Hello again. I apologize for not updating in a little while. My 700 studio has been piling on the work, so I have been hard pressed to find time to read up on thesis articles.

 

I had my first meeting with my committee chair last Friday, and together we devised a plan of action of how to approach the site and program analyses. As far as the site in concerned, I am still in the process to trying to acquire the site plan and topographic information. It’s a military site, so it might be tricky to get a hold of. The wheels are in motion, though. Hopefully I will get my hands on that information soon.

 

There is currently a master plan in place for the Upper Georgia Avenue sector of Washington, D.C. In brief, the master plan calls for a new commercial strip mall, relocation of a firehouse, and a 900-space parking garage. If this is what the planners selling as a way to reknit the community back onto the Walter Reed site, I’m not sure I’m ready to buy. They do intend to retain and reinvigorate the green spaces on the site which the community has expressed a desire to protect, and I wholeheartedly agree with this notion. Green space is of great importance when considering community interaction. In terms of encouraging a sense of belonging in the patients, green spaces are great opportunities to interact with their neighbors. I am tempted to disregard the government’s plans to retain the Walter Reed campus after the medical center closes in 2011 and may go forward with the assumption that the land will be given back to the city, allowing me to explore redeveloping the site with housing.

 

In terms of program development, the plan is to look at everything I can get my eyes on. I am not limiting my precedent analysis to only rehabilitation centers. Landscape design is going to be a significant part of the program. More than just a healing garden, I envision an invigorating landscape that will challenge the patients to strive toward their goals.

 

I have been playing with the idea of having the rehabilitation facility itself double as a community recreation center during off-hours. There would have to be some sort of a system in place that will allow for the premises to be closed off during the day so that patients can go to their appointments and rehab. sessions, but I think opening the building to everyone before and after hours is a great opportunity, again, to have the patients begin to interact with the members of the community. Imagine a patient packing up after a tough rehab session only to see the teenagers from the community starting a pick-up game on the basketball court. The patient could join the game and befriend the kids, maybe even develop a rapport with them and become a mentor. There are many positives that could come out of having the facility double as a community center, and I think that it is definitely worth exploring.

 

In my next entry, I will delve deeper into the existing master plan for Upper Georgia Avenue.

 

For now, I need to recover from 700 charrette.

 

Until next time,

R