‘Preservation’ Design Scheme

The Preservation scheme aims to address the dilemma of how to embrace the found qualities of the reservoir and transform them into a more accessible public realm for the community. To allow for this transformation, the existing foliage and graffiti have been manipulated in order to achieve the activation of the spaces within. Within the reservoir, the scheme proposed an experiential strategy by overlaying existing conditions and identifying experiential points. These formatted the passage inside the reservoir which is expressed through additive elements including an elevated pathway in the north basin, a rain garden that extends to both basins, and a tower in the south basin. 

The North Basin focuses primarily on the passage through the reservoir by curating the visual experience and introducing grounding points where one can descend into the basin, while also allowing for public spaces and organized activities. The South Basin represents a more open flexible space that directly serves the programmed spaces for large-scale community events. The Preservation scheme creates a relationship between design and found object in order to activate the space and connect the reservoir back to Kessler Park and the surrounding community.