Fairgrounds, Mineral County
Remediation work on this 46 acre site was completed last year, with the outdoor arena being moved to its final position on the lower bench.
The former silver mining town of Creede is located in the Alte Vista Mountains, 10 miles from the source of the Rio Grande. The fairground site’s strategic importance is its location on the floodplain of Willow Creek - it can be seen for miles from the Silver Thread Scenic Highway. The site makes an important contribution to the natural landscape and could become an iconic signature for the town.
The Mineral County Fairgrounds Association approached 51% studios to develop with them a proposal for permanent all weather fairground facilities which could be implemented over time. Each phase will need to function in its own right, allowing for the next with maximum efficiency. We developed a flexible master diagram, using remediation to create an enduring ‘functional landscape’, preserving and enhancing existing views to and from the site.
Facilities will include a multi-purpose all-weather arena, community center and publicly accessible landscape where equal importance is given, and clear distinctions made, between pedestrians, the animals and their trucks.
Local sustainable design research has included a survey of readily available local materials, efficient energy creators such as ground source, solar cells etc, indigenous building traditions such as straw bale and stucco construction, in-floor radiant heat, and natural lighting.
The Mineral County Fairgrounds Association [MCFA] has successfully secured city, county, state and federal grants for the site, as well as overseeing the Voluntary Cleanup Operation.
Dover
In 2006 51% studios received a special commendation for this entry to the Kent County Council urban competition imagining a new future for the city of Dover.
Many roads to cross but I can’t seem to find my way over / Wandering I am lost as I travel along the white cliffs of Dover [from ‘Too many rivers to cross’, the Harder they Come, with apologies to Jimmy Cliff]
Portus Dubris is a town denied its sea frontage, its beach and cliffs and ports — a town thrilling to arrive at by sea, car or truck, but miserable to be in on foot. Yet Dover is also uniquely situated to once again blossom into a first class town — it has history, character, identity and natural endowment in spoonfuls.
This ‘master diagram’ seeks to reconnect the town and its sea frontage by bringing the countryside into the heart of the town and suppressing the relentless traffic thundering along the A20 by burying it between Snargate Street and Marine Parade. The space above the road will be a new car free landscaped public space.
Along with the proposed quayside quarters this represents an opportunity to create a sustainable city to rival anywhere in the world, so that over time our perception of Dover will be first of green and then of white.


