I’m free, please take me home!
above below
beyond *futures for a former railroad
exhibit catalog Allow us to introduce:
Philadelphia’s former Reading Railroad Inside: - All about Above|Below|Beyond... - Meet your railroad! - What’s next? * Plus: Posters, ideas from the show, recent events, and more!
above | below | beyond As students of architecture and landscape architecture who are inspired by real places, we know our work can go a long way to starting conversations about these places and their futures. Above Below Beyond is a springboard and a catalyst. It has helped to spread the word about the potential of Philadelphia’s Reading Railroad as a public, regenerative space. Our aim is to aid visionaries and stake holders in realizing the full potential of this historic infrastructure by providing context, graphic imaging, and programmatic scenarios for future development of the site (and to generate a little extra buzz along the way).
thank you! Above Below Beyond has been a true collaboration and could not have been possible with out the amazing support of our Kickstarter Backers, Next City, University of Pennsylvania and Temple University students and staff, Wells Appel, VIADUCTgreene, and Kira Simon- Kennedy.
We raised $6,165 through kickstarter.com to put on this exhibit, foster further discussion, and create this catalog. This funding has allowed us to go beyond our limits! We sincerely thank all our kickstarter backers and supporters:
Lane Rubin, Catherine Ondrizek, Nancy Osborn, Mandy, Ryan Leifield, Ariana Bennett, Nate, Bruce D. Kothmann, Cindy Culp, Caroline A., Monica Gagliardi, Annie Chrys, Noor Al Awadhi, Johannah Fine, BJ Hauswald, Gerardo Ad Espinal, Kate Jones, Teddi Anne, Emad Abou-Sabe, JoAnne Reifsnyder, Susan E. Rau, Temple University School of Environmental Design, Lorrie Syverson, Juan Levy, Zoey Davidson, Louis Kang, Evan Goldin, Kim Pelle, Steven Davidson, Joan Simon, Holly Ann Bonacum, David Kolber, Jamie Malato, Nick Montgomery, Amy Welzer, Nancy Crane, Julie Beckman, Michael Garden, S Goldman, Grant Folin, Ann Mintz, Aaron Goldblatt, Francis Tseng, Johann Sarmiento, TKayne, Irv Nachamkin, Derik Sutphin, Rosa Mannion, R. Kuper, Bonnie Joustra, Jennifer Hendricks, Dorsey Standish, Joanna Ehrenreich, Sid Burgess, Ani Simon-Kennedy, Bill Ashmanskas, Pam Lethbridge, Bernice Bibeau, Max Heinritz, Lauren Reifsnyder, Dan Winkler, Susan McCaffrey, Cleeser, Harry and Denise Cyphers, Adam Libert, Kaitlyn Reese, Amy, Angela, Ariel, Annie Baum Stein, Thomas Jansen, Louis G. Partridge, Richard and Angelica Carpenter, Carlos Zuluaga, Hanna Cohen, Mike Fantini, William Parshall, Beth Wells, Julie Courtney, Eric Williamsen, Michael Djilani, Ed Taylor, Nhat Dang, Joe Pinsker, Noelle Tay, Gideon Fink Shapiro, Michelle Blankas, David Marston, Peter Bachmann, Brandon Davis, Mark Hing, Philip Ross, Kate Holmquist, Raymond Harari, Eli Pearlman-Storch, Katie Motyka, Lucas Schoeppner, Tiala Giabau, Sam Beattie, Chris M, Bob Oliveti
who we are In the fall of 2012, three recent graduates from Temple University and University of Pennsylvania, Diana Fernandez, Amy Syverson, and Susan Kolber, collaborated to create Above Below Beyond - an exhibition of student design work inspired by Philadelphia’s Reading Railroad. Passionate about the railroad, we wanted to allow years of student research, interest, and ideas about this abandoned urban corridor to be available to the public in order to encourage the railroad’s development.
