ONZ Architects' "Tornado Catcher", a finalist entry in the Wynwood Gateway Park Competition

The "Tornado Catcher" urban park is one of ONZ Architects' latest proposals that earned a finalist spot in DawnTown's recently concluded Wynwood Gateway Park Competition in Miami, Florida.

Aside its catchy name, the proposal looks back at two historically destructive tornadoes that struck the Miami region as a visual reminder of our relationship with nature — including our duties in caring for it and also learning how to adapt to the aftermath when natural disaster strikes.

ONZ I TORNADO CATCHER from ONZ Architects on Vimeo.

Further down, ONZ Architects explains the project in fuller detail.

Project description:

"Nature is the powerful force to shape the earth to keep its balance. Besides all that it gives to humankind sometimes it takes back what it offered. These times people may feel desperate against its destruction. Nevertheless we always learn from nature and slowly discover how to cope with its destructive forces. Miami faced two tornadoes in 1925 and 1997. They caused considerable damage but once again they reminded us of our connection with nature and of our duties for the mother earth. "

"Although we may not control nature in its fury, we can learn how to minimize its effects. In our design for the Wynwood Gateway Park we wanted to raise awareness about these rapidly rotating columns of air and remind people of their responsibilities for the mother earth without the need of experiencing a real destruction. The design is also an attribute to man’s faith and ability to control nature’s destructive forces. In a way the Tornado Catcher is a symbol of our remittent bonds with nature.

For the design of the park the main inspiration source was tornado’s movement pattern and its power to shape the nature. The site is divided into two as natural (park) and man-made (buildings and parking area). Our main idea was to remove the borders between these two and to express that they can coexist without hurting each other."

"The hardscape in the park follows tornado’s trail where it touched the ground, thus creating a tornado valley. The green area is located 50 cm higher from the ground as if earth was accumulated to the sides as the tornado splits the site. The green texture as well as the pavement continues throughout the site uniting the park and the parking area on the north. Therefore this clear distinction between manmade and nature dissolves and the two lots blend into each other. This also might be especially valuable for attracting visitors to the park since important pedestrian and vehicle traffic as well as the bus stops are located on the NW 29th Street on the north of the site.

On the two sides of the tornado valley, pebbles and bushes intensify tornado’s impact with their irregular movements in the wind, in this transition zone between the hardscape and the softscape."

"The landscape elements and urban furniture are also designed according to tornado’s movements in the park. These units positioned perpendicular to the valley represent the pulling force of the tornado. One can see the traces left behind by benches and wooden ground units as if they were drawn to the tornado as it passes through.

There are three types of strips on the park two of which are reserved for vegetation and one wider strip for urban agriculture where city dwellers can enjoy growing their own vegetables. Between these strips the benches and wooden ground units allow people to relax under the shade of a tree, work, do sports or have a pleasant picnic with friends."

"One can read the traces of the tornado upon entering the park from the south side. For the gateway, the linear strips spread out where the tornado first entered the site, thus creating an entrance directing people to the tornado valley."

"When it comes to the installation itself, it is aimed to create a landmark structure for the area and attract visitors to Wynwood Complex. It is also a convenient symbol for Ducati as it represents speed and excitement, as well as a subtle reference to Miami Hurricanes sports teams which represent Miami in a variety of sports. But what it depicts the most is maybe humankind’s faith and hard work against natural disasters especially thinking that the tornado is “caught” and bound by humans in the park.

It is a promise of overcoming nature’s destructive forces without forgetting our responsibilities for the mother earth. The small hills formed when the tornado is bound to the ground are constant reminders in the park of our relationship with nature"

"The pool located underneath the tornado, supported with a water spraying system in and around the tornado, offers a cool place for visitors as well as a fun playground for the kids. Water sprays also contribute to the tornado image and can be used to promote the park also in the social media. The system can be adjusted so that whenever someone texts #catchthetornado on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or other social media, it sprays mist into the air.

At night together with the water spray system, the lighting system inside the tornado creates a spectacular effect for the visitors of the park. This co-occurrence makes the park a perfect spot for parties, weddings or concerts in the night."

"For the vegetation of the park, Buttonwood trees (Conocarpus eretus) are considered. A native Florida plant, Buttonwood is a tough and long-lasting tree. It also withstands the rigors of urban conditions very well and is a low-maintenance plant with little, if any, invasive potential¹.

For the transition zone from the hardscape to softscape, cordgrass (Spartina bakeri) is chosen to be planted besides pebbles. Cordgrass is a large, bunch-forming grass with thin, brownish-green, rolled, wire-like, sand-papery leaves. It is highly adaptable and underutilized. The whole plant is brownish-green: greener in summer and browner in winter².

Accordingly the park would have a different look as seasons pass by. The vegetation strips in the grass consist of ornamental grasses like lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), lilyturf (Liriope muscari), big bluestem (Andropon gerardii) or oriental fountain grass (Pennisetum orientale), all low maintenance landscape plants for South Florida³."

1. University of Florida. (November 1993). Fact Sheet ST-179 [Online] Accessed on August 17, 2014 http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/conerea.pdf
2. Scheper. J. (2001). Floridata: Spartina bakeri [Online] Accessed on August 17, 2014  HYPERLINK "http://www.floridata.com/ref/S/spar_bak.cfm" http://www.floridata.com/ref/S/spar_bak.cfm
3. Haynes, J., McLaughlin, J., Vasquez, L., &, Hunsberger, A. Low-Maintenance Landscape Plants for South Florida. [Online] Accessed on August 15, 2014 http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/

All images courtesy of ONZ Architects.

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