Wekiwa Springs is a 7,000 acre state park in Florida historically known for its system of springs. As beautiful as these waters are, they often overshadow the rest of the park, which is home to a variety of different ecosystems and the trails that allow visitors to explore and experience the raw Florida wilderness.
This project proposes an architecturally significant additional entrance to acknowledge, educate, and celebrate this piece of natural Florida.
Design 8, UCF Architecture Summer 2020
Rain is one of the most integral aspects of this geographical landscape to consider, not only for a connection to the springs through water but because it drives the transformation of the land. It shapes both the material which it falls upon over time and the experience of the space in which it falls. The experience of the nature itself is paramount, and free exploration of the site should be encouraged, especially since hikers must stay on the trails in the other areas of the park.
The site consists of three separate areas: the Information and Historical Education Buildings, which provide context to the area; a column forest, which aids in wayfinding during exploration; and a lookout tower, which allows a vertical perspective of the landscape.
The concrete columns act as a non-invasive form of architecture which highlight the transformation that takes place over time. The material is allowed to be involved in its surrounding environment and erode naturally due to rain.
Ultimately, following them would lead to the discovery of the lookout tower.
The lookout tower provides a vertical view of a landscape almost always viewed horizontally. Each platform acts as a stopping point, where one can rest and observe the subtle changes of their increased elevation. It allows visitors to rise above the treetops and gain a larger perspective of the forest they just journeyed through, the same forest the tower’s form works to mimic.
