HOW TO DEAL WITH OUTDATED UNDERPASSES
Why do we need underpasses for pedestrians? These tunnels planned for people living in post-modernistic cities, in highly organised constructivist environment, to keep straight lined of the transport flows and organize human pathways. Contemporary people are not interested in these ideas from past century. We want to walk freely through the city and adjust transportation systems to our often irrational wishes. We want straight access to all the objects and functions on the street level. Why would contemporary person go underground to let the car pass above? Human above mashines - in a way became the new manifesto of our century. With this statement the idea of pedestrian underpasses became outdated. We are trying to ensure safe shared use of the street spaces without spatial division of its users. As result, no underpasses needed. Who are the audience for this material? This broshure may be an important aid for the city council and for the officials of both the city and the various municipal districts, as well as for civic associations and groups, and even for all residents of the city who care about public spaces. What is the purpose of this broshure? The material should serve as the basis for the approach to be taken to developing outdated pedestrian underpasses. The decisions with the greatest impact, however, take place at the more general level of city management and urban planning.
SPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS Construction of the tunnels designed to resist the level of noize from the road above in same time creates certain acoustical qualities of the interior space. Because of the finishing materials and specific shape of the space subways often used as a venue for street musicians to perform and collect more attention with better sound and focused audience.
Acustics
Underground spaces allow to balance outdoors temperature shifts with minimum resources, due to natural physical qualities of the soil, which is keeping stable temperature in deeper layers.
Temperature
Typical linear planning of the tunnels may narrow down functional planning options for possible new functions. However, linear shape suits to many services, which require strict linear connection in planning of the functional zones.
Layout
MAIN ELEMENTS As the most common element of the entrance group, staircases often have quite big area. Its’ part can be used independently from the main construction but combined with the design on a street level. While replanning the underground space some blocks of staircase may be removed to add extra space for thespatial solution.
Staircase
In new underpasses staircases have transformed into ramps which make tunnel included into public space on a street level and rise total area of the construction. In most cases ramps allow automobile access to the tunnel which may be beneficial for potential commersial use of the space.
Ramp
Tunnel is the main body of the underpass and ideally may be approached as separate space detached from the urban mobility context. As any other available space in urban environment it can be filled with currently required function.
Tunnel
CONSTRUCTIVE PARTS The basis for all the construction, this blocks can’t be removed separately.
Floor panels above the basement blocks can be replaced and removed if needed, hovewer, extending the depth of the construction is possible only with the replacement of core construction.
Wall panels can be removed and replaced quite easily to change the planning configuration, open up technical rooms and even extend the tunnel if communications around whole construction allow this changes.
Basement blocks
Floor panels
Wall panels
Columns as one of the main parts of core construction can not be removed. Hovewer it can be replaced with other kind of supportive constructions.
Columns
Beams, as a basement for slabs above, can be removed only with the part of ceiling on top of it. In this case opening up a part of the tunnel has to be also possible from the street level (green zone, no road above this part of the tunnel, etc.)
Beams
Slabs can be removed or replaced to open up part of the tunnel as it mentioned for “beams” paragraph. Hovewer, removing slabs doesn’t necessary means beam removal.
Slabs
One way to deal with underused underpasses may be by closing them and “hiding� the entrances from the public space. However, reusing existing underpasses with totally different function may raise the quality of the surrounding area by fulfilling its current functional needs.
POTENTIAL FUNCTIONS Because of central location this space probably have the biggest value in terms of commercial use. Possible social functions of underused underpasses would give an opportunity to use more desirable spots and locate some services in central areas. For example, shelters for homeless people usually organised on outskirts of the city, where the land is less desirable for other functions and thus cheaper. However, homeless people often staying around central areas where they have more chances to get food, gather plastic and bottles, etc.
Social
Underpasses are often financial burdens for the city. By giving this spaces out for various business purposes the maintainance costs would be compensated. Often placed in central areas, this spaces are valued because of location and diverse user-groups.
Business
Because of the tight working schedule and lack of parks nearby some residential areas people do not have possibility to enjoy their time in especially designed recreational areas, which are located in other parts of the city. Therefore possibility of adding a piece of park into the tunnel by removing slabs and panels from the central part of the construction would add relaxing venue to the everyday pathways of all the inhabitants of residential areas nearby. With minimal changes the construction of an underpass may be transformed into skate-park or open stage for creative activities.
Recreation
SOME STARTING STEPS...
Find the land owner
_what are the plans of the land owner for this particular spot? _what is the priorities for further development of this space?
Explore the situation
explore surrounding areas and types user groups _how intensive is the traffic above the tunnel? _what are the businesses and services around the spot?
3 600
3 600
3 000
5 800
4 500
3 000
Define area available
5 800
find out the areas of tunnel, additional parts, hiden technical rooms to be used for new potential function
Ask people
public space - public discussion _face-to-face interaction _anonymous questionnarie _gather feadback to publications and interventions
Analyse and conclude gathered information should lead to narroving the list of possible function or even define certain cervice needed for the area, which was explored
Propose to the land owner
Illustrate possible functions for further discussion Share your experience
Come back to the start and update proposed steps
HOW TO DEAL WITH OUTDATED UNDERPASSES
LEFTOVER UNDERGROUND
LEFTOVER UNDERGROUND
LEFTOVER UNDERGROUND
LEFTOVER UNDERGROUND