urban design

Where there are no hills, you build them. This is not a half pipe, not a ski jump, and it is not a luge course. This is ‘Manitobogganing’: a toboggan slide in the woods with two super-fast icy chutes at the bottom. In a northern city with long winters, short days, and little topography, the investment in accessible seasonal play in the public realm is becoming serious business. This is fun, low cost, free infrastructure in a city park and it’s designed for thrill-seekers of all ages and all abilities.

Sishane Park is a bold shift in urban public space in central Istanbul. Located between the southwestern edge of Beyoglu and the highly trafficked Tarlibasi Road, its design intends to re-engage residents and visitors into the natural qualities of the urban environment as an alternative public space for people to enjoy together in the dense city. The design is in a dialogue with the sweeping views and flora of the Halic (Golden Horn), but also creates large pubic spaces for cultural programing and contrasting intimate spaces for resting, enjoying the shade of trees, playing and passing time with the community. The park bleeds into the streets of the city, but unlike a conventional park in Istanbul, is defined by three features: the silhouette walk, the decks and the outdoor room. The features are framed by a rich landscape for different species unique to the Halic to delight and comfort peoples. Beyond the three features are unique places and experiences for people of all ages to discover.

A rusty steel ring is gently draped upon a grass hill in Carnisselande, a Rotterdam suburb. It’s a giant circular stair leading the visitor up to a height that allows an unhindered view of the horizon and the nearby skyline of Rotterdam. The path makes a continuous movement and thereby draws on the context of the heavy infrastructural surrounding of ring road and tram track. While a tram stop presents the end or the start of a journey, the route of the stairway is endless.

Infra-Space 1 is the pilot project of a state-wide Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) led study to revitalize landscapes under elevated highway viaducts. Such under-viaduct areas commonly have detrimental characteristics, being inaccessible, foreboding, dark, loud, and interrupting the urban fabric. The goal of the project was to repair those breaks by introducing multi-modal connections and increase safety and comfort through new uses and lighting. The project incorporates significant environmental improvements by turning the under-highway landscapes into green stormwater infrastructure to treat the vast amounts of runoff from the highway that would otherwise contaminate local waterways. Maintenance areas for structural inspections double-function as public programming areas.

Píšť is a small municipality with a population of about 2000, located on the north-east border of Opava county (also called Prajzská), in a slightly undulated landscape of Hlučínská pahorkatina. It is one of the oldest municipalities in the region. The historical landmarks are a folk place of pilgrimage – the Church of St. Lawrence built in 1743, and the octagonal chapel of St. John of Nepomuk, situated at the crossing of Opavská, Hlučínská, Ratibořská, and Hůrecká streets, where a municipal office is also located. Last year, a new cultural and information center was added to this administrative center.

The town of Hasle, on the island of Bornholm, holds historical importance as a local port for industry, fishing, and ferry service. However, changing transport routes and a declining fishing industry has affected Hasle Harbour.

The town of Hasle, on the island of Bornholm, holds historical importance as a local port for industry, fishing, and ferry service. However, changing transport routes and a declining fishing industry has affected Hasle Harbour.

For the celebration of the 10^th anniversary of the creation of the Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, (UPTEC), FAHR was challenged to develop a structure for the garden in front of the central building that symbolized this mark in time and made it last in the future as a symbol of the park.