Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands: Strengthening Diversity for Community Resilience

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship of cultural diversity and public space design in the context of an 8.25-acre site in the Rainier Beach neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Though existing research directly on this topic is limited, related research from fields such as psychology and urban planning is drawn upon to inform a Design Framework for Cultural Diversity. This framework is applied through the design of Rainier Beach Urban Farm and Wetlands to support a welcoming and culturally-rich environment. The design is organized by three themes-connect, convey and cultivate-that were informed through site and context analyses and interviews with site managers and potential user groups. Just as the health and resiliency of ecosystems are bolstered by biological diversity, this framework and design application aim to enhance the health and resilience of human communities by strengthening cultural diversity.