Vest - Pocket Park

I chose SWA Group's design of the Lucayan Beach Resort in the Bahamas to create a pocket park that would nestle in between two buildings in an urban setting.  I focused on five elements of analysis to figure out why this project was such a success. The use of a curvilinear design in their project allowed for constant views and circulation that moved people in out of different spaces. As the designer, I took the curvilinear approach and repeated curves throughout my pocket park design. There are two large seating spaces that have curvilinear fabric shade structures that echo the curves of the water feature. Grade changes throughout the space brought character and depth to the different areas of the park. This pocket park design not only has a contrast in geometry with the buildings, but can catch a person’s eye walking along the sidewalk. Unlike most parks, this park ends at the edge of the street, rather than at the sidewalk. This park becomes more than the sum of its parts; It becomes one functional unit.