KAMIAH, Idaho, December 20, 2023: — On the afternoon of December 6, dozens of undergraduates gathered in a comfortable meeting room on the Washington State University campus. Many of the students were dressed up and all of them were enthusiastic to present the results of their landscape architecture studio. Their project, “Connecting Kamiah,” taught by Nez Perce- Clearwater National Forests Landscape Architect Marcus Owens, asked them to come up with new ways to link parts of this small town and to redesign its public spaces.
The students were tasked with connecting an underused part of the waterfront currently serving as river access, the riparian areas of Lawyer Creek near the Clearwater River, and the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Supervisor’s Office in Kamiah. Before they began drafting visions for the future, they spent two days on site, exploring its urban fabric, learning about the stakeholders who are invested in its future, and exploring Nez Perce sacred sites, theology, and traditions.
Their work reflected a wide set of possible futures for public space in this community. Vicente Hernandez presented a design inspired by the Nez Perce equestrian tradition. “I wanted a place for people to learn about and admire the famous Appaloosa horses” Hernandez explained, so he created a park with informational placards and a statue of an Appaloosa. The horse theme continued throughout Kamiah’s public places, with dedicated lanes for horses on city thoroughfares and a barn at the city park for horses to rest at and for people to interact with them.
Other students took inspiration from the local landscape or sought ways to enhance connection with it. Basalt columns, representing the rocky canyons of the Clearwater River and water features representing the river itself were a common recurring element. Native plants, carefully coordinated using bloom diagrams to ensure vibrancy throughout the year, were a recurring design element shared amongst the students.
Other students leaned into the amenities Kamiah currently lacks. Soonjee Hwang focused on walkability, creating a pedestrian only street in downtown Kamiah with tables and benches, a small park with a promenade, camping area, and large trees, while she placed a BMX park at the riverfront in a prominent place so that it could be a focal point for friendly competition. Raised platforms, treehouses, and other artificial ways to get above the Clearwater Canyon’s floor and get a birds-eye view of the stunning local landscape were seen across the projects. Yahya Al Advaiam felt it was a shame that the Clearwater Valley is famous for its fishing but lacked seafood restaurants, so her design placed a seafood restaurant on the waterfront entered through a dedicated vegetable garden and beside a fishing pier for the public.
Throughout these presentations, the students displayed impressive professionalism and sensitivity to local culture and history. Interpretive elements were chosen to echo local resources, sacred Nez Perce lifeways, and to make local history visible to all visitors. These projects are a jumping off point for future landscapes that aims to improve the quality of life in this forest community.
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Students explained their thought process and goals during the presentations
Tai Bomar sought to bring the surrounding forest into the town itself
Megan Forbes focused on the natural sounds of the landscape and imagined public spaces designed to enhance existing soundscapes.
Vicente Hernandez put horses at the center of new and revitalized community spaces