Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Thesis Draft
In an effort to reverse some of the damage we inflicted upon our environment with industrial development, the South Waterfront is a progressive leader in redeveloping our waterfront. There is a drive to not only restore the contaminated land, but to give back to it. Currently the development has made great progress sustainable building, but there is a lack of connection between the buildings. I propose to design a network of interdependent buildings sharing resources as well as creating a community within the residents.
Tim Hill has talked about Civic Ecology, a community built around ecology, economics, and social factors. An ecodistrict should be based on resource flows, not only natural, but managing a successful local economy and promoting a self governance. The current South Waterfront district is lacking the independence as a community and interdependence on each other for a successful ecodistrict.
My goals include:
-Design a clear hierarchical street system
-Promote emphasis on retail vs. residential streets
-Facilitate bicycle traffic
-Create a strong community connection
-Public Gathering Space
-Community Gardens
-Local Market
-Emphasize sustainable systems and sharing resources
-Efficient Water Collection
-Solar Energy
-Heat Coil heat and cooling system between residential and commercial buildings
-Establish strong and constant connections back to the river and the natural environment
-"Arterioles" of water system
-Green Corridors leading to water front
-Further develop connections between green spaces
My specific site it located next to OHSU, at the intersection of SW Whitaker St and SW River Pkwy. I am proposing that the current parking lot next to the site be turned into open park or market space which would continue all the was down to connect to the current U-pick dahlia field on the waterfront. On my specific site would either exist a branch of OHSU for Physical Rehabilitation as well and public facilities to integrate the community, or a Community Arts Center to engage the community and the newly established public green space connecting to the river.
Resources:
Portland Development Commision: North Macadam
http://www.pdc.us/pubs/type_list.asp?id=16
South Waterfront Plan
City of Portland Bureau of Planning
Portland South Waterfront Greenway - Buster Simpson
Tim Hill has talked about Civic Ecology, a community built around ecology, economics, and social factors. An ecodistrict should be based on resource flows, not only natural, but managing a successful local economy and promoting a self governance. The current South Waterfront district is lacking the independence as a community and interdependence on each other for a successful ecodistrict.
My goals include:
-Design a clear hierarchical street system
-Promote emphasis on retail vs. residential streets
-Facilitate bicycle traffic
-Create a strong community connection
-Public Gathering Space
-Community Gardens
-Local Market
-Emphasize sustainable systems and sharing resources
-Efficient Water Collection
-Solar Energy
-Heat Coil heat and cooling system between residential and commercial buildings
-Establish strong and constant connections back to the river and the natural environment
-"Arterioles" of water system
-Green Corridors leading to water front
-Further develop connections between green spaces
My specific site it located next to OHSU, at the intersection of SW Whitaker St and SW River Pkwy. I am proposing that the current parking lot next to the site be turned into open park or market space which would continue all the was down to connect to the current U-pick dahlia field on the waterfront. On my specific site would either exist a branch of OHSU for Physical Rehabilitation as well and public facilities to integrate the community, or a Community Arts Center to engage the community and the newly established public green space connecting to the river.
Resources:
Portland Development Commision: North Macadam
http://www.pdc.us/pubs/type_list.asp?id=16
South Waterfront Plan
City of Portland Bureau of Planning
Portland South Waterfront Greenway - Buster Simpson
South Waterfront Development Plans
http://www.pdc.us/ura/north_macadam/willamette-greenway.asp
http://www.amaa.com/portfolio/project/?category=&project=185&redir=L3N1c3RhaW5hYmxlX2Rlc2lnbi8/IzQ=
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Old House Dahlias
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
South Waterfront Research
Images from "Portland South Waterfront Greenway - Conceptual Schematic Design Phase"
August 2004
Buster Simpson
August 2004
Buster Simpson
Zoning and other maps from "South Waterfront Plan" Adopted on November 13, 2002
Effective January 20, 2003 from the City of Portland Bureau of Planning
Effective January 20, 2003 from the City of Portland Bureau of Planning
Potential Programs
I have been considering two options for potential building programs for the South Waterfront.
One of those options in a physical rehabilitation center. The presence of OHSU seems to make this an ideal site for a program relating to health and healing. Certain aspects of the program could be open to the public, such as a gym, pool, and other spaces to facilitate activity. This could be a way to promote integration between OHSU and the community.