Temple University Landscape Architecture Senior Studio - Spring 2012 Professors Stuart Appel, FASLA Lolly Tai, FASLA
Students Peter Marotta Patrick Whealton Nickia Dixon Matthew Nelson Marquita Head Leah Purdy Kelsey Stanton W. John Keiser III Hally Bonacum Felicia DiPietro Diana Fernandez Dennis Murphy Cindy Culp Amy Syverson David Bilinski Aaron Karnas
University of Pennsylvania Architecture Senior Studio - Spring 2012 Professors Julie Beckman Ariel Genadt
Students Catherine Ozdrizek Caroline Acheatal Dan Hawkins Liz Young Garvin Hunt Ella Ye Lu Joanna Karaman Juliet Gensemer Kate Jones Laura Bridgman Laura Dean Marvin Harris Natalia Reina Noelle Tay Noor Al Awadhi Olivia Hass Sam Beattie Nhat Dang Brittni Luke Blanca Abramek Tina Xie Ariana Galan Montas Alicia Willett Miya Lee Ryan Leifield Susan Kolber
one space... Above Below Beyond culminated in a six week exhibit that coincided with the Design Philadelphia festival of 2012. The Next City office and “The Storefront for Urban Innovation” were transformed into an installation all about Philadelphia’s incredible former Reading Railroad and student responses to this inspiring place.
1 2
0 3 4 exhibit components: 0. Starting Point: A timeline
A timeline showed important site history and charted creative work inspired by the railroad. Visitors were encouraged to add their own events to the timeline.
1. Engage: What do you see?
An eye-catching interpretive installation filled the storefront window. Dozens of jars displayed a sample of the materials that the railroad corridor is made of. The installation was inspired by the experience of visiting a site for the first time and engaging with the varied layers of information that make a place what it is.
2. Explore: Inventory and Analysis
Selected student work from the Spring 2012 Temple University Landscape Architecture Studio VI helped to build a context to understand the site.
3. Envision: Program and Design
Selected student work from the Spring 2012 University of Pennsylvania Architecture Studio 402 demonstrated the conceptual design process and applied a program to the site.
4. Realize: What should this be?
We asked visitors to help us kick off the conversation by leaving their thoughts. Ideas generated at the show were be catalogued to support a robust, ongoing dialogue about the development of this site.
A birds-eye view of Next City’s office and the “Storefront for Urban Innovation,” as it was transformed for Above Below Beyond. The 5 exhibit components mirrored the design process we followed in our respective design studios.
many functions Throughout the exhibition, the Next City space facilitated events, meetings and dialogues of all kinds. In the diagrams to the right, the dots represent how people filled the space at different times.
Event Space
The exhibit celebrated it’s opening night was an official event for Design Philadelphia, an annual city-wide design festival. The show had a great turn-out, with a lively standing room only crowd from 6 to 10pm.
Open Exhibit
We kept the exhibit open to visitors 7 days a week for 6 weeks. On weekends, the coordinators of Above Below Beyond were available to answer questions or just to chat.
Storefront / Office
During business hours, we stashed the boards away and Next City used their office as usual. At night, the installation lit up the storefront with hundreds of blue and white LEDs, causing many people passing by to stop and do a double take.
Meeting Place
The exhibit allowed us to have impromptu and planned meetings with all kinds of people interested in the site, including a representative from the Highline, Next City staff and interns, fellow students working on similar work, and interested community members.
