// Ashley Coon
Crevice Garden & Misc.
// Ashley Coon
Crevice Garden & Misc.
PROJECT
Located in Oro Valley on the outskirts Tucson, AZ, this backyard renovation presents a variety of interesting design considerations, many of which fall into a philosophical design direction I'm personally interested in which I term "architecture for non-humans". The client has an adopted desert tortoise which has very particular habitat needs for temperature regulation, diet, and general well-being. Two makeshift burrows (tortoise habitats) exist on the property as well as extensive native flora. The design strategy is one of "creative destruction" in which infrastructure interventions are put in place to provide a future thriving native oasis for the tortoise, pollinators, and other native fauna by means of habitat creation, food source opportunities, and building soil ecology. Additionally, this infrastructure forms a refuge for the client experience that mimics the adjacent Catalina State Park and wilderness area.
This initial completed phase includes:
1. dry creek feature
2. boardwalk
3. gravel access pathways with metal edging
4. crevice garden
5. patio area
6. cactus garden
7. wildflower/pollinator garden zones
8. additional native desert tortoise and bird forage
The tortoise shelters are the subject of a future design using existing salvaged on-site building material and employing more substantial building techniques that have a proven track record in architecture (such as green roofs and terracing) to better mitigate the interior burrow temperature throughout the year, provide soil stabilization and erosion prevention from monsoon rains, and to maximize the structural longevity of the burrow for the health and safety of the occupant ("Goldie").
These are both planned prototypes to better provide reproducible construction techniques for desert tortoise shelters for those in living in captivity and their stewards to better reproduce the necessary living conditions that are seen in the wild. The hope is that data can be extracted to prove the model for maximizing the health and happiness of desert tortoise captive living conditions. One of these structures is being modified as-is while another one plans to be completely rebuilt from scratch.
Solar shades are used presently on the site to help cool both the burrows and the patio pond and these are seen as temporary with the goal of growing appropriate tree canopy coverage and green roof thermal mass with succulents/cacti to effectively provide substantial shade over time.
The main phase of construction has wrapped up having completed the boardwalk, cactus garden zone, small crevice garden demonstration area, rocky dry creek, gravel paths with metal edging, and a patio that blends the aesthetic of the gravel paths with the existing flagstone pavers and crevice garden.
New shade canopies and posts were installed which will be in-place temporarily while surrounding trees and native foliage are able to function as future shade infrastructure.
Contractor: Deshawn Jenks atDirt 2 Beauty
Boardwalk, Flagstone, & Crevice Garden Construction: Ashley Coon
// Completed
Crevice Garden (Part I- Extension Planned TBD)
Initial Design
Tortoise Shelter Re-Make Concept
Existing Conditions
Construction Progress
More Info:Tortoise Adoption
https://www.azgfd.com/wildlife-conservation/living-with-wildlife/wildlife-care-center/tortoise-adoption-information/
Crevice Gardens
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/03/realestate/crevice-rock-gardening.html