A New Urban Model
Undergraduate
Category:
Humani2es
and
Arts
Degree
Level:
Architecture
Abstract
ID#
363
Reimagining the Post-Industrial Site: A New Urban Model
Research + Statistics
Neighborhood Views
Jordan Young Abstract:
This project proposes a new urban model that offers a variety of housing typologies, integrated with multi-modal transit access, ecologically performative landscapes, and a range of public amenities. With more than fifty percent of the global population residing in urban areas, cities have begun to repurpose post-industrial sites to support growing populations. Assembly Square in Somerville, MA was used as the test site for the new urban model. This post-industrial site is located adjacent to the Mystic River and has many similarities to other under-utilized sites in Boston and throughout the United States. The design focuses on creating a module that can be deployed across the site and modified based on the surrounding context. This module consists of four key elements: the island, perimeter housing, public courtyard, and an activation point. Each island contains public amenities such as retail, parking, car shares, and Hubway stations. Perimeter housing is placed on top of the island, and forms an interior courtyard. Every courtyard contains a different landscape, which functions as both a public park and soft-infrastructure. The soft-infrastructure is used to mitigate excess storm water. Within each of the landscapes is an activation point, or public pavilion, that ranges anywhere from a kayak rental to artist’s studios. Meeting the demand for more urban development is an ongoing issue in cities across the world. This innovative urban design allows a network of social, ecological, and urban infrastructure to function simultaneously, therefore making it a valuable model in the ongoing transformation of modern cities.
Background: As growing populations put pressure on cities across the world, vacant and underutilized lots will be re-integrated into the existing urban fabric. The problem lies in creating an economic, social, and sustainable model that activates these vacant landscapes, rather than just occupies them. Assembly Square and the surrounding neighborhoods have become disconnected due to infrastructural divides and are a prime example of an area in need of re-development. Each neighborhood has become a self-sufficient island, therefore isolating itself from the surrounding communities. While some of these islands contain a unique amenity, such as large parks or waterfront access, the massive automobile infrastructure creates complications for inter-neighborhood relationships. At the regional scale these isolated islands produce desolate urban areas, a common problem for post-industiral sites. While each site has its own restrictions and limits, the framework proposed for Assembly Square is flexible enough to adapt to various locations.
Regional Analysis:
Please include the following headlines:
Infrastructural Divides + Programmatic Differences
Site Map
MAPPING
Program Distribution -Each island becomes self sustaining, further isolating PROGRAMATIC them from one another.DIVERSITY MOST OF THE ISLANDS HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF A SINGLE PROGRAM, AND ARE THERFORE MORE DEPENDANT ON THE AUTOMOTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE. ISALNDS ARE NOT ONLY DIVIDED BY THE LARGE SCALE HIGHWAYS, BUT THE PATCHES OF INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND. THIS ALSO LEADS TO A DISCONNECT WITH THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS TO THE WATER. RECREATIONAL SPACE -Recreation DATA: THE DATA SHOWN IS BASED RESIDENTIAL -Residential ON THE PERCENTAGE OF COVERAGE FOR THAT TYPE COMMERCIAL -Commercial OF PROGRAM ON THE ISLAND. INDUSTRIAL -Industrialized UNDERUTILIZED -Underutilized
Urban Archipelago -Islands are formed as a result of the large scale infrastructure.
URBAN ARCHIPELAGO THE SITE AND REGIONAL CONTEXT ARE FRACTURED BY THE LARGE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE. EACH ISLAND FUNCTIONS AROUND THE CAR AND BECAUSE OF THIS ARE DETACHED PHYSICALLY AND VISUALLY FROM ONE ANOTHER.
Regional Map -Assembly Square and surrounding districts.
ASSEMBLY SQUARE ASSEMBLY SQUARE IS ONE PIECE AMONGST MANY IN AN URBAN ARCHIPELAGO CONDITION.
