Location: Memphis, United States.

Architect: Marlon Blackwell and James Corner Field Operations.

Shelby Farms Park has completed the first phase of its master plan, developed by James Corner Field Operations, to transform the 4,500-acre landscape into a nationally renowned landmark. The “Heart of the Park” features an ensemble of buildings and structures that merge with the site to create an active landscape around the 80-acre Hyde Lake. The buildings vary in form and function but unite around the simple southern experience of the porch, providing both prospect across the landscape and refuge from the elements. The Visitor Center acts as the nerve center of the Park, serving as a hub and point of arrival for visitors. The Restaurant and Event Center with a deep set porch and low slung roof is an economic and social catalyst for the Park. Together, the Pavilions – an Event Stage, Boat House, and two Lakeside Picnic Pavilions – contribute to the active and playful landscape at the Heart of the Park. The buildings share a spare but potent material palette of local cypress and metal panels, balancing the natural and industrial history of the place. The deep overhangs offer shade from the intense Memphis sun while a geothermal loop through the lake ties the primary structures together. The first phase of the project has transformed the park into a 21st-century landmark.

Photo credit: Timothy Hursley.