Our VFIs At Lake LaVerne
Design process
Teamwork
Our design process in the Sustainable Environments spring studio was based in consensus decision-making, especially at the beginning of the semester. We began the process with a group research paper that defined the problem of water quality in Iowa lakes, and the science behind vegetated floating islands as a viable solution for improving water quality in small lakes and ponds in Iowa. Guest speakers Guest speakers offered suggestions and design limitations that guided further research. Our guest speakers were: Iowa State University Limnologist, Jon Downing, IDNR Fisheries Management Biologist, Ben Dodd, Ames High Environmental Science teacher Mike Todd, and Iowa State University Landscape Architect from the Facilities, Planning & Management Department, Chris Strawhacker. Research Master of Design in Sustainable Environments Research Assistants, Rebekka Brown and Sushmita Kotta found plant materials and construction methods in peer reviewed literature, and then we each produced an artistic design concept and construction proposal for review. Design Through discussion, scale modeling and drawing, we merged our ideas into a final design. Throughout the semester, we developed this website and maintained an online presence on Facebook and Instagram.
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Design considerations
Many different factors were considered as our studio researched and designed our VFIs:
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Lake Characteristics
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Construction Materials
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Design process
Introduction
Iowa is a land of abundant rainfall, and was once dotted with prairie potholes and wetlands that naturally filtered water into the soil. Lakes and ponds are directly impacted by pollution that comes from the surrounding landscape. Non-point pollution is created when rainfall, or snowmelt runs over or through the ground and picks up contaminants, depositing them into streams, lakes, rivers, or groundwater. Land cover The type and amount of pollution washed into the water body depends on land cover, slope, rainfall intensity, and rainfall duration within the boundaries of the watershed. Land that has been developed and covered with impervious surfaces sheds stormwater quickly into our storm drains and water bodies like lakes and rivers, with very little infiltration of water into the soil. The arrow that is used in our design is symbolic of the flow of stormwater that enters our bodies of water including all of the contaminants that are picked up along the way. THEMES
ISLAND FORMS (ROUND 01)
ISLAND FORMS (ROUND 02)
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