Philadelphia International Airport

The Philadelphia International Airport landscape is 188 acres of barren, disturbed, under utilized land.  The proposal for this landscape design was to transform the landscape and create an area for renewable energy.  First, designs were explored to create a rhythmic, theatrical landscape as users traveled through the system of highways that surrounded our site boundary.  Once a consistent pattern was chosen, we used this system to implement program elements throughout the design.  Solar energy, biomass for renewable energy, and a tree nursery that contributes to green street initiatives throughout Philadelphia were all implemented.  After the implementation of main program elements, it was realized that some spaces in the design could not successfully host certain programs.  After realizing this, the third landscape was established.  Inspired by Gilles Clement, this third landscape hosts elements in the design such as wayfinding, designed plant communities, wildlife mitigation, and public art.  Since the landscape was previously disturbed, it was important to exhibit how it could be once again useful and productive.  The project is successful in that it shows how landscapes can be inaccessible to humans, but still be very beneficial to them in terms of renewable energy production.