Urban Design Portfolio by Ashley Powell

a uRbn ASHLEY M. POWELL

u r b a n

d e s i g n

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EXPOSEDVERTICALITY SUZHOU | CHINA INDUSTRIAL PARK REDEVELOPMENT 4,806,624 sq.ft | 110 acres.

site panorama

Exposed Verticality is the conceptual proposal for the Suzhou Industrial Park Redevelopment located in the North-East of Suzhou, China. The Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) is the result of cooperation between China and Singapore in an effort to develop a joint modern industrial township. The SIP has a total jurisdiction of 288 sq km of which 80 sq km is defined as the China-Singapore cooperation area. The current urban design project serves as the second phase in a 15-year redevelopment of the SIP catalyzed by the completion of a new high-speed railway that will connect Shanghai and Nanjing. As such, the project endeavors to meet new urban needs, upgrade industries, fuel growth of local business and enhance the overall image of the area through the creation of a lively business sub-center. Exposed Verticality addresses this multifarious set of criteria by embracing the complex systems of spatial layering through which Chinese cities are already constructed. Due to extreme density, Chinese cities are forced to exist in a multi-planar fashion, inhabiting both the sky and subterranean levels. Exposed Verticality suggests that while this approach to density managment starts to be an effective one, if carefully articulated, it could be extremely efficient and dynamic; creating destination cities with character, fully functional urban rooms and rich lived experience. At its core, Exposed Verticality is an augmentation of current development practicies allowing otherwise concealed elements of high-density Chinese cities to be explored and inhabited in a way that yeilds a more throrough understanding thereof. Concept meets physical form via multi-level planes that are both externally visible and inhabitable, an elevated tertiary circulation system of eco-bridges, recessed vehicle and pedestrian systems, transparent facades, way finding technology and

Exposed Ver ticalitySite Axon

PODIUM

TOWERS

VEHICULAR CIRCULATION

PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION

BLUE-WAYS

CRITICAL VIEWS

OPEN SPACE | PARK EXTENSION

GREEN TOWERS

penetrable earth bringing vertical urbanism to the forefront of the experience. Undulating landforms become an essential means of expression of exposure offering the user direct contact with various aspects of urbanism typically isolated from the uni-dimensional ground plane. Quintessentially, Exposed Verticality not only allows for a more dynamic interaction within urban rooms, but it also offers to aid China in planning for increased density through multiplanar extrusions and landforms which allow for maximum inhabitable space in the same footprint. Exposed Verticality, therefore, is a maximization of high-density urban development at both human and macro scales.

ELEVATED PEDESTRIAN SYSTEM

exposed verticality PUBLIC SPACES

Suzhou is known for its gardens and canal streets. Often times in the old city, these streets are lively sub-centers offering an array of dinning, shopping and entertainment. Traditionally, these canal streets are both tourist attractions and places for locals to gather; as such they add a rich and vibrant urban life to the city and become one of the most crucial forms of urban rooms in Suzhou. Because these canal streets have been so important to Suzhou in the way of tradition, it was important that this redevelopment consider how to make a more modern verison of them in order to capture the essence of the city. The Canal Street Exploration does exactly that. In the North-East portion of the site several canals intersect at a critical point which lends itself well to the development of a canal front hardscape plaza and raised pedestrian bridge with visual cut-throughs as shown to the left.

The Building Zones, as a framework, identify a range of building typologies based on location within the site boundaries. These categories include standards that encourage diversity in form and program while establishing a hierarchy that supports the –concept through development.

B-1: AXIAL CORE

B-2: AXIAL FRINGE

B-3: AXIAL TERMINUS HYBRID

B-4: NORTHERN BRINK

B-1 Axial Core consists of the block of buildings closest to the primary North-South site axis located at the center of the site with the commuter rail station denoting the southernmost point. The buildings located within the axial core should be the tallest buildings on the site; between 120 and 200 meters tall and situated to the east and west of the axis, which should remain open enough for pedestrian traffic and visual connectivity. Axial core buildings will have multi-level podia ranging from 4-6 storeys, these podia will be inhabitable space complete with the incorporation of greenery and landscaping.