The other option I am considering is a community arts center. It could be a facility for classes, studios to rent, galleries, possibly performing arts and music as well. The goal of this program would be to create a stronger community connection for the residents of the housing towers. This would promote the intermingling of generations, as well as provide a draw for families into the area.
One of those options in a physical rehabilitation center. The presence of OHSU seems to make this an ideal site for a program relating to health and healing. Certain aspects of the program could be open to the public, such as a gym, pool, and other spaces to facilitate activity. This could be a way to promote integration between OHSU and the community.
The other option I am considering is a community arts center. It could be a facility for classes, studios to rent, galleries, possibly performing arts and music as well. The goal of this program would be to create a stronger community connection for the residents of the housing towers. This would promote the intermingling of generations, as well as provide a draw for families into the area.
Initial Site Diagrams and Concept Model
I have chosen the south waterfront as my future design site. Here are a few diagrams which I thought would be helpful for design decisions.
The site is very much connected to OHSU, which facilitates and nurtures life, and I am very interested in the use and integration of water in the site, which is at the source of life. This has lead me to my current metaphor for the site, which is arterioles of life. I want to create veins of life and activity, based on the interaction of water, creating connections back to the Willamette River.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Options for Exploration
Biomimicry - The Desert Beetle
-Water Collection
-Water Extraction from Vapor/Fog
-Control of Water Flow off Building Surface
-Building Surface Texture - lowers reflectivity and increase light penetration - implications for solar collection
Ecodistrict Scale
-Utility Sharing - District Heating and Cooling
-Use district water collection and control to increase efficiency and use for passive heating and cooling
-Passive Solar Water Heating at Residential Scale
-Earth Tube "Root" System - Connection larger commercial buildings to move excess heat to residential buildings
-Water Control Emphasis at Water Front
Although the Desert Beetles strategy for water extraction from vapor has stronger implication in an arid environment, I think that it has potential in a climate like the northwest as well. Although we are not short on water, I think we can take this means of water collection and apply it to building surfaces to increase water collection efficiency. The pattern of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the beetles back control how the water particles collect and where the water flows once it has accumulated enough to travel the necessary distance. I think this can be applied in the northwest to take advantage of the abundance of water we have and turn it into more of a resource than an excess. This can be applied to vertical building surface as well to control how water condenses on the building in a way that we can utilize as part of a larger system.
Rather than just collect water into a huge cistern for building/community use, where it would likely overflow during the peak rainy season anyway, I propose using that water for it's passive heating and cooling potential. Creating a large underground system of earth tubes would allow the additional rainwater collected to be use to conduct heat from where there is excess to where there is a need. The community of buildings would be dependent upon and supportive of each other. The control and utilization of excess water is also going to be important and beneficial for water front locations, where the water quality becomes an issue. Controlling water flow and collection can become an integrated part of the water filtration and gradual integration back into the natural environment/contexts.
-Water Collection
-Water Extraction from Vapor/Fog
-Control of Water Flow off Building Surface
-Building Surface Texture - lowers reflectivity and increase light penetration - implications for solar collection
Ecodistrict Scale
-Utility Sharing - District Heating and Cooling
-Use district water collection and control to increase efficiency and use for passive heating and cooling
-Passive Solar Water Heating at Residential Scale
-Earth Tube "Root" System - Connection larger commercial buildings to move excess heat to residential buildings
-Water Control Emphasis at Water Front
Although the Desert Beetles strategy for water extraction from vapor has stronger implication in an arid environment, I think that it has potential in a climate like the northwest as well. Although we are not short on water, I think we can take this means of water collection and apply it to building surfaces to increase water collection efficiency. The pattern of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions on the beetles back control how the water particles collect and where the water flows once it has accumulated enough to travel the necessary distance. I think this can be applied in the northwest to take advantage of the abundance of water we have and turn it into more of a resource than an excess. This can be applied to vertical building surface as well to control how water condenses on the building in a way that we can utilize as part of a larger system.
Rather than just collect water into a huge cistern for building/community use, where it would likely overflow during the peak rainy season anyway, I propose using that water for it's passive heating and cooling potential. Creating a large underground system of earth tubes would allow the additional rainwater collected to be use to conduct heat from where there is excess to where there is a need. The community of buildings would be dependent upon and supportive of each other. The control and utilization of excess water is also going to be important and beneficial for water front locations, where the water quality becomes an issue. Controlling water flow and collection can become an integrated part of the water filtration and gradual integration back into the natural environment/contexts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)