The
• • • • • • • •
My
stic
Abstract Urban Components: A Smarter Urban District: Introduc2on or Background Goal or Aim (op2onal) Method (op2onal) Data or Results (includes images, figures and tables) Conclusion References Acknowledgements (op2onal) Riv
er
ISLAND:
-Retail + restaurant spaces -New bus stops -Hubway stations -Car shares for residents -Separate bike lanes -Wide sidewalks -Active urban ground plane
HOUSING:
-Diverse housing types -Transit oriented -High density -Modern neighborhood
I-9
3
DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE: -Performative landscape -Public amenity -Stormwater management -Variety between islands
Existing Conditions: Surrounding Neighborhoods
Infrastructural Barriers
Site Context
The Transect: ec k l
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-Create an interconnected web of paths to allow for easy access to public amenities and mass transit.
g
-Activate the islands with public pavilions. -Provide programatic diversity.
g
-Use varied landscapes as both a public amenity and high-performing sustainable infrastructure.
in
-Line the perimeter of island with various housing typologies. -Create new sense of commmunity
us
-Art gallery -Watchtower -Indoor/outdoor auditorium -Classrooms -Marketplace -Kayak rental
kin
ho g
in
PATHS -Public pavilions -Creates social interaction -Relates to landscape -Public amenity -Diverse functions -Greenhouse
-Extrude remaining volumes to create a new datum for activity.
ity us
ho
ACTIVATION POINTS
ACTIVATION POINT:
-Connect to existing infrastructure. -Allow for multi-modal transit
ns
ity
DYNAMIC LANDSCAPES
r Pa
de
ns
WRAPPER
er
m
de
ISLAND
ive
-p
iu
gh
CONNECTOR
t Ac
gh
ed M
Hi
Urban Framework:
Hi
Hi
-Garden -Wetland -Plaza -Sculpture park -Meditation -Urban wild
Reimagining the Post-Industrial Site: A New Urban Model
Research + Statistics
Neighborhood Views
Jordan Young Abstract:
This project proposes a new urban model that offers a variety of housing typologies, integrated with multi-modal transit access, ecologically performative landscapes, and a range of public amenities. With more than fifty percent of the global population residing in urban areas, cities have begun to repurpose post-industrial sites to support growing populations. Assembly Square in Somerville, MA was used as the test site for the new urban model. This post-industrial site is located adjacent to the Mystic River and has many similarities to other under-utilized sites in Boston and throughout the United States. The design focuses on creating a module that can be deployed across the site and modified based on the surrounding context. This module consists of four key elements: the island, perimeter housing, public courtyard, and an activation point. Each island contains public amenities such as retail, parking, car shares, and Hubway stations. Perimeter housing is placed on top of the island, and forms an interior courtyard. Every courtyard contains a different landscape, which functions as both a public park and soft-infrastructure. The soft-infrastructure is used to mitigate excess storm water. Within each of the landscapes is an activation point, or public pavilion, that ranges anywhere from a kayak rental to artist’s studios. Meeting the demand for more urban development is an ongoing issue in cities across the world. This innovative urban design allows a network of social, ecological, and urban infrastructure to function simultaneously, therefore making it a valuable model in the ongoing transformation of modern cities.
Background: As growing populations put pressure on cities across the world, vacant and underutilized lots will be re-integrated into the existing urban fabric. The problem lies in creating an economic, social, and sustainable model that activates these vacant landscapes, rather than just occupies them. Assembly Square and the surrounding neighborhoods have become disconnected due to infrastructural divides and are a prime example of an area in need of re-development. Each neighborhood has become a self-sufficient island, therefore isolating itself from the surrounding communities. While some of these islands contain a unique amenity, such as large parks or waterfront access, the massive automobile infrastructure creates complications for inter-neighborhood relationships. At the regional scale these isolated islands produce desolate urban areas, a common problem for post-industiral sites. While each site has its own restrictions and limits, the framework proposed for Assembly Square is flexible enough to adapt to various locations.
