H.O.P.E.S. Design Charrette
Nodal Development and the Ecology of Eugene

A Charrette is an intensive investigation into possible solutions for a design project.

This year HOPES have joined with Patrick Condon, a noted professor of landscape architecture, the City of Eugene, the School of Architecture and Allied Arts (AAA), and the Center for Housing Innovation to form a community design charrette around a planned nodal development in West Eugene. The charrette will address a design problem presented in the framework of a draft site plan, prepared by the City of Eugene for the 'Royal Node' about a year ago. A continuous network of greenways that follows existing drainage channels is planned for the relatively flat site. In addition, the site is adjacent to an extensive patchwork of wetlands. The focus of the charrette will be on finding implementation strategies for urbanization and stormwater management issues that facilitates connections to the greenway and enhances the local ecology. The relationship of the site to existing neighborhoods is an important factor.


The charrette will concentrate on all the elements of a neighborhood: street and path designs, open space, commercial and civic space, and residential areas. The design ideas for the City of Eugene's preferred alternative emphasize the following:

*Narrow streets and overall street design minimizes impervious surfaces, with bioswales between the street and sidewalk to provide for natural stormwater drainage.

*The street and path designs and its connection to the network of open space and other elements maximize pedestrian and bike circulation throughout the site.

*The commercial core acting as a transit stop internally connects to the residential areas, while providing needed services to other neighborhoods.

For more information, call or write H.O.P.E.S.
University of Oregon, School of Architecture and Allied Arts
H.O.P.E.S. Lawrence Hall
5249 University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403
phone:(541) 346-0719
e-mail:hopes@laz.uoregon.