.
Tucson will get warmer, and we have only a few chances each year to capture rainwater. This project learns from the saguaro, which has adapted to the semi-tropical climate of the Sonoran Desert by transforming the landscape into a seasonal refuge from the heat, aligning with the new year traditions of its first occupants: the Tohono O’odham people. The site must have a strong foundation to withstand future climate and cultural shifts while accommodating user needs, informed by the latest master plan and community engagement findings.
VISION PLAN + SECTION
DESIGN ELEMENTS
SAGUARO PILLARS
DESIGN ELEMENTS
BLOSSOM SHADE
DESIGN ELEMENTS
DRY BASSIN
DESIGN ELEMENTS
WORK CITED
UDALL MASTER PLAN
Community Engagemnet
HEAT DATA
RAINFALL DATA
CULTURAL CALENDAR
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