Panel Discussion
The exhibit culminated in a panel discussion that explored how student involvement can encourage development of sites like the Reading Railroad. The panel included Paul vanMeter of VIADUCTgreene; Ashby Leavell, Longwood Gardens graduate fellow; John Struble of the Reading Viaduct Project; Ariel Genadt, PennDesign Lecturer; and Mark B. Thompson, architect for Fairmount Water Works. The discussion was moderated by Next City’s executive director Diana Lind. Kate Holmquist, Cara Stefchak and Above Below Beyond
making it happen Above Below Beyond began with the
began by creating a facebook page and our own website, abovebelowbeyond.org, where parallel work of two design studios in the Spring of 2012. As students at the University we could begin to make information about of Pennsylvania in Architecture and at Temple the railroad public. University in Landscape Architecture, we had As we thought more about sharing the often studied the same amazing site, at the same overlooked resource of our own student work exciting time. After learning of each other’s work, we decided to come together to create with the public, we became more and more hopeful about the potential of this exhibit an exhibit and share this wonderful place to help move the development of the park with others. forward. Over the summer months, we spent many We pulled together our resources and evenings sitting around a plate of hummus crowd-sourced funding through kickstarter. and grapes while discussing our common com: $6145 from 104 backers. The funding goals and how we could achieve them. We allowed us to imagine our impact beyond limits and introduced us to a community who saw value in what we had to offer. Next City gave us their space, “The Storefront for Urban Innovation,” and provided us with advice, assistance and some wonderful press.
Together, we organized and curated the student work to hang on the walls, devised a way to get exhibit visitors involved in the ideas, and hatched plans for a massive head-turning installation for the storefront window.
The installation was made of 200 Ball jars filled with artifacts from the railroad, 100 led lights with coin batteries attached, 200 yards of fishing line, 144 square feet of full color printing, and 2 discarded wood pallets. Kate Holmquist, Temple Studio and Above Below Beyond
Kate Holmquist and Above Below Beyond
meet your railroad! (and fall in love like we did)
Philadelphia’s former Reading Railroad extends from Boat House Row, under Pennsylvania Avenue, through Callowhill and into Chinatown. The corridor is nearly 3 miles long, running through a 3000 ft. tunnel, an open-air trench below street level, and onto an elevated trestle.
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land use // parks and vacant land
// industrial land use
land use // parks and vacant land girard ave.
land use // parks and vacant land
// industrial land use
land useland // parks and vacant land land and vacant land use use //// parks parks and vacant land
// //industrial landuse use industrial land
girard ave.
girard ave.
fairmount ave.
be
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N
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// zone 1 structures
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//
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// culturally significant
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species that are attractive to birds and mammals are prevalent.
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N
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adjacent architecture // 5 types adjacent architecture // 5 types adjacent architecture // 5 types adjacentadjacent architecture // 5 types architecture // 5 types girard ave.
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// zone 1 vegetation
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// zo // zo // zo // zo
// zone 1 vegetation
girard ave.
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nts
pedestrian gibridge // zone 1 vegetation rard ave. // zone11vegetation vegetation zone // zone 1 vegetation girard av e. // zone 1 vegetation girard 30th 30th 30 th30 st.th30st. st.th st.
nts
rid
I-676
N
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//
N
girard ave.
fairmount ave. fairmount ave. girard ave.
N
nts
// zone wall 1 vegetation
girard ave.
ecology // tree canopy cover
N
nts
vehicular bridge
girard ave.
fairmount ave. fairmount ave.
N
nts
pedestrian bridge
N
N
ecology //// tree canopy cover treecover cover ecologyecology // tree canopy ecology // tree canopy canopy cover ecology // zone tree3canopy cover zone 1 zone 2 zone 4 ave. fairmount girard ave.
27th 27 th27 st.th27st. st.th st.
broadbro brost. brost. ad ad st. st.ad
30th st.
N
nts
zone 4
ecology // tree canopy cover
N
nts
av
broad st.
N
nts
nts
vine st.
nts
a ni va
.
I-676
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nts
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Above: view from 30th street looking east (1900) source: phillyhistory.org. Right: pedestrian Above: from bridgeview at 29th 30th street looking street. Above: view from east (1900) source: 30th street looking Above: view from phillyhistory.org. east source: 30th (1900) street Above: viewlooking from Right: phillyhistory.org. east (1900) source:pedestrian 30th street looking Above: view from Right:(1900) pedestrian bridge 29thfrom Above: view phillyhistory.org. east source:at 30th street looking bridge at 29th Right: pedestrian phillyhistory.org. street. 30th street looking east (1900) source: street. pedestrian bridge at 29th Right: east (1900) source: phillyhistory.org. street. at 29th bridge Right: pedestrian phillyhistory.org. street. bridge at 29th Right: pedestrian street. Above:atview bridge 29thfrom 30th street looking street. east (1900) source: phillyhistory.org. Right: pedestrian bridge at 29th street.
