MUDscape

In 1987, the United States Congress authorized the development of a National Peace Garden on a 10 acre portion of Hains Point, located at the southernmost tip of East Potomac Park in Washington, DC. Formed over 90 years from Potomac River dredge, this artificial strip of land remains in flux: between the actions of the river to reclaim it and the actions of humans to reinforce it. This thesis explores the design of a contemporary garden to peace through the context and realities of the original competition site. MUDscape challenges the vehicle, subject matter, and material of traditional monuments and memorials by asking, ‘what is a monument to natural processes?’ The guidelines of the National Peace Garden design competition set the parameters for this question to be explored.