NEW COMMONS.2018 | Jacobabbey.design

JACOB ABBEY - JORDAN CANTAFIO - JUSTIN MUNONYE

THE NEW COMMONS - 2018

The New Commons is a group project with the goal to make new use of the Canoe Club Golf course in Winnipeg, MB. The project consisted of one month of site analysis work ranging from historical to morphological and two months of design. Consisting of three distinct areas, The New Commons brings community gardening, refreshment, and recreation to an underused urban golf course.

THE NEW COMMONS - COMMUNITY GARDEN

INQUIRY

The Lease for the Canoe Club Golf Course expires May, 2019. This new availability of green space in the middle of Winnipeg presents itself as an opportunity for design.

The goal of this project was to connect the two communities on the east and west sides of the Red River. The Introduction of a footbridge bridging the gap and the inclusion of community gardens were presented as the tools for achieving this connection.

KINGSTON CRESCENT

WILDWOOD

NORBERRY

DUNKIRK DRIVE

CANOE

CLUB

GOLF

SITE SATELLITE IMAGE

RESEARCH

JACOB ABBEY - JUSTIN MUNONYE

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the site, the eight person studio group was broken into groups of two and tasked with studying different aspects of the Canoe Club area. It was up to myself and my classmate, Justin Munonye, to research the morphology of the site. This included things such as: topography, vegetation, and circulation.

POINTS OF INTEREST

The Canoe club and the Wildwood community center are in close proximity
Windsor School and St Johns-Ravencourt School have much open space between them
The residents of Kingston Crescent and Elm Park lack a community center

KINGSTON CRESCENT

WILDWOOD

CANOE CLUB

ROYAL EDGEWATER

CONDOMINIUMS

WINDSOR SCHOOL

ELM PARK

ST. JOHNS RAVENSCOURT

SCHOOL

NORBERRY

COMMUNITY CENTRE

BUILDING FIGURE GROUNDS

TREE CANOPY

West side of the Red River features a high level of vegetation
East side of the Red River has low tree coverage with many grassy clearings

TREE CANOPY COVERAGE

VEHICULAR TRAFFIC

Heavy traffic on Dunkirk drive divides the west side of the river in two, with only one pedestrian underpass
West side of the Red River is low traffic residential
East side of the Red River is a primary circulation route

*VPD : Vehicles per Day

AVERAGE WEEKDAY 24HR TRAFFIC

LOW CIRCULATION - LOCAL TRAFFIC

LOW CIRCULATION -

LOCAL TRAFFIC

40 000 VPD*

20 000 VPD*

SOILS

The Red River consists of imperfectly drained Gleyed Rego Black Soils developed on moderately to strong calcareous fine textured lacustrine deposit.
The inside of all riverbends are made up of Dufrense Clay

NC - St Norbert Clay

Slow permeability
Very Slow Surface Run off
High water table in growing season

DC - Dufrense Silty Clay

Moderately Slow permeability
Moderate Surface Run off
Supports dominantly bur oak, with some maples, elm, and aspen.

FC - Fort Gary Clay

Moderately well drained
Supports dominantly tall prairie grasses, with some aspen and bur oak.

DC

NC

DC

NC

FC

SOIL MAP

ROADS + BUILDINGS + TOPOGRAPHY OVERLAY

DEVELOPMENT

JACOB ABBEY - JORDAN CANTAFIO - JUSTIN MUNONYE

The New Commons was designed in a group setting; multiple design charrettes were held throughout the entire design process. This project is the truest group effort I took part in during my education. Every decision made was made as a collective.

Deriving form from history, the driving direction of The Commons is towards the Red River. The Metis River Lots system that was used to determine the layout of Winnipeg physically guides the individual to the river. All piers, patio blocks, tree planters, and gardens are parallel with the original Metis river lot direction.

In the design of the feature resting on the Red River's edge, a model was constructed of clay and wooden dowels. The feature is a series of earthen piers held together by driven wood piles. In order to fully realize how these piers would sit the malleability of clay was utilized.

FEATURE CLAY MODEL - BIRDS EYE

FEATURE CLAY MODEL - ORTHO

METIS RIVER LOTS AND FEATURE ANGLES

DESIGN

JACOB ABBEY - JORDAN CANTAFIO - JUSTIN MUNONYE

Reuniting the Community to the River. The New Commons is an area for members of the neighboring communities or the curious outsiders to converge. Gardeners, Golfers, Families, and Foodies, many walks of life have reason to visit the Commons. By adjusting the Canoe Club Golf Course to make room for leisure space, a restaurant, gardens, and plazas, The New Commons can make its entrance into Winnipeg life.

THE NEW COMMONS

THE EAST

COMMON

THE WEST

COMMON

THE COMMON

GLADE

Via crossing the river footbridge or driving in off of Dunkirk Drive one arrives at The West Commons. The most vibrant area of The Commons, the western sector features community gardens, a newly renovated restaurant, and a shady tree covered patio space. The southernmost end of the Commons features a scenic riverside glade. The Area features Pile Driven Piers, a Silver Willow Grove, and a converted water trap pond. Northeast past Dunkirk Drive lies The East Commons. A primarily community garden space for locals and their children.

THE WEST COMMONS

COMMUNITY GARDEN PERSPECTIVE

< TO WILDWOOD

TO COMMON GLADE >

TO COMMONS EAST >

PLAZA

PATIO

RESTAURANT/

CLUBHOUSE

CANOE CLUB

CONDOMINIUMS

COMMUNITY

GARDEN

PATIO PERSPECTIVE

As people travel east across the bridge, they are greeted with gardens that are used by the adjacent condos and community. The West Gardens provide a chance for condominium residents to grow their own fruit and vegetables despite their inaccessibility to private yards. Seniors are able to enjoy the outdoors and participate in activity such as gardening along with their fellow community members. Golfers pass through this space and can socialize and observe the community interactions first hand.

The existing clubhouse is renovated into a restaurant and lounge. Featured is an outdoor seating area underneath the shade of honey locust trees. The new Canoe Club-house is a place where nearby residents can walk to and meet with friends and other community members, or a place where golfers can congregate to laugh and discuss their game for the day.

RED RIVER

THE COMMONS GLADE

CLEARING AND RIVER EDGE

< TO COMMONS WEST

PIERS

RED RIVER

GOLF COURSE

POND

WOOD PILE PIERS

The East Gardens are where you will find the most plots available for the community. The plot sizes range from small, medium and large, all based on the long rectangular shape of the Metis River Lots. The East Gardens feed the community through the food they produce, the socialization they create, the relationships they build, and the involvement of young generations. Especially important is the proximity of the East Gardens to nearby schools and recreation centers. The East Gardens are closely accessible to all of these conglomerates.

By reorganizing and claiming the first hole of the golf course, this open space provides a retreat from the urban bustle and can be used by people for picnicking, bonfires, spontaneous soccer games, and any other activity. The golf course is able to keep the same amount of holes, and the exiting tree lines are densified for protection. Additionally, the tree lines are planted with native prairie grasses and species to allow for less golf course maintenance, while serving ecological purposes.

Five piers were designed to reclaim public access to the forgotten banks of the Red River. The Fingers reach towards the west where the bridge connecting Wildwood and the Canoe Club is displayed, and the sun set can be observed at dawn.

GARDEN SECTION

GARDEN

PLAZA

< TO COMMONS EAST

ALLEY

BERM

TO WINDSOR SCHOOL >

GOLF COURSE