N
nts
N
wall vehicular pedestrianbridge bridge vehicular pedestrianbridge bridge wall pedestrianbridge bridge wall vehicular pedestrian bridge vehicular bridge
N
vine st.
vine st
ecology // tree canopy cover zone 1
st.
vine st.
zone3. 4 zone zone 3 zone 3 zone 3
// zo // zo // zo // zo
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I-676
zone2 3 zone zone 2 zone 2 zone 2
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27th st.
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spring garden nts st.
vine st.
rd ave. girard girard ave.
. e. e. e. e. e.ve av a av a av a av a aava a ni ni ani anini ni a a v v v va lva syl syl syl syyl lv sy enn enn enn ennn s p p p pn nn pe
. ve
I-676 I-676
bzone 21 en zone frzone 1 an k lin 1 zone pk y
spring garden st.
vine st. zone 4 spring spring garden st. garden
I-676
N
e.
pe
e. e. e. e. av av av av ge ge ge ge rid rid rid rid
zone 3
spring garden st.
N
nts
girard av
e. av
. ve
. ve
vine st.
y
// zone 1 structures zone // zone11structures structures // zone 1 structures girard av e. // zone 1 structures gira
wall girard av vehicular bridgee. pedestrian bridge
spring garden st.
N
nts
nts
a ni va
a ge
vine st.
a ge
zone 1
fairmount ave. be n f be ran n kli be fran n p 76k n I-6 fr klin y be ank pk li y n fra n p nk ky lin pk y
rid
be zone 2 n unt ave. fairmo fra nk lin pk y
I-676 fairmount ave. fairmount ave.
a ge
n fra ave. fairmount nk lin pk y
N
nts
pk
// zone 1 structures
spring garden st.
fairmount ave.
rid
zone 1
be
rid
girard ave.
girard ave. be n ave. fairmount fra girard ave . nk lin pk y
N
nts N
nts
l sy nn
girard ave.
existing structures // 4 zones girard ave.
vine st.
pe
structures // 4 zones existing existing structures // 4 zones existing structures existing structures //// 44 zones zones existing structures // 4 zones girard ave.
spring garden st.
spring garden st.
27th st.
N
nts
27th 27 th27 st.th27st. st.th st.
y
girard av
N
nts
30th st.
pk
f be ran I-676 pk y vine st. n kli be fran n I-67 p I-676 n kl ky 6 vine st. fra in p n be kbli ky n fra nepn nk kfyra lin nk pk lin y
nts nts
vine st.
. ve
lin
vine st.
a ge
nk
n
N
nts
spring garden st.
rid
// zone 1 structures
N
n I-676 fra nk6 I-67 lin
be
nts
27th st.
broad st. broad st.
spring garden st.
existing structures // 4 zones girard ave.
spring garden st. spring garden st. vine st .
. ve
vine st.
. ve
fra
vine st.
a ge
n
vine st.
spring garden st.
pk
I-676
spring garden st.
vine st.
rid
f be ran I-676 n kli be fran n I-67 pk 6 n vine fr klin st.y be ank pk lin y n fra p nk ky lin pk y
N
spring gardenntsst.
N
nts
a ge rid
pk
y I-676
be
I-676
n
lin
spring garden st.
. ve
I-676
be
nk
vine st.
e. e. e. e. av av av av ge ge ge ge rid rid rid rid
lin
fra
pk y I-676
y
spring garden st.
existing structures // 4 zones nk
n
fairmount ave.
e. e. e. e. av av av av ge ge ge ge rid rid rid rid
fra
vine st.
be
fairmount ave. fairmount ave. fairmount ave.
spring garden st.
. ve
n
. ve
I-676
nts
vine st.
lin
fairmount ave.