B-2 Axial Fringe consists of the buildings on the blocks situated to the east and west of axial core. These buildings are supporting buildings, which serve to build up to the axial core. Buildings should be mid to high rise ranging from 50-120 meters tall with the tallest of these buildings situated on the outer edge of the block. Multi-level podia should be present in axial fringe blocks; however, they may be less pronounced than those of the axial core ranging from 2-4 storeys. Podia should establish connection along edge buildings offering enclosure and continuity on the periphery of the site. Tertiary, elevated pedestrian pathways should be introduced between buildings linking the axial fringe to the axial core and surrounding zones.

B-3 Axial Terminus Hybrid consists of an iconic hybrid form that intermingles landscape and structure to create a new building type. This building is a low-rise form, no more than 4 storeys tall at the podium. The podium of this building is to be completely inhabitable green space to blur the line between the 80-meter park and structure. The building may or may not incorporate a vertical tower element to dialogue with buildings on the site’s periphery, however, the maximum height for this vertical element is 50 meters. This structure is fronted by low-rise, generic building forms, these structures do not have podiums or exaggerated vertical elements and maintain low profile not more than 30 meters tall.

B-4 Northern Brink consists of lowrise buildings along the northwestern periphery of the site. These buildings are supporting structures that build toward the axial terminus hybrid, they may remain generic and not over articulated in form and offer additional space for programming similar to that of the B-3 designation.

General Building Zone criteria necessitates that buildings not be separated into single use districts. The buildings in each zone, which face vehicular thoroughfares and pathways, must incorporate commercial uses at the ground level and where elevated pedestrian connections are made. Articulation at the meeting of ground and podium should be carefully considered to encourage activity on the street level.

B-5: RESIDENTIAL BERM

B-6: RESIDENTIAL BERM ANNEX

B-7: HOTEL COMPLEX

B-8: OFFICE INTERMEDIARY

B-5 Residential Berm consists of residential towers situated in the northeastern block of the site. These are mid-low rise towers with single level podia that do not supersede one storey. Residential Berm buildings are backed up to the street edge with only 5-meter setback maximum creating intimate scale along the canals. Berm buildings are situated into two rows, one against the street and one set back 10-15 meters from the canal.

B-6 Residential Berm Annex consists of residential towers on the northernmost area of the site along the main canal. These towers mimic the form of towers in the residential berm; however, the heights of these buildings gradually step up to match the height of the surrounding residential towers. The maximum height is 80 meters.

B-7 Hotel Complex Zone consists of transient and short-stay boarding options situated on the southeastern edge of the site. The building forms in the Hotel Complex Zone mimic those in the Axial Fringe, however, the program is becomes more specific.

B-8 Office Intermediary is the intermediate zone between B-6 and B-7 which is signified by mixed use office and commercial uses. The building structures in this area are generally generic and specified by office programming needs. Maximum height for these buildings is 50 meters toward the eastern edge. Heights step down drastically where fronting the B-3 zone where maximum heights should only reach 25 meters.

T R A N S E C T T-1.OUTER BELT

HARRIS BLVD

T-3. MIXED USE EASTWA Y

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T-4. COMMERCIAL SUGAR

CREEK

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T-5. INDUSTRIAL DALTON AVE

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T-6. INNER BELT I-277

T7. URBAN 8TH STREET

T-8. URBAN CORE TRADE STREET

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F O R M A L

I-485

T-2. UNIVERSITY

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RETENTIONDETENTION CHARLOTTE | NORTH CAROLINA

free board.

RETENTION | DETENTION STUDY

allows outpour at predevelopment rate.

SIZE VARIES While the concepts are fairly similar, retention and detention ponds do behave differently. As the name suggests, retention ponds retain water; that is they usually hold some amount of water at all times. These ponds are equipped with subterranean piping to avoid overflow but generally maintain some water at all times.

detention capacity

Detention ponds on the other hand usually only hold water for short periods of time. These ponds hold water during periods of heavy rainfall and then slowly release water to specified alternative locations. The primary use for these ponds is to avoid flooding during times of heavy downpour. (www.gotalgae.com)

free board.

