LICK RUN GREENWAY ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

The Lick Run Greenway is a $103 million, groundbreaking environmental project. It is the first daylighted stream in the United States to control sewer overflows. Yet, the Lick Run Greenway project is much more than that; it is the creation of a mile and a half long stream and park in the heart of the economically depressed South Fairmount neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Working with the Landscape Architecture firm, Human Nature, we designed the architectural elements of the greenway. These included bridges, columns, fencing, lighting, and wall features throughout the area.

To create the designs we established a design palette using what we call a “context expressive” philosophy. Unlike the more common “context sensitive” approach (which is a simple acknowledgement of architectural features) the “context expressive” approach embraces iconic architectural themes and features, and uses those for inspiration. Context Expressive design draws from the architectural heritage of a place to create new architecture that is rooted in that place – and which cannot rightfully be located anywhere else. It is the antithesis of “anywhere America” architecture.

The stone parapet wall of the historic Roosevelt School building provided inspiration for the bridge railings at Lick Run.

The curved columns, stout foundations, and proportions of the historic St. Andrews Hospital provided inspiration the bridge architecture.

While the Lick Run Greenway is a magnificent achievement, and the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati deserves many accolades for its herculean effort to bring a natural solution to a man-made problem, construction of the greenway is just the start of what needs to be done for this neighborhood. Streets must be calmed, zoning must be changed, buildings must be rehabbed and other buildings must be built in order for the renaissance of South Fairmount to truly begin.