MNLA MNLA

PHL Image Maker: Design Competition

Sector

Connections

Service

Landscape Architecture

Client

Philadelphia Horticultural Society (PHS), Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)

Location

Philadelphia, PA

Status

Complete

Completion

2018

Site Area

188 acres

MNLA’s design entry for the PHL Image Maker Design Competition draws inspiration from the site’s historic creeks that once flowed to the Delaware River, “Take Off From Here” proposes a choreographed landscape for Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) that speaks directly to the deep ecology of the site while unifying the landscape. It is at once strategic and visionary. A forest will rise where a tidal marsh once ebbed, revitalizing the altered site to generate a dynamic gateway. Employing the existing site infrastructure as scaffolding, the design sets planting and people in motion, cultivating the energy of the site. Project phasing and plant growth over time reveal an evolving installation iconic from both the ground and the air.

“Take Off From Here” overlays art as a programmatic element on PHL infrastructure while positioning a successional landscape at its neighborhood threshold. Changing with the seasons and the years, the Coastal Plain landscape reflects the vibrancy and excitement of Philadelphia. It becomes the iconic, welcoming gateway for a 21st century city and its forward-thinking airport dedicated to ecologically-responsible growth.

MNLA's concept, “Take Off From Here”, proposes a choreographed landscape for Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) that speaks directly to the deep ecology of the site while unifying the landscape.

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