Often retention and detention ponds are implemented concurrently. Retention ponds are often characterized by being fairly small where total acreage is considered. They are also often shallow with low, sloping bottoms. Due to these low sloping bottoms, it is often necessary to grade a low point surrounding the entire pond to slow the movement of excess water in times of heavy rainfall. Retention ponds being most often located on the periphery of development, it is critical that safety measures, such as shallow, slow sloping sides, are employed. In part, this can slightly impair the effectiveness of retention ponds; therefore they are often coupled with detention ponds to create a system that performs more optimally. In this system, detention ponds will hold the majority of the water and slowly drain into a series of retention ponds. The detention ponds thus avoid flooding while the retention ponds hold and treat the remaining water.

low level discharge allows pond to drain dry.

ture allows outpour at predevelopment rate. retention capacity

( w w w. g o t a l g a e . c o m )

retention pond plan and section

cleaner water enters creeks and streams.

Retention ponds are dual functioning in that they serve not only to limit flooding and hold water, but also to remove pollutants. Because these ponds are often present in highly constructed areas where infrastructure, buildings, etc are all composed of most impervious materials, water cannot otherwise be absorbed during rainfall. Because there is not a means by which to absorb the rainfall runoff becomes a problem on these sites, not only because the water must be channeled somewhere to avoid flooding, but also because by running over these impervious materials it often accumulates higher levels of pollutants. (www.gotalgae.com) In areas characterized by a high presence of impervious material, water runoff becomes polluted by chemicals and products such as petroleum products from roads, fertilizers utilized on lawns and green-scapes, sediments, bacteria, suspended solids and metals such as the lead present in some paints. Each of these pollutants is extremely detrimental to overall water quality. The presence of these pollutants can cause unhealthy pH levels, turbidity, and hardness. Retention and Detention ponds collect this runoff and treat it, allowing some of the pollutants to settle out of the water through a biological process. Plant life and vegetation is often an integral part of this process. (www.gotalgae.com)

water leaves through cutfall or soaks into ground.

plants and soil break down pollutants

sediment and pollutants settle.

the pond collects

Upon entry into the pond, the movement of the water is slowed to a pace that allows heavier pollutants such as suspended solids, sediments, and metals to settle out of the water and fall to the bottom. This process results in a significant improvement in the turbidity of the water. Other pollutants such as fertilizers are also removed through biological process through the absorption of plant life introduced to the pond. These plants absorb and use the fertilizers making the water that is then released cleaner. (www.gotalgae.com)

retention.detention basins retention.detention

at the

Statesvillage

GENFLUX

CHARLOTTE | NORTH CAROLINA

INDUSTRIAL SITE REDEVELOPMENT SIZE. SIZE.SIZE. SIZE. SIZE. Statesvillage is the individual proposal for a small portion of a larger collaborative design proposal called GenFlux located within the Statesville -Graham Wedge just outside of Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina. According to the 2020 Plan developed by the Charlotte Center City Partners in collaboration with the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, this specific area has been defined as an innovation corridor in future development plans. As such, the large-scale conceptual proposal for GenFlux was birthed out of the necessity to answer the question: what does being in the innovation corridor mean? For us it meant generating new technologies while housing businesses that thrive on the same. It meant regenerating housing types that appealed to a new modern market where urban living is becoming more desired than our historically suburban ways of settling of the past and finally, it meant flexibility of form which allowed for architecturally specific but programmatically indeterminate structures that have the power to move, grow and be reborn in the way of housing several different types of programs over the lifetime of the built form. Statesvillage speaks specifically to the regeneration portion of this proposal. Neighboring the upcoming Brightwalk development, Statesvillage offers a variety of housing types bordered by business uses that make mixed-use elegant, affordable and appealing. It offers diversity of housing type, access to abundant green space and unique urban rooms as well as the convenience of being located just outside of Center City.

Statesvillage at the GenFlux offers a plethora of amenities that make urban living comfortable, safe and appealing while maintaining affordability. Housing typologies include urban single family, town homes and apartments. At the core of the development is the Anita Stroud Greenway, which offers the ability to experience nature, literally outside of your door. In addition, the Ivory Baker Recreation facility and school bordering the site create a true sense of community and cohesiveness for the several residential developments bordering the site. Staying true to principals of Smart Growth, the central apartment complexes form a commercial hub by providing a plethora of space dedicated to local retail opportunities at their ground floors. Disjointed pitches on detached urban single family units moving towards the more traditionally suburban residential developments bordering Statesvillage are poetic in paying homage to the significance of the redevelopment of the historically disadvantaged, predominantly minority neighborhoods surround the site. Apartment complexes with ground level retail create a strong urban edge for the once relatively busy thoroughfare which is Statesville Ave, which has been retrofitted with improvements to calm traffic and create a more boulevard-like multimodal environment. Statesvillage at the GenFlux is a proposal for an all inclusive premier mixed use development, which boasts amenities that make it appealing to individuals who ordinarily would favor a more urban living enviornment as well as those who would not.