Regional Analysis:
Please include the following headlines:
Infrastructural Divides + Programmatic Differences
Site Map
MAPPING
Program Distribution -Each island becomes self sustaining, further isolating PROGRAMATIC them from one another.DIVERSITY MOST OF THE ISLANDS HAVE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF A SINGLE PROGRAM, AND ARE THERFORE MORE DEPENDANT ON THE AUTOMOTIVE INFRASTRUCTURE. ISALNDS ARE NOT ONLY DIVIDED BY THE LARGE SCALE HIGHWAYS, BUT THE PATCHES OF INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT THE ISLAND. THIS ALSO LEADS TO A DISCONNECT WITH THE RESIDENTIAL AREAS TO THE WATER. RECREATIONAL SPACE -Recreation DATA: THE DATA SHOWN IS BASED RESIDENTIAL -Residential ON THE PERCENTAGE OF COVERAGE FOR THAT TYPE COMMERCIAL -Commercial OF PROGRAM ON THE ISLAND. INDUSTRIAL -Industrialized UNDERUTILIZED -Underutilized
Urban Archipelago -Islands are formed as a result of the large scale infrastructure.
URBAN ARCHIPELAGO THE SITE AND REGIONAL CONTEXT ARE FRACTURED BY THE LARGE SCALE INFRASTRUCTURE. EACH ISLAND FUNCTIONS AROUND THE CAR AND BECAUSE OF THIS ARE DETACHED PHYSICALLY AND VISUALLY FROM ONE ANOTHER.
Regional Map -Assembly Square and surrounding districts.
ASSEMBLY SQUARE ASSEMBLY SQUARE IS ONE PIECE AMONGST MANY IN AN URBAN ARCHIPELAGO CONDITION.
The
• • • • • • • •
My
stic
Abstract Urban Components: A Smarter Urban District: Introduc2on or Background Goal or Aim (op2onal) Method (op2onal) Data or Results (includes images, figures and tables) Conclusion References Acknowledgements (op2onal) Riv
er
ISLAND:
-Retail + restaurant spaces -New bus stops -Hubway stations -Car shares for residents -Separate bike lanes -Wide sidewalks -Active urban ground plane
HOUSING:
-Diverse housing types -Transit oriented -High density -Modern neighborhood
I-9
3
DYNAMIC LANDSCAPE: -Performative landscape -Public amenity -Stormwater management -Variety between islands
Existing Conditions: Surrounding Neighborhoods
Infrastructural Barriers
Site Context
The Transect: ec k l
ta
n re
d
em
lan
st
sy
ail
lr
na
et W
th
io
ya
pa
g re
se
e ap
ou
g
in
us
nh
ho
e
lan
tp
c ds
lan
y
e re
Ka
d
l+
te
ca
g
in G
sit
e re
pe
ca
y
er
all
ds
lan
st
g
en -d
n ba
in m
rm
Lo
rfo
nn
pe
Co
gh
w Lo
ur
r fo il
ta
Re
tg
Ar
+
-Create an interconnected web of paths to allow for easy access to public amenities and mass transit.
g
-Activate the islands with public pavilions. -Provide programatic diversity.
g
-Use varied landscapes as both a public amenity and high-performing sustainable infrastructure.
in
-Line the perimeter of island with various housing typologies. -Create new sense of commmunity
us
-Art gallery -Watchtower -Indoor/outdoor auditorium -Classrooms -Marketplace -Kayak rental
kin
ho g
in
PATHS -Public pavilions -Creates social interaction -Relates to landscape -Public amenity -Diverse functions -Greenhouse
-Extrude remaining volumes to create a new datum for activity.
ity us
ho
ACTIVATION POINTS
ACTIVATION POINT:
-Connect to existing infrastructure. -Allow for multi-modal transit
ns
ity
DYNAMIC LANDSCAPES
r Pa
de
ns
WRAPPER
er
m
de
ISLAND
ive
-p
iu
gh
CONNECTOR
t Ac
gh
ed M
Hi
Urban Framework:
Hi
Hi
-Garden -Wetland -Plaza -Sculpture park -Meditation -Urban wild
