canal park, washington, d.c.

stepping stones
Atelier Dreiseitl proposal

Atelier Dreiseitl's proposal for the Canal Blocks is organized around the concept of a stepping stone path. As a connector from the larger city and the surrounding neighborhood to the Anacostia waterfront, the Canal Park is one stepping stone in the larger urban grid of Washington D.C. This proposal envisions the park as common ground where diverse cultural and social groups can "gather, pause, rest and share in a 'living room' atmosphere." (Atelier Dreiseitl)

design concept
The stepping stone concept is translated in the park design by a path constructed of monolithic granite slabs that allows users to explore and experience a variety of landscape typologies inspired by the region. "The park features a progression from north to south leading users first through mountains and high elevations, then orchards and meadows on the terraced floodplains, and finally to an urban plaza" (Atelier Dreiseitl).

On the northernmost block, hilly woodlands are represented in the landscape by three sloped granite and vegetated landforms. The middle block contains an ordered cherry orchard and wetland biotopes. And the southernmost block at M Street is a large urban plaza.

The succession of landscapes from block to block is joined together by the path and a linear water channel located along the western site boundary. Because the path runs along the site of the water channel, it also serves as interpretative walk that tells the story of water through functional design elements evocative of the process of urban hydrology. Urban furniture in the form of steps, benches and sloped pavement lead people to the water's edge and encourage exploration, interaction and play.

The Dreiseitl proposal introduces two sculptural elements to elucidate the physical and poetic qualities of water. At the northern end, a Rain Gate represents the beginning of the hydrologic cycle by creating seasonally controlled water features like mists, rain, a flowing water curtain, and a winter ice feature. On the southern parcel, an evaporation sculpture emits steam and water vapor from radial fins that align with predominant winds. As Dreiseitl states, "Evaporation represents departure, or water returning to the sky; the conclusion and beginning of the endless cycle, the story of water."

stormwater management
The proposed stormwater treatment system captures stormwater from the site and rooftops of adjacent buildings, cleanses it in the middle block's biotopes, and then sends it via the park-length canal and reflective pool on the southern end to an underground cistern for storage. The cleansed water stored in the underground cistern is recycled for canal operation and lawn irrigation.

Specifically, water stored in the cistern is pumped up to an outlet in the northern parcel through a water feature modeled after a mountain spring. The water then flows southwest from the sloped landforms through a channel carved into the pavement toward the canal. "Once in the canal, water will flow south along stepped planes and waterfalls of varying heights aerating the water and creating interesting textures and flow patterns." (Atelier Dreiseitl)

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