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RESTITCHING A TORN CITY A M IE A K ER S G R A D U AT E TH ES I S FA L L 2 01 6
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The construction of Houston’s elaborate highway system has over the years created boundaries within the city. One such division was created by the Pierce Elevated, separating the Downtown and Midtown superneighborhoods. The now planned demolition of the Pierce Elevated, due to the rerouting of I-45, creates an opportunity to use what once acted as a dividing wall in the city as a public connector between the two distinct areas . Additionally, by connecting to Houston’s greenways the project encourages more pedstrian and bike traffic through the city, motivating Houston environmentally as well as bringing activity back to CREATION OF PIERCE Downtown, revitalizing Downtown’s after five ghost town SEPARATION OF THE CITY effect. Furthermore, by recycling these abandoned forms of transit, the city can create multi-purpose facilities to be used by public entities for events, festivals, venues, and other programmed functions for the cities inhabitants.
USER GROUP EXAMPLES
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MARKET PROGRAM markets - parades - festivals
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ART CAR COOK-OFF MARATHON FARMER’S MARKET CRAFT EXPO CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
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STAGE PROGRAM concerts - rallies - events
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DEMOLITION OF PIERCE RESTITCHING OF THECITY
PROGRAM CONNECTIONS
JUNETEENTH FREEDOM OVER TEXAS
STRUCTURAL DIAGRAMS The permanent structures of the project are designed in a modular fashion that can be easily prefabricated and assembled. Bolow the freeway structure, the recycled concrete anchors the design with its heavy aesthetic, while the structure above the freeway is made of a lightweight aluminum and glass. The design of the aluminum structure allows the angled roof mounted by PV panels to have more direct sunlight. The offset angles also open up a clerestory in the roof for more natural light to come into the structure. The lower level houses back of house functions such as kitchens, restrooms, and mechanical. The upper level is more open for public use.
ORIGINAL INTENTIONS
EXTENSION OF THE GREENWAY ALLOWS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BAYOU PARK AND THE PIERCE ELEVATED DEMOLITION OF PIERCE RESTITCHING OF THECITY
S H OW
ANGLED PV PANELS RESTAURANT PROGRAM dining - venue - parties WEDDING COMPANY CELEBRATION ROTATING RESTAURANT
CLERESTORY FOR LIGHT
park spaces
entertainment venues
MODULAR STRUCTURE
restaurants and bars
PUBLIC & RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
park spaces
entertainment venues
restaurants and bars
EXISTING STRUCTURE SUPPORT
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RECYCLED CRUSHED CONCRETE
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PUBLIC CENTER PROGRAM education - exercise - meetings
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YOGA / AEROBICS PAINTING / QUILTING SWIMMING GARDEN CLUB
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religious buildings
government buildings
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residential buildings
PERMANENT PROGRAMMED STRUCTURE EXPLODED DIAGRAM
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religious buildings
government buildings
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EXISTING PUBLIC TRANSIT
residential buildings
SCALE: 1 ft. = 1/16 in.
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OBSERVED REALITIES Gates and fences push the public out to the sidewalk in order to protect the cars parked in the shade below the freeway.
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THE METRO LIGHT RAIL’S PATH DIRECTLY THROUGH THE SITE ENCOURAGES MORE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT AND MAKES THE SITE MORE ACCESSIBLE
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Surrounding buildings turn their back on the freeway in order to block it from the public eye.
RECYCLED MATERIAL: crushed concrete FREEWAY STRUCTURE
60’
ANGLED PV PANELS USED TO POWER - LIGHT - CHARGING STATION - AIR COMPRESSOR
WATER COLLECTION CREATED BY USING THE EXISTING STRUCTURE CAN PROVIDE THE SITE WITH ITS OWN RECYCLED WATER SUPPLY
120’
240’
TREE GROVE PROGRAM festivals - events - relaxation KITE FESTIVAL HAMMOCKING PICNIC YOGA DOG - WAKLING
PLANTER
125’
BENCH SEATING
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2760’
Public space around the Pierce, especially to the South is underutilized.
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BIKE PARKING
DEMOLISHED CONCRETE =74,600 SF 19500
12500
5500
2250
2250
19500
6700
215 175
5500
175
175
175
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ANTICIPATED OPPORTUNITY FOR MOVEMENT THROUGH SITE
RECYCLED CONCRETE =67,000 SF
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6700
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15700
5400
8325 2800
2800
Covered portions of sidewalk under the freeway area a popular resting place for the homeless, further discouraging nearby residents from lingering.
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9600
4320
6400
HARDSCAPE
SOFTSCAPE
SMALL PAVILLION STRUCTURE PLAN & SECTION SCALE: 1 ft. = 1/8 in.
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ANTICIPATED DEVELOPMENT OF FUTURE PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Builidngs adjacent to the Pierce use the space between themselves and the freeway as a means to store garbage and house mechanical, making the area uninhabitable. The road created between adjacent buildings and the Pierce underbelly is underutilized and neglected by builidngs that do not open up to it.
LEVEL 2 1:1000
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HOUSTON GREENWAY: CONNECTION AND EXTENSION OPPORTUNITY
PERSPECTIVE FROM TOP OF TERRACES LOOKING DOWN TOWARD STAGE
LEVEL 1 1:1000
SECTION THROUGH LENGTH OF SITE 1:1000
PERSPECTIVE THROUGH MARKET TOWARD METRO BUS STATION