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Diller Scofidio + Renfro Unveil Green Plans for the Future of the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Posted By
Bridgette Meinhold
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Architecture,Design,Landscape Architecture |
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Diller Scofidio + Renfro is vying to win the award for the refurbishment of both Union Square and the Washington Grounds at the Sylvan Theatre. Both designs are heavily focused on the landscape – they seek to bring back a bit of what Washington DC and the Tiber Creek were before the nation’s capital made its home here. The Capitol Building is constructed on what was once a marsh – in fact, a creek still runs underneath the mall and into the Tiber. Rather than fight against nature, DS+R wants to help reclaim it and thereby proposes a constructed wetlands at Union Square with a reflecting pond that can manage storm water runoff. Gardens are extended into the square to encourage biodiversity and improve environmental conditions.
Similarly, the Washing Grounds at Sylvan Theatre will undergo a transformation where parts of the lawn are “peeled up” to reveal plazas and programs underneath. These green-roofed structures maintain the expansive lawn, but add necessary amenities while ensuring that water runoff and rainwater is allowed to infiltrate. DS+R is a finalist in two categories for renovations to the National Mall and is competing against 3 other teams in each category. Proposals are now on display and open for public comment from April 9-15 at the Smithsonian Castle or online here.
The National Mall in Washington, DC recently launched a competition to envision new designs for the historic site, and Diller Scofidio + Renfro is a finalist for two of the three landscape renovation projects. They recently unveiled plans for the at and
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Diller Scofidio + Renfro is vying to win the award for the refurbishment of both Union Square and the Washington Grounds at the Sylvan Theatre.
[3]
Both designs are heavily focused on the landscape – they seek to bring back a bit of what Washington DC and the Tiber Creek were before the nation’s capital made its home here.
[4]
The Capitol Building is constructed on what was once a marsh – in fact, a creek still runs underneath the mall and into the Tiber.
[5]
Rather than fight against nature, DS+R wants to help reclaim it and thereby proposes a constructed wetlands at Union Square with a reflecting pond that can manage storm water runoff.
[6]
Gardens are extended into the square to encourage biodiversity and improve environmental conditions.
[7]
Similarly, the Washing Grounds at Sylvan Theatre will undergo a transformation where parts of the lawn are “peeled up” to reveal plazas and programs underneath.
[8]
These green-roofed structures maintain the expansive lawn, but add necessary amenities while ensuring that water runoff and rainwater is allowed to infiltrate.
[9]
Bumps in the lawn cover plazas and services underneath.
[10]
The landscape is kept mostly the same but adds functionality.
[11]
DS+R is a finalist in two categories for renovations to the National Mall and is competing against 3 other teams in each category.
[12]
Proposals are now on display and open for public comment from April 9-15 at the Smithsonian Castle or online here.
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