CAROLINA FARMS
Albemarle, North CarolinaSite Planning Studio - Spring 2022
Temple Grandin once said, “The world needs all kinds of minds.” Carolina Farms, situated in the scenic countryside of Stanley County, acknowledges this need, and strives to provide a place where individuals on the Autism spectrum are empowered to live and work rewarding lives with one another.
The master plan for Carolina Farms seeks to assist in the realization of this vision through the creation of space where all kinds of minds can lead dignified, successful, and fulfilling lives in their own way and at their own pace.
Given the large variations in elevation throughout the site, establishing a sound grading plan was paramount for the achievement of this goal. Although the landscape is residential in nature, all proposed primary pedestrian pathways throughout the landscape are ADA accessible with most of these paths maintaining a slope that is under 5-percent. A central challenge of the design was creating space that was accessible while also creating unique places that could accommodate the needs of hyper and hypo-sensitive individuals.
In creating these unique experiences, varying plant palettes and the existing topography of the site was leveraged. For example, in a portion of the site where the topography is steeper, a “sensory slide” can be incorporated into the hillside. Surrounded by a fragrant, colorful plant palette, hypo-sensitive individuals can experience an exhilarating rush of smells, colors, and texture passing by as they race down the slides. In the central meadow pavilion, which would serve as a communal gathering space, a calmer planting palette composed primarily of meadow grasses would be used to promote inclusivity.
Together, the proposed grading and planting would help create a landscape that can be accessed and enjoyed by many different people while responsibly conveying and managing stormwater on-site.
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