SECTION- ELEV. B

MULTI-FAMILY

WALK

CYCLE

DRIVE

MULTI-FAMILY

PARKING

TOWNHOMES

To the Left: The Master Plan proposal for Statesvillage at the GenFlux. [On the site] {To the North} The newly designed Brightwalk Development, which is currently undergoing construction. {At the Center} a mixed-use residential and retail urban hub intended to support smaller scale local business. {To the South} detached urban single family units and town homes give Charlotte’s historical Hebrew Cemetery an appropriate urban edge. – Above: A Section-Elevation through the center of the site looking South shows the elevation of modern urban town homes as well as the spatial interior layout of mixed-use residential-retail buildings which face like uses across the street with additional residential-retail uses wrapping parking. The quality of the urban room is also explored through diagrammatic street section exhibiting the new calmed, multi-modal Statesville Ave complete with stoops, sidewalks and bicycle lanes. Below [left]: Diagrammatic street section exhibiting the relationship between the residential dwellings and the Anita Stroud Greenway, which runs through the core of the development. Below [right]: Perspective detailing the same relationship shown in the section. Here we are able to comprehend visually what the interaction between the greenway and the housing typologies might be in the new development.

SECTION A

MULTI FAMILY

ANITA STROUD

MULTI- MODAL

PEDESTRIAN

TRAIL

STREAM

ANITA STROUD

MULTI FAMILY

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The South End Neighborhood holds historical significance as the location for the first railroad line in Charlotte, NC in the 1850s, which connected Charlotte to it’s southern neighboring cities of Columbia and Charleston, SC; thus it has been coined the Historic South End.

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As is often the case, the presence of the rail line was a catalyst for the development of a lively manufacturing community that began to develop alongside the tracks, birthing a neighborhood centered on a textile industry. In the 1970s and 1980s, the area fell into a state of decline until the early 1990s when a revitalization effort brought restaurants, shops and design-related industries into the old, abandoned mills and warehouse buildings.

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Today, the Historic South End Neighborhood has earned a reputation as a center for creativity, innovation and design talent in the Charlotte-Metro Region. While South End has begun to again make a name for itself, it is still a transitioning neighborhood with many opportunities for further growth and development of both its brand and the built environment. South End is the epitome of a true mixed-use urban development with a variety of retail, business and housing. True to its historical roots, the catalyst for the new development in South End is the LYNX blue line, which runs through the heart of South End and connects it back to Uptown Charlotte.

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Industrial/ Warehouse Residential: With Business & Retail Hospitality O ces With Retail/ Restaurants Commercial Education Government/Institution: Utilities, Train Stations, Museums & Churches

Land Usage

Industrial/ Warehouse Mixed Use Residential Retail Commercial Institutional Residential

Districts

Block Makeup: This block is predominantly high-rise mixed use residential properties with views of uptown. The northern part (above Bland St.) is predominantly mixed use residential. South of Bland Street is mostly commercial with residential properties.

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Density: This block is high dense cookie cutter housing with open green space with cul-de-sacs.

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Sporadic Industrial Sprawl: The southern part of our site is primarily an industrial park attempting to renew itself through bars and markets.

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Block Division: This irregular shape stems from S. Tryon cutting through the block. The Northeast is residential with the back side venturing into industrial area.

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Original Block Pattern: Dilworth is compromised of regular shaped block with single/multi family housing.

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This analysis of the Historic South End seeks to develop a framework for future design proposals that is both respectful of the historic significance thereof as well as open to all possibilities that will help create the unique destination neighborhood that South End desires to be. The analysis takes into account and records a complete and accurate set of constraints used to evaluate the areas of success and opportunity within the South End Neighborhood. It seeks to suggest a boundary for both branding and building and development parameters in an effort to concentrate design efforts into a feasible area of influence. The analysis is designed solely to be a point of departure from which future works concerning South End may begin.

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Types of Housing: Northeastern part of this block has a low-density residential fabric. While the South side is comprised of single family housing and commercial property.

