WaterColor, Florida (USA)
Greenfield community with native vegetation pattern book

WaterColor is a community in Florida designed to ‘new urbanist’ principles. The masterplan for the 490 acre site is based on the interweaving of natural and built elements. The site consists of three overlapping ecosystems characteristic of the region: freshwater marshes, coastal dune scrub, oak and pine woodlands. The masterplan is based on a recognition of these ecological ‘zones’ and their native biodiversity.

To inform the design of new landscape elements an urban design pattern book has been developed. This establishes a vocabulary of landscape elements for both public and private space which draws upon native vegetation. It establishes a native plant ‘palette’ with detailed listings based on characteristics and visual appearance. This has been used by the landscape architects to design the network of public spaces, and has also informed the design of stormwater systems.

Sources:
1. Mays,V, Walk on the wild side, Landscape Architecture, December 2003
2. Urban Design Associates (2003) Patterns for place-making, http://www.arvida.com/watercolor/