Environmental Education Center
When talking to residents of the Washington Park neighborhood, I became quite inspired by Mr. Charles Carmickle. He shared his vision of beautifying his neighborhood. He saw the beauty of nature and the importance of it within the city. Mr. Carmichael knew the importance of bees within the city, as he sold honey.
Mr. Carmickle inspired me to reintroduce aspects of nature back into the city. I designed a space where people could learn about the ecological rhythms of this neighborhood, a space that could unite people from different age and ethnic backgrounds. I took advantage of the Urban Ecology Center, located in Washington Park and designed an Environmental Education Center. The Center would have three key levels. The first level would serve as a space to sell and purchase bird houses, flower seeds, gardening tools, and other landscaping products. This space would transform into a learning center if necessary. The second level would serve as a residence for the shopkeeper/environmental enthusiast. This spaces could be turned into classrooms due to its flexible layout. The top level, would be a meditation space, a place of zen. The space is divided up into an exterior garden and a greenhouse/bee house. The garden will attract different species, such as birds, insects, and encourage the ecological cycles to flourish. |