Albuquerque BioPark : creating cultural corridors and social landmarks in the landscape

Abstract

This creative project develops a master plan for cultural/art corridors leading into the Albuquerque Biological Park and designs a site-specific community/ social landmark, with precedent studies and schematic sections. Evolved from these scattered pieces of municipal projects over time, the 120-acre BioPark includes the Aquatic Park (2.5 acres,1995), Rio Grande Botanical Gardens (16 (63 acres-1927). These facilities have become a citywide community presence for all Albuquerque residents, but much progress remains to be made in this economically and culturally divided city. Since losing the Alvarado Hotel in the 1970s, Albuquerque's citizens have not had a "Lynchian" landmark to identify with that also strikes a balance between community needs and tourism profi t margins. To address these challenges, this project seeks to answer two questions:

How can Lynchian design principles help fi ll a cultural void in Albuquerque's urban fabric? How can landmarks enhance existing cultural corridors (Route 66, Rio Grande River, Mountain Rd,, Rio Grande Blvd., 2nd St., and El Camino Real)?