I chose three projects, one which addresses public space,
another which focuses on the private living space, and finally a project that
incorporates both public and private space to create a “complete” urban
environment.
Chicago Riverwalk
The Riverwalk in Chicago is a
public urban space. The space is located along the Chicago River. The river
existed as a natural river but was engineered as Chicago developed industrially.
The Riverwalk project has helped to reclaim the river for recreational
engagement. The project was a joint effort including the Chicago Department of
Transportation, and several architectural and design firms. The project spans
five blocks along the river. The image below details the layout of the Riverwalk.[1]
Using the design constraints that
accompanied the sight and project the design team produced the plan for 5 separate
functions or spaces. Each space is denoted by the existing infrastructure. Each
block became a unique program. This was a highly effective answer to the design
problem faced. The East most block of the Riverwalk is the marina plaza which
is home to restaurants and river seating. The next section of the river serves
as an access to the river for recreational purposes and is named the Cove. The
next block is called the river theater and is a sculptural plaza comprised of
zig-zagging stairs leading down to the water’s edge. Another plaza lies in the
next block. The final space is the jetty, which is comprised of floating piers
with botanical gardens for educational purposes.
The project is effective because it
effectively engages with the city that surrounds it. Instead of ignoring the
destructive infrastructure imposed upon the river during the industrial period,
the project uses the infrastructure as a platform for creating an engaging urban
space. By dividing the spaces along the Riverwalk the space becomes far more
diverse and effective in its function. The project includes retail and
restaurants which provide a reason to visit the Riverwalk. Recreation exposes
and encourages the community to commit to the environmental well-being of the
river. Public plazas encourage pubic interaction, furthering the creation of
community.
This project is an example in
designing using a city’s aesthetic and history to create a space for the
community that is engaging and inclusive. This space is an example of adaptive
problem solving in a complex urban space with the end-result of a public space
that makes the city a more cohesive and engaged community.
Roam
Roam is an urban
housing development in Bali, Indonesia. Much like the Chicago Riverwalk this
development made use of existing infrastructure. Designed by Alexis Dornier,
this space’s purpose is to create community by being a model of a
micro-society. Constructed by remodeling and building upon three existing
apartment buildings that were run-down, the finished project is a space that is
an example of successful living space
that fosters communal living.[2]
Roam is
designed to provide living space, the most private space. The project succeeds
in creating private space for habitants but it also provides the residents
opportunity for communal interaction due to its density, layout, and accommodations.
The three buildings create a courtyard which each residence looks in upon. This
creates an intimate space but the intimate space is shared by all inhabitants
which makes all of the residents feel connected via the shared intimate space.
The roof top also creates connection with a patio, restaurant, bar, lounge, and
café. The two rooftops are connected with a bridge spanning the courtyard.
Another component that encourages creation of community is a kitchen that is
used by all of the residents.
The project
is very effective. It offers private living space within a dense, yet small
complex that also offers exceptional opportunity to connect with neighbors. In essence
the space creates a deeper sense of community by allowing the residents to
share and interact in their safe and intimate space.
This project
should serve as precedence for the creation and deepening of community in an
urban space by designing housing that furthers the advent of communal
interaction. This model, used in an overall urban space within a city would
greatly help the society of that city to feel included and connected as a
collective whole.
Atlantic Station
This is yet another example of a
project that began by using an existing infrastructure left behind by an aging
city. In the case of Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia, the designers began
with a site that was home to the Atlantic Steel Mill. The design of this
project began in the 90’s and reached completion in 2005. Developed by Jim
Jacoby, the urban space of Atlantic Station incorporates business, retail,
living, recreation, and transit within the confines of this project to create a
cohesive urban space that people live, work, and socialize within. The goals of
this project are to reduce urban sprawl, focus on public transit, reduce
pollution from daily transit, and create opportunity for people to live and
work within close proximity.[3]
This is an
example of a project that has well laid plans and would be arguably successful
if it was designed with more attention to the human scale. The concept and
layout of the plan create a successful urban space. By creating a dense space
that provides inhabitants access to retail, food, their work, their homes, and
their recreation the end result is the creation of human interaction, the
creation community. The main retail area, known as the District, is an outdoor
style mall with opportunities for retail, food, and entertainment. The design
is successful at the human scale in this area. It becomes unsuccessful in its
housing. The housing is primarily condominium style living which falls short of
creating the community and inclusion seen in the Roam projects previously mentioned.
The social and entertainment venues are the retail and food as well as a movie
theater. The project falls short of creating the successful public space seen
in the Chicago Riverwalk project.
The most
important lesson derived from the urban space at Atlantic Station is to invest
great time and care in the design and development of the human scale components
necessary for successful community. The idea of combining work, living, and
recreation all in one area that is easily accessible is a good idea. The flaw
is that, simply designing on that pretense leads to department store style
developments. The plans are nearly homogenous and the retailers simply buy
spots in the development. Condominiums are built and humans live closer but do
not necessarily interact and bond into a community when urban space is created
in this manner.
Synopsis
Successful
Urban Space is created when the overall plan does not neglect the human scale.
The project must be contextually bound to the city as seen in the Chicago Riverwalk.
The living spaces must provide opportunity for growing as neighbors and friends
as seen in the Roam project in Indonesia. If the concepts that made the Riverwalk
and Roam successful were implemented in the design of an overall Urban Space
like Atlantic City then the result would be the creation of community.
[1] "Chicago
Riverwalk / Chicago Department of Transportation" 14 Jan 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed 26 Oct 2016.
<http://www.archdaily.com/780307/chicago-riverwalk-chicago-department-of-transportation-plus-ross-barney-architects-plus-sasaki-associates-plus-jacobs-ryan-associates-plus-alfred-benesch-and-company/>
[2] "Roam / Alexis
Dornier" 25 May 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed 26 Oct 2016.
<http://www.archdaily.com/787696/roam-alexis-dornier/>
[3] Atlantic
Station Redevelopment. Retrieved October 26, 2016, from
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/AtlanticStation080904HC-GA/AtlanticStation080904HC-GA.pdf
Very good choices of examples. However, we still need to talk about techniques and methods of their spatial representations and communications.
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