Esmeralda Corridor
Restoring Environmental Connection & Stewardship After Disaster
UNC Charlotte David R Ravin School of Architecture, Charlotte, NC
This studio partnered with the village of Chimney Rock, NC to imagine possibilities for redevelopment following destructive flooding from Hurricane Helene in 2024.
Grounded in ecological education and trauma-informed design, this design bridges the needs of a recovering community with the area’s established tourism economy, fostering long-term resilience and stewardship both ecologically and economically.
The design for the town’s western “Esmeralda Corridor” focused on creating floodable infrastructure along the riverbed and edges while also supporting the area’s function as a gateway and tourist hub for the town. Along with restoring Highway 74 and enhancing it with pedestrian infrastructure to provide a walkable high-water connection to the town center, the plan introduces a small neighborhood market and public gathering space to serve local residents and visitors to the surrounding vacation rental properties.
The design also considers more-than-human stakeholders as it negotiates access to the river. Nature-based rewilding solutions repair the thriving riparian ecosystem and support biodiversity, and a wildlife crossing over the highway restores safe paths for animals to reach the river.
For Chimney Rock’s human residents and visitors, the Riverwalk and interpretive signage offer active engagement and opportunities to learn about the river’s history and ecology, reframing the river as an ever-changing local asset rather than a threat to local livability.
Left: Clipped view of Master Plan. See full version below.
Restoring Ecological Diversity
We proposed two tactics to restore biodiversity and create a healthier riparian ecosystem: native rewilding and a wildlife crossing over the highway. This crossing would also serve as a gateway to the town, offering an opportunity to share the town’s community values – love, hope, and faith – which were painted on shipping containers in the town during its recovery.
Riverwalk
My partner and I developed a program of structures and signage for the Riverwalk. She continued this work by creating a set of proposed exhibits and designing the Riverbed Step Down & Path of Play.
Graphics below (excepting path sections) created by Kristen James.
Graphics below (excepting path sections) created by Kristen James.
Good Neighbor Market & Woodland Meander
I designed the eastern end of our site, creating a small neighborhood market to serve neaby homes and vacation rentals and create a gathering space. This site hosts only one other commercial space – an inn – and otherwise lacks walkable access to food and spaces to connect with other community members.
I also designed the Woodland Meander, a network of walking and biking trails through land that will be restored as woodland to create habitat, strengthen the riverbank, and slow floodwaters. The focus of this space was to create a feeling of refuge within the forested area. Repurposed materials such as boulders provide seating, while restored vegetation makes this a peaceful place to reconnect with nature along the river.
I also designed the Woodland Meander, a network of walking and biking trails through land that will be restored as woodland to create habitat, strengthen the riverbank, and slow floodwaters. The focus of this space was to create a feeling of refuge within the forested area. Repurposed materials such as boulders provide seating, while restored vegetation makes this a peaceful place to reconnect with nature along the river.
