Humanities and Arts Degree Level: Bachelors Abstract ID# 691
Undergraduate Category: Humanities and Arts Degree Level: Bachelors Abstract ID# 691 ABSTRACT
MAPPINGS
PROCESS
Concentration of large commercial program in east Boston
break down the mass of big box stores with elements
Big-box retail provides useful amenities but is typically considered incompatible with dense urban fabric. This project proposes a new box store typology that appropriates the building type’s inherent mass to an urban residential street scape. Like many residential neighborhoods close to a city center, Orient Point in East Boston lacks access to an aggregation of commercial amenities like gyms, grocery stores and big box retail. However, in the development of concentrated commercial zones, the scale of the existing neighborhood is often compromised. The nature of box-store architecture and parking requires a lot of land area, introducing a long, one story façade on an otherwise taller and more particulate street. Rather than separating commercial areas and residential neighborhoods, this project proposes a new attitude toward the building type that allows it to be both compatible and beneficial to a dense residential neighborhood. The mass of the box is broken down by continuing the street patterns of the neighborhood through the site, inserting large public spaces and wrapping the facades with vernacular row houses.
extrude 1 story of box program
Using vegetation, landscaping and clerestory windows, the roofs of the box-stores are activated to both illuminate the store’s interior and create an amenity for the residents. Ultimately, the project develops a symbiotic relationship between housing and box-stores
wrap box stores in film of small grain of residential, office, and small commercial program
by sharing parking, community spaces and circulation, proposing a sustainable system of development for growing cities.
RESULTS 114
11 2
Shared outdoor spaces between residential buildings above box stores Open spaces on ground level for visitors
1 12
12 0
KIT OF PARTS this typology can be deployed on a range of different sites
hotel office space
FINE GRAIN WRAPPER residential buildings
CIRCULATION INFRASTRUCTURE commercial boulevard
CONCLUSION
soccer field
BOX STORE / COMMUNITY USE
community center
Box Store gym pharmacy grocery store
This kit of parts, including the existing building fabric, community node program and circulation infrastructure all work together to break down the physical and social impact of necessary big box stores. Ultimately, the marriage of this disparate program types benefits both. Parking during the day is allocated to visitors, but at night can be used by residents. The site is activated by urban nodes, the commercial boulevard and sports field and by the box program itself. However, resident autonomy is achieved by elevating the resident common space 1 story. Illustrated to the right, the roof of the box store, in this case a grocery store, can be illuminated by clerestory windows and light wells. Above, residents can enjoy a green open space. This new typology aims to create a different and sustainable attitude toward commercial growth outside any US city.
continue block structure inside the site
continue other block structure to create pedestrian paths and three blocks on the site
cut amenities into box store solid to connect to hotel / community
cut parking lots into box store solid
MAPPINGS
PROCESS
Concentration of large commercial program in east Boston
break down the mass of big box stores with elements
Big-box retail provides useful amenities but is typically considered incompatible with dense urban fabric. This project proposes a new box store typology that appropriates the building type’s inherent mass to an urban residential street scape. Like many residential neighborhoods close to a city center, Orient Point in East Boston lacks access to an aggregation of commercial amenities like gyms, grocery stores and big box retail. However, in the development of concentrated commercial zones, the scale of the existing neighborhood is often compromised. The nature of box-store architecture and parking requires a lot of land area, introducing a long, one story façade on an otherwise taller and more particulate street. Rather than separating commercial areas and residential neighborhoods, this project proposes a new attitude toward the building type that allows it to be both compatible and beneficial to a dense residential neighborhood. The mass of the box is broken down by continuing the street patterns of the neighborhood through the site, inserting large public spaces and wrapping the facades with vernacular row houses.
extrude 1 story of box program
Using vegetation, landscaping and clerestory windows, the roofs of the box-stores are activated to both illuminate the store’s interior and create an amenity for the residents. Ultimately, the project develops a symbiotic relationship between housing and box-stores
wrap box stores in film of small grain of residential, office, and small commercial program
by sharing parking, community spaces and circulation, proposing a sustainable system of development for growing cities.
RESULTS 114
11 2
Shared outdoor spaces between residential buildings above box stores Open spaces on ground level for visitors
1 12
12 0
KIT OF PARTS this typology can be deployed on a range of different sites
hotel office space
FINE GRAIN WRAPPER residential buildings
CIRCULATION INFRASTRUCTURE commercial boulevard
CONCLUSION
soccer field
BOX STORE / COMMUNITY USE
community center
Box Store gym pharmacy grocery store
This kit of parts, including the existing building fabric, community node program and circulation infrastructure all work together to break down the physical and social impact of necessary big box stores. Ultimately, the marriage of this disparate program types benefits both. Parking during the day is allocated to visitors, but at night can be used by residents. The site is activated by urban nodes, the commercial boulevard and sports field and by the box program itself. However, resident autonomy is achieved by elevating the resident common space 1 story. Illustrated to the right, the roof of the box store, in this case a grocery store, can be illuminated by clerestory windows and light wells. Above, residents can enjoy a green open space. This new typology aims to create a different and sustainable attitude toward commercial growth outside any US city.
continue block structure inside the site
continue other block structure to create pedestrian paths and three blocks on the site
cut amenities into box store solid to connect to hotel / community
cut parking lots into box store solid