N
a ge rid
be fairmount ave. n nt ave. fra fairmou nk linnt ave. fairmou pk y be
vine st.
fra
nk
27th st.
y
76 fairmount ave. fairmount ave.
n
girard ave.
pk
I-6
I-676 be
fairmount ave.
girard ave.
// co // co // co // co
a ge rid
lin
girard ave.
30th st.
nk
girard ave.
girard ave.
spring garden st.
st.
fra
vine st.
. ve
n
broad st.
I-676
be
. ve
girard ave.
broadbro brost. brost. ad ad st. st.ad
girard ave.
spring garden st.
a ge rid
land use // parks and vacant land land use // parks and vacant land
girard ave. fairmount ave.
broad st.
fairmount ave.
// industrial land use // industrial land use girard ave. land use // industrial
a ge rid
girard ave.
girard ave.
spring garden st.
broad st.
fairmount ave.
broadbro brost. brost. ad ad st. st.ad
broad st.
girard ave.
fairmount ave.
a ge rid
Under the guidance of Professors Stuart Appel FASLA and Lolly Tai FASLA, Temple students engaged in the process of urban design through a comprehensive study of the site inventory and analysis. In order for the research, analysis, and design works to be of greatest possible value to those currently working to develop the site, the students decided to pull their final work together into one cohesively designed 385 page book: “VIA Philadelphia.”
girard ave.
// industrial land use
// culturally significant
Left: The Reading Terminal, 1893, Italian Renaissance. Above: 1893, The Left: The Reading Terminal, Philadelphia Inquirer, 1924, Art Italian Renaissance. Above: TheDeco, Left: The Reading Terminal, 1893, International Style, Beaux Philadelphia Inquirer, 1924,Arts Art Italian Renaissance. Above: TheDeco, Left: The Reading Terminal, 1893, International Inquirer, Style, Beaux Philadelphia 1924,Arts Art Deco, Italian Renaissance. Above: The International Style, Beaux Arts Philadelphia Inquirer, 1924, Art Deco, International Style, Beaux Arts
Left: The Reading Terminal, 18 Italian Renaissance. Above: T Philadelphia Inquirer, 1924, Ar International Style, Beaux Arts
Left: The Reading Terminal, 189 Italian Renaissance. Above: The Philadelphia Inquirer, 1924, Art
what’s there? These maps, which document the unique conditions on and adjacent to the site, were created as part of “VIA Philadelphia,” which is available online at http://issuu.com/amy.syverson/docs/via_philadelphia // institutional land use // institutional land use // institutional land use // institutional land use
girard ave.
girard ave.
girard ave. girard ave.
girard ave.
girard ave.
girard ave. fairmount ave.
fairmount ave. fairmount ave.
fairmount ave. fairmount ave.
vine st. vine st.
spring garden st.
be
n f be ran I-676 n kli be fran n I-67 p n kl ky 6 fr in be ank pk lin y n fra p nk ky lin pk y
N
nts N
nts N
nts
N
I-676
vine st. vine st. vine st. vine st.
spring garden st.
I-676
spring garden st.
N
N
nts N
nts
N
rden st.
spring ga
rden st.
spring ga
N
nts
N
callowhill callowhill callowhill
st. st. st.
spring garde
n st.
spring garde
n st.
spring garde
n st.
spring garde
st.
nts N
callowhill
nts N
callowhill
nts
callowhill
N
nts
Above: aerial view looking east from 16th street (1898). Below: Above: aerial view looking east looking east from 19th street. from 16th street (1898). Below: Above: aerial view looking east looking east from(1898). 19th street. from 16th street Below: Above: aerial view looking east looking east from 19th street. from 16th street (1898). Below: looking east from 19th street.
n
rden st.
spring ga
rden st.
spring ga
rden st.
spring ga
N
nts
rden st. callowhill
st.
