LARC-304 Studio Design 5: Community Design | Professor Andrew Pirie | Autumn 2024

AutoCAD, SketchUp, Lumion, Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator

“When I close my eyes, I imagine a world where Black people are joyful and the Earth is safer and thriving”

Leah Thomas

Focused entirely on empowering West Philadelphia Peace Park’s mission to liberate the neighborhood through self sustainability, this park and community garden ramps up the production. Custom accessible planting beds double the arable area to over 2,000 SF. Combining raised beds with in-ground plantings enables larger, taller crops while creating visual dynamism. On the other side of the stone dust path, a lush food forest invites exploration.

Featuring a diverse array of locally-sourced native plants, this food forest draws inspiration from the wisdom of the indigenous Lenni Lenape, who thrived by utilizing the rich abundance of the Delaware Valley. Each planting has been thoughtfully chosen for its practical purpose—from fruit-bearing trees to medicinal herbs and versatile, weavable stalks. A haven for sustainable consumption and creation, this food forest seamlessly blends productive utility with its lush, natural beauty, offering a harmonious space for both nourishment and inspiration.

Creating a thriving, purposeful space empowers the Black West Philadelphia community to reclaim agency and ownership of their neighborhood. By fostering a sense of stewardship and pride through property ownership, this initiative transforms spaces into symbols of liberation, resilience, and self-determination. Through collective care and sustainable development, these efforts inspire a future where the community flourishes on its own terms.