Out on the Island

O livia Pinner ’19 describes her field research in Spain in the summer of 2018 as “the experience of a lifetime.” Likewise, Joanne Pereira-Melo ’19 calls it one of her “greatest academic accomplishments.”

When landscape architecture Associate Professor Emanuel Carter invited the two students to travel to Spain and participate in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz’s international student design workshop, they saw an opportunity to expand their trip by researching the role that urban parks play in connecting culture and ecology in three Spanish cities: Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao and Madrid.

Both students credit the ESF Career Fellowships — which supported their travel with a $4,050 grant to help cover expenses — with making the experience possible. The ESF Career Fellowships promote the  careers and professional development of ESF students and are made possible by the generous donations of alumni and supporters of the College, who are committed to solving environmental challenges and supporting students who strive to do the same.

“Without the fellowship, the trip probably would’ve been limited to the workshop, without the added research,” said Pereira-Melo.

In each city, they delved into the area’s history, architecture, infrastructure and how the creation of an urban park transformed an area and impacted the quality of life for residents and tourists.

In Bilbao, the duo studied the linear park system surrounding the Guggenheim contemporary art museum and a connected plaza called Plaza Euskadi.

“What we found was that although the site was a popular tourist location, it was still heavily used by locals for recreation, exercise and transportation purposes,” stated Pinner in the report she submitted about the experience. The students concluded that the area showed how an “iconic museum and tourist destination can cooperate with permanent residential needs through the enhancement of existing park space as well as transportation routes.”

In Madrid, Carter led them on a tour of their focus site, Madrid Rio Park, a 360-acre recreational and cultural area. Here they analyzed how Madrid Rio’s architecture complemented  its landscape and how the gardens and structures referenced significant cultural eras, such as the city’s medieval period.

“With his [Carter’s] guidance, I understood how every square foot of this enormous park was meticulously calculated and designed with intention,” wrote Pereira-Melo.

Pereira-Melo was impressed with Madrid Rio’s “greatest success” — the transformation of a once-decrepit riverfront area. Designers and engineers submerged a congested expressway that previously ran through the site. “When walking up this linear park, I could not even imagine what this urban landscape would have looked like with a highway running through it,” she wrote.

“I was amazed to see the results of the government backing up ecology and parks,” said Pinner. “It was inspiring and motivating.”

At the International Taller de Paisaje, Pinner and Pereira-Melo spent two weeks working closely with professionals, undergraduates and graduate students. The workshop focused on the expansion of Vitoria-Gasteiz’s Green Belt, an impressive system of parks that encircle the entire city. Participants focused on developing future planning concepts to not only improve upon and expand the Green Belt,  but also integrate more sustainable agricultural practices in the areas that lie just outside the city.

“The best part about this urban plan is that the local government truly celebrates their ecology and is dedicated to improving urban life through healthy ecological solutions,” said Pinner.

During the workshop, the two learned about agro-forestry, an agricultural management method that is ecologically sensitive and focuses on managing and integrating existing forest habitat.

Pinner welcomed the opportunity to work with professionals beyond landscape architecture. “This exposure was invaluable to me as ESF currently doesn’t offer multidisciplinary design studios. It was eye-opening for me to work on a design project with people that have such different perspectives,” Pinner wrote. She added that her Spanish “dramatically improved” and she also learned the importance of being able to communicate design concepts through sketches.

Along with widening her cultural perspective, Pinner said she was exposed to a variety of design solutions and techniques and strengthened her design skills, particularly through collaborations with people outside her field.

“I was challenged academically and placed  in …unfamiliar social situations, which ultimately forced me to grow and become more confident with  myself, both on a personal and professional level.”

“Being exposed to cities that truly value sustainability and the local ecology was extremely inspiring,” she said. “I now feel motivated to continue to be an advocate for urban ecology and ecological design in cities in America.”

According to Pereira-Melo, the experience was both validating and life-changing.  “There’s so much to learn from other cultures and places beyond what is familiar,” she said. “Go beyond your community – go to the other side of I-81 or the other side of the ocean. There’s so much to learn.”