BEDROCK BACK YARD

Behind a new Bronx health care center, we transformed the open space from its post-construction state to a verdant meadow with rain gardens. The steep slopes created a cavernous space at the building that was creating problematic basement flooding. Together with the team civil engineer, we resolved flooding issues with green infrastructure. We approached the design for this space as unmanicured beauty, or a balance of intentionality and spontaneousness.

The site is defined by a large geological outcrop of Fordham Gneiss, as well as a significant amount of construction rubble. We embraced both as an opportunity to create a green infrastructure rubblescape. We divided the sloped yard into three separate typologies: an upper meadow, a mid-level shrub shelf, and two rain gardens at the bottom of the slope. Our strategy was to stabilize the slope and retain water, while at the same time enhance the beautiful rock outcrop and invite pollinators back to the site with a palette of native plants that would thrive in poor soils. We embraced the native sassafras grove that was already present, and made space for adventitious natives like evening primrose to help stabilize the slope.