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SF Zen Center Design Presentation
This document summarizes an urban permaculture design project for the San Francisco Zen Center. It describes the Zen Center's three sites - City Center, Green Gulch Farm, and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. It then analyzes sectors like sun, wind, water, and wildlife at the City Center site. Several areas of the City Center site are selected for potential design projects - the Laguna Street sidewalk, main courtyard, roof, and side courtyard. Goals, visions, and potential elements are proposed for enhancing each of these areas in an environmentally sustainable way. Next steps and challenges for the project are also discussed.
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SF Zen Center Design Presentation
- 1. San Francisco ZenCenterUrban Permaculture Design ProjectCarlos AugurtoCristina CorreaCristiane FerreiraUC Berkeley ExtensionNovember 15, 2010
- 2. San Francisco ZenCenterCity Center: Hoshin-ji (Begginer’s Mind Temple)Green Gulch Farm: Soryui-ji (Green Dragon Temple)Tassajara Zen Mountain Center: ZenShin-ji (Zen Mind Temple)
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- 4. Beginner’s Mind Temple1922- Julia MorganDifficult corner siteNatural lighting throughoutOriginally the Emanu-el Sisterhood ResidenceLater wartime duty as headquarters for female military personnelBought by SusukiRoshi in 1969… Practice center, residence, refuge, classroom
- 5. SummaryThe siteProject goalsSelectedareasArea goals, vision, assessmentProject elementsQuestions remaining
- 6. The SiteOctavia St.LagunaSt.Buchanan St.Buchanan St.Oak St.Page St.Haight St.
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- 8. SFZC City CenterZones
- 10. SectorsSun (C)Wind (C)(D)WaterRain(C)(D)Potable (B)(D)Waste (C)(D)Practice cycles (C)GGF, ZMC (C)WildlifePests (B)(D)Pollinators, etc (C)People (C)(D)ResidentsStaffGuestsSanghaStudentsCitySilence (C)
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- 12. Project GoalsClose resourceloops to conserve energy and mass and preserve carbon onsiteBuild on existing successful solutionsWalk the talk…EfficiencyImpermanence
- 13. Selected AreasLaguna StreetsidewalkMain CourtyardRoofSide Courtyard
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- 15. Laguna Street -GoalsImprove aestheticsImprove accessReduce runoff
- 16. Laguna Street -Vision
- 17. Laguna Street -Vision
- 18. Laguna Street -Vision
- 20. Laguna Street -Elements
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- 23. Main Courtyard SectorAnalysisThe sun rises on the west side of the building, it sets to the east.Sun distribution on-site:North edge (south facing): full sun (summer) / shade (winter)South edge (north facing): full shadeEast edge: morning sun West edge: afternoon sunWind pattern: The main wind pattern is blocked by the high building structure. The courtyard does not have big wind concerns as the plants are protected.Rain pattern: the rain hits the concrete and then the rain water goes to the soil and the plants, and to the drains to the city’s sewer system. Maybe this soils gets more rain water than the average, as the rain hits the concrete and moves straight into the soil.Wildlife: Pigeons regularly come by to enjoy the birdbath. Sometimes there are hummingbirds. There may be other birds. Several spiders have made a home amongst the landscaping. There are also fish in the pond and snails everywhere.Soil: The existing soil in the garden is bad and old. And it is the same to the boxes. To know exactly physical properties, type, structure should be done a test. The soil has not been amended in a long time.
- 24. Main Courtyard SectorAnalysisTechnical problems on-siteSoil;The planters by the windows are full of pests (cutworms),;Not much people to keep the maintenance;The planter boxes could be considered underutilized;The building has had pest infestations in the past. Rats and bed bugs are a concern. Available on-site energiesPeople: Guest students, residents, visitors, employees;Machines / tools: gardening tools, green house;Wastes: Water, organic matter, time;Energy: Solar – Photovoltaic panels; electrical; natural gas.
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- 27. VisioningSoil needs renovation.Theplanting plan needs to be re-organized.Incorporate useful and interactive things: food plants, education activities, flowers for arrangements.Research existing plants, their care, their needs.Creating a plant i.d. list with caring tips to make gardening transition and cooperation more accessible. There seems to be interest from residents.Gutters and rain collector (cistern) could be installed depending on where it is going to be used and where we are collecting it, and the existing drainage pattern.
- 28. GoalsPlants that attractButterflies for shade areas.Bring natives to the landscape.Planters – remove the plants with pests, they are in the wrong environment.Keep maximum manually irrigation.Soil regeneration, regenerate instead remove – Ommmmm…Create plants ID to integrate the residents and make the maintenance easier.Rainwater system: The size of the “tile roof over loggia” is 44” x 11’. Permitting approximately capture 751 cubic feet of water/month or 5,617 gal/ monthPrinciple #9, without requirement of much energy or funding, and being low cost.Educational garden.
