Newark Visitor Center Competition

Choosing what’s good to eat is one of the most basic decisions in life, but one that can be difficult in many urban centers. Healthy food needs to be made more accessible to the citizens of Newark. This project addresses this problem while locating the visitor’s center to create a seamless transition from city to park. The roofscape is a functioning garden that educates the city about plant systems and other sustainable practices. It is an urban space that elevates the visitor above the street,

and create a connection between the city and the riverfront park. Rooftop plants are arranged adjacent to companion plants—they improve nutrient uptake, pest control, structural support, sunlight control, and spatial efficiency. For example, basil improves the flavor of tomatoes when the two are planted together. With this organization, the garden is a subtly shifting landscape of mutually beneficial plant combinations.