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These plans for increased transit offer a multitude of development opportunities, which were to be uncovered through the initial analysis of the Historic South End Neighborhood provided here. Because South End is still in a constant state of flux and defines itself daily, it is hard to say exactly how large the neighborhood is, as its boundaries are quite debatable.

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The LYNX hosts 4 walk up transit stops in the South End area and currently runs from the I-485 connector to Center City with plans for expansion into the University and Ballentyne areas in the near future.

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Charlotte, NC

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Study Area

Block Typology

Major Nodes: Gathering Places for majority of community. Street Nodes: Heavily traveled intersections (mostly by auto).

Nodes

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Daily Cars Traveled 25,000 - 30,000 14,000 - 19,000 11,000 - 14,000 1,500 - 6,000 Tra c Lights

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Green Space Analysis

Major Arteries: Streets that bisect the site (through streets). Arterial Streets: Streets which move tra c out of the site. Minor Streets: Streets connecting to major arterial streets. Through Streets: Streets that help connect Southend. Paths: Paths that can be walked or driven (less likely to be tra LYNX Tram Path

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Hierarchy of Streets

Firm: Building is well maintained and usable. Transitional: Building is full of potential for economic development. Ripe: Building/site which is in poor condition with no sign of investment. Site Context: Represent the gure ground relationsihp outside of site boundaries.

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Ripe & Firm Analysis Figure Ground

Passage Obstructions Views Areas of Opportunity Poorly De ned Areas Areas with Strong Frontage Important Buildings

Contextual Appraisal

THE GERALD D. HINES URBAN LAND INSTITUTE COMPETITION HOUSTON | TEXAS DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW DISTRICT 16.5 acres. The River District: REveal, REvive, REweave is the conceptual proposal for the tenth annual Gerald D. Hines competition hosted by the Urban Land Institute sited in downtown Houston, Texas. Houston is one of the nations most youthful and fastest growing metropolitan areas. Houston, which is currently comprised of ten counties with a population of 5, 946,800, is projected to add another 2.66 million people by the year 2030. Founded in 1836 on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou by two real estate developers, the city was named for Sam Houston who was elected President of Texas that same year. The region is home to nearly 30 Fortune 500 companies, with a gross area product of over $400 billion. The renewal of downtown Houston began in the mid-1990s after the city experienced a period of decline similar to other American cities during the 60s, 70s and 80s. Since then Houston has enjoyed almost $4 billion of investment in urban revitalization. Projects under construction include BG Group Place; a 46-story, one million square-foot office tower by Hines and the Hess Tower, to name a few. Houston’s downtown is divided into ten individual districts with a very specific identity dictated predominately by use. The charge of the competition brief was to develop the 16.3 area west of I-45, north of the Buffalo Bayou and east of Travis Street into a new district that would both have its own unique identity as well as serve as a way to connect the neighboring Historic and Theater Districts. The River District uses three major concepts as a way to achieve the multifarious set of criteria listed above: reveal, reweave and revive.

Reveal: Reveal Houston’s historical connectivity to the Buffalo Bayou through the rerouting of Franklin Street to create a direct riverfront connection. Reveal the use of urban grid work by implementing a slightly smaller, skewed version of the dominant grid of downtown Houston. Reveal energy consumption and creation through the implementation of piezoelectric smart technology. Reweave: Reweave the ten-district network through a modified extension of the city grid. Reweave the site through visual destinations and connections. Reweave downtown through multiple land uses in a high density, walkable urban development. Reweave infrastructure to establish more meaningful physical connections through the interior of the site as well as its periphery and the greater downtown area. Revive: Revive the site through multiple phases of infill in order to spur growth of previously underdeveloped pads of land. Revive the Buffalo Bayou by rerouting Franklin Street to establish river frontage, which encourages pedestrian activity. Revive Washington Ave. by reweaving it into the downtown street network and implementing configuration changes to make it a “complete street.” The river district offers a plethora of uses to support a thriving and developing business sub-center as well as many options for housing and entertainment to create a destination as it rests at the center of many of Houston’s major interstates and roadways. In addition to mixing urban uses, The River District also incorporates new technologies to draw a youthful vibrant crowd to the Houston’s downtown. Lastly, the river district offers a solution to the rapid urbanization of Houston expected to occur by the year 2030 by offering housing typologies that fit the various lifestyles of multiple age groups.

PEN & I N K| H AND RENDER