- 30. #1 – thesign will be in a “bunch” close to a rock, where the person is invited to observe and interact. It is a “sit spot”, where you sit, take your time and observe.#2 – the sign will be in a plant to show and to make to think that the plant is catching and storing energy.# 3 – the sign will be at the fountain, where supposable lettuce could be planted around it.# 4 – the sign will be in a spot “full of dead leaves”. Courtyard self-regulation: no water irrigation in the winter; dead leaves naturally spread around the ground; permitting the nature make her job.#5 – the sign will be at the “cistern”, and it will be the symbol for education. A cistern in a Zen Center!#6 – the sign will be in another “dead leaves” spot. Nature leaves no trace; a picture explaining that it will be turned into mulch.#7 – The nature reason behind the pattern. A maple tree spot could be the example of a pattern year cycle. Also the fountain could be a symbol for the ocean, where life comes (cycle of the fountain / cycle of the water). A study of pattern.#8 – in a spot where plants are watered by hands. Bringing people and nature close together.Close the contact of person and plant and human valuing the work that come from hands.#9 – Watering can near a pot as a symbol of how you slow things down and make more efficient solution. If the Center runs out of energy, they can irrigate the plants.#10 – bring a native to the landscape and the sign to symbolize diversity.#11 – in the surface of the soil, where is an edge between the life above the soil and human life.#12 – in any part of the garden, showing that the creation of an educational garden is stimulating the creativity and imagination in people and the associations they do through the garden, getting rooted into their lives
- 31. Timeline and budgetTherainwater system to the courtyard area could cost around $6,000 with cistern in polypropylene and installation. It takes around 1 month.http://www.tampabaywater.orgThe signs could be hand made using recyclable materials. Cost around $5 per sign, being $60 total for materials and volunteers could make the art design. It might take 2 months within finding recyclable materials, buying extra materials like light paints, brush, pinheads and start working. The plants price and installation depends in which will be chosen, not estimated.
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- 33. Side Courtyard -GoalsEnhance aestheticsImprove accessReduce runoff
- 34. Side Courtyard- VisionProjectwas a success because it created a beautiful, usable environment in what was previously a dark corner of the building
- 35. Side Courtyard -Vision
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- 40. Rooftop- GoalsImprove wildlifehabitatIncrease green living spaceProduce food/herbsReduce urban heat island effectReduce runoff
- 41. Rooftop- VisionCreating agreen oasis that produces a yield and is viable for wildlife and pollinatorsTo introduce urban beekeeping to SFZC
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- 43. Next steps…Parking spotin front?Rainwater harvesting for bathrooms?Window planters in rooms?Consider project phasing and budgeting, based on SFZC available resourcesUpcoming challenges:Aging monksDeteriorating infrastructureNew needs
Editor's Notes
- #3 The sangha was incorporated by Shunryu Suzuki-roshi and a group of his American students in 1962. Today SFZC is the largest Soto organization in the West.
- #4 ImpermanenceHarmony (of difference and equality?)Impermaculture manifesto vsshantideva… integrating all that is self with all that is other
- #5 City Center BuildingHayes Valley neighborhoodCenter of operationsOver 50 residents, many more non-residentsPractice center, home…San FranciscoNorthern CaliforniaZone 17The climate in this zone features cool, wet, almost frostless winters and cool summers with frequent fog or wind. On most days and in most places, the fog tends to come in high and fast, creating a cooling and humidifying blanket between the sun and the earth, reducing the intensity of the light and sunshine.
- #6 Addzen center logo- Base map (3’ by 3’)- Zones and Sectors (overlays)- Vision and goals- Analysis of site (is it the same that Functional Analysis?)- Placement of elements (overlay)- Plant / Animal list and or other elements list- List of unknowns and questions- Timeline with financial and timing estimates (exact where possible)
- #8 We selected certain areas… not the front bc there’s already thoughts for there. But tanto wants lagunast to look better and gardener isn’t thinking about it yet. We identified eight areas:FrontLaguna streetCourtyardSide courtyardConference centerRoomsBathroomsRoofBut there’s others… see zones.
