Shortly after graduating from the Master of Architecture program at the University of Oregon in Portland I was given the opportunity to share some of my knowledge with a small group of students from the Art Institute. While helping to develop the course syllabus with the primary course instructor, William Taylor, we were brainstorming ideas about how to add greater value to the course. Our solution was to investigate the City of Portland's "green" initiatives and attempt to find a way that we could use the class to support their endeavors.
After sending out some e-mails to various city officials, we were put in touch with a focus group from the Bureau of Environmental Services. This is where we learned about the Water Stewardship Grant program, Independence Gardens, and the East Portland Community Center Intergenerational Garden. When this project was put on the table we jumped at the chance to participate.
Helping to design and visualize a garden that would allow seniors and refugees to provide for themselves and make connections with the community at large couldn't have been a more perfect fit for the type of project we were looking to do. Not only did it incorporate ideas about a more sustainable way of life; it also addressed rich social aspects. Could there be any greater cause?
It has fascinated me that even during the worst of times gardens act a centers for growth and regeneration not only for plants but also of mental and physical well-being of the people maintaining them. Food is a universal need that can be used to bring people from any background together.
Our class focused on these topics helping to develop preliminary design concepts, using advanced computer visualization techniques to generate diagrams and realistic renderings of what the garden could potentially become. Although the physical space is small, there are large implications behind this type of work.
A more sustainable way of living is not accomplished in one move at one time, but rather takes small steps in the right direction. It has been an honor to be able to participate in such an exciting project.
- John Hutton, Art Institute project team
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