- #11 Sun The sun rises on the east side of the building, it sets to the west. Sun distribution on-site:South side – full sunNorth side – shady to partial shadeEast: morning sunWest: afternoon sun The sunniest spot is the roof, followed by the front of the building, which faces south. Within the courtyard, the windows get a good amount of sun, as well as the northern edge of landscaping, since it faces south (like the front of the building). This northern edge of landscaping does not get any direct sunlight in the late fall and winter. The “tile roof over loggia”, facing Laguna St is partial shade; with mostly morning sun. the plants grow slanted toward the window. The side courtyard gets little sun, due to being surrounded by three story buildings on all four sides Light Wind Main Courtyard: The main wind pattern is blocked by the high building structure. The courtyard does not have big wind concerns. Rain/Water Rain pattern: The rain water goes to the soil and the plants, and to the drains to the city’s sewer system. Wildlife Pigeons regularly come by to enjoy the birdbath in the courtyard. Sometimes there are hummingbirds (courtyard, roof, and side courtyard). There may be other birds. Several spiders have made a home amongst the landscaping, especially in the dining hall windows of the main courtyard. There are also fish in the pond and snails everywhere. Possibly two types of snails, since the pond has an underwater snail. Butterflies could be attracted to the site; it is one way to make the place educational and beautiful. The roof may want to attract other birds, or feed owls. The building has had pest infestations in the past. Rats and bed bugs are a concern. Soil The existing soil in beds and pots alike is bad and old. Planter beds are the same. It may be useful to test the soil to find out something about its physical properties, type, and structure. The soil has not been amended in a long time. They are currently buying potting soil for smaller needs. Organic matter possibly could be produced on-site, but it might be more feasible to get soil from Green Gulch farm, which is where their organic material is processed into compost, and where they get other kind of products, like vegetables and bread. Technical problems on-siteSoil; which will be ammended before new plantingsPests in some plants; hence the need to rethink the landscaping so it is healthyNot much people to keep the maintenance; but community may be a resource to harvest (another sector to capture, if you make it easy for them to help) Available on-site energiesPeople: Guest students, residents, visitors, employees, other community, teachers, senior staffMachines / tools: gardening tools, green house;Wastes: Water, organic matter, time;Energy: Solar – Photovoltaic panels; electrical; natural gas.
- #16 Find plants that workImprove bike parkingSignageReduce runoff by slowing spreading sinking
- #17 Very wide sidewalk, bare tall wallCan do bike parking hereNew signageSeating?Invite passerbyReduce runoff – bmp – sssClimbers with food: curuba!
- #20 Elements:SidewalkStreetDoorSignTreesBuilding faccade offers a lot of spacePlants need space and give beautyPeople need beauty, and food, and habitat, all provided by plansMeet this need for people and they will bring their energy to the building and to the center. Foster connection. Pedestrians can become visitors. Regular visitors can become more engaged in the sangha. And possibly help provide maintenance.Wildlife connection is similar. And they provide additional services if we invite pollinators and similar.Sidwalk produces runoff, plants need water to grow. Slow water flow, spread it around the plants, and sink it into the ground instead of sending it so fast to the stormwater system.
- #34 Reduce runoff by sss:Flower shed potableFlower shed usedRain on allPotted plant irrigationRainwater/irrigation drainage
- #35 - Flower Garden ShedWater accessSpent water disposalCubbies, hooksLight- Security issuesDrainage – clogged drain?SSS planters… tubsPlants need to be ok with low lightPlaces to sit among the trees in potsImprove access to recycling area? at least improve storage of buckets.mopsGood place for rain storage, but low? Where to use it?Laundry to landscape?
- #37 ElementsConcrete floor (space, drainage issue)(E) planters, boxesFlower shedBuckets with flowersGarden toolsCleaning toolsDirty waterClean waterOld flowersTrashArranging toolsLarge sticksGarden stagingPicnic table/furniturePlantsWindows/doorsWildlifePeopleBuildings surroundingKitchenLaundryLoungeWallsAlley to conference center Cleaning areaConnectionsSimilar connections to those at Laguna Street, just different species and configuration. And the people are residents, not public.Flower area:Shed provides space (tools, staging, trash, flowers(Making efficient use of space is a reason to zone: branches in back, water nearby!Shed provides shade, but work needs light!Flowers produce a sort of compost tea. Use for other plants?Water for plants in pots in courtyard can come from bathrooms? Laundry area?Water from rain on floor can be used by new plants on that floor Staging takes biomass from plants? Can we build a shelf out of bamboo? Can we store our own branches?Grow inputs for kitchen?Other inputs for surrounding rooms: ventilation, viewSoil should come from GGF or home compost
- #38 - Flower Garden ShedWater accessSpent water disposalCubbies, hooksLight- Security issuesDrainage – clogged drain?SSS planters… tubsPlants need to be ok with low lightPink purslane?MintsJerusalem artichokePlaces to sit among the trees in potsImprove access to recycling area? at least improve storage of buckets.mopsGood place for rain storage, but low? Where to use it?Laundry to landscape?
- #41 Reduce runoff by sss:Flower shed potableFlower shed usedRain on allPotted plant irrigationRainwater/irrigation drainage