callowhill st. n nkl callowhill be fran in p st. a n fra klin rkw nk pa ay callowhill be st. lin rk n w fra p nk ark ay lin wa y edgeparforest kw Characterized ay by advantageous edge forest be
nts N
N
// vernacular and contemporary // vernacular and contemporary // vernacular and contemporary // vernacular and contemporary
Left: The Philadelphia Convention Center, 2011 Contemporary. Right: Convention The Trestle Inn Go-Go Left: The Philadelphia Center, 2011 and Whiskey Club, ageConvention unknown Contemporary. Right: The Trestle Inn Go-Go Left: The Philadelphia Center, 2011 and Whiskey Club, ageThe unknown Contemporary. Right: Trestle Inn Go-Go Left: The Philadelphia Convention Center, 2011 and Whiskey Club, age unknown Contemporary. Right: The Trestle Inn Go-Go and Whiskey Club, age unknown
earthwork steel vine st.bridge earthwork steel bridge concrete bridge steel bridge concrete bridge earthwork concrete bridge steel bridge concrete bridge
N
nts
12th street bridge under construction (1898) source: phillyhistory.org 12th street bridge under construction (1898) source: phillyhistory.org 12th street bridge under construction (1898) source: phillyhistory.org 12th street bridge under construction (1898) source: phillyhistory.org
N
nts
historic building historic catenarybuilding historic catenarybuilding catenarybuilding historic catenary N
nts
N
nts
spring garde
n st.
N
nts N
nts
Common Reed colonizes the wet areas of the railroad corridor. Common Reed colonizes the wet areas of the railroad corridor. Common Reed colonizes the wet areas of the railroad corridor. Common Reed colonizes the wet areas of the railroad corridor.
vine forest Englishforest Ivy and other invasive vines cover vine the ground completely, climb stone steel vine forest English Ivy and other invasive vines and cover structures, and blanket trees shrubs.steel the ground completely, climband stone English Ivy and other invasive vines and cover vine forest structures, blanket trees shrubs. the ground and completely, climband stone and steel English Ivy and and blanket other invasive vines cover opportunistic meadow structures, trees and shrubs. the ground completely, climb stone and steel opportunistic meadow structures, and blanket trees and shrubs. opportunistic meadow opportunistic meadow N
nts
N
nts
// industrial typeform // industrial typeform // industrial typeform // industrial typeform
Left: Lasher Printing Company, 1927 Industrial Art Deco by architect Phillip Tyre. Right:Lasher Interior of the Haverford Factory, built in1897. Left: Printing Company,Cycle 1927 Industrial Art Deco by architect Phillip Tyre. Right: Interior of the Haverford Factory, built in1897. Left: Lasher Printing Company,Cycle 1927 Industrial Art Deco by architect Phillip Tyre. Right: Interior of the Haverford Cycle Factory, built in1897. Left: Lasher Printing Company, 1927 Industrial Art Deco by architect Phillip Tyre. Right: Interior of the Haverford Cycle Factory, built in1897.
spring garde
n st.
spring garde
n st.
spring garde
Left: A native grass, Left: A little native bluestem. Above: grass, Left: A little native Woody plants like bluestem. Above: grass, little Left: A native Sumac take root Woody plants like bluestem. Above: grass, littlesoils. in deeper Sumac take root Woody plants like bluestem. Above: in deeper soils. Sumac take root Woody plants like in deeper soils. Sumac take root in deeper soils.
n st.
callowhill callowhill callowhill
st. st.
st. vine st. callowh ill st. vine st. vine st. grassland
.
nts
st. vine st. callowh ill st. vine st. vine st. earthwork
N
nts N
.
nts
st.
.
trees; fruit-bearing shrubs; Characterized by advantageous edgethorny, forest and a thorny, high occurrence of native and trees; fruit-bearing shrubs; Characterized by advantageous edge forest exotic vines. and a thorny, high occurrence of native and trees; fruit-bearing shrubs; Characterized by advantageous exotic vines. agressive wetland and a high occurrence of native and trees; thorny, fruit-bearing shrubs; exotic vines.and Aggressive early successional agressive wetland and a high occurrence of native and species take advantage of disturbed, agressive wetland Aggressive early successional exotic vines.and often inundated soil conditions. species takeand advantage of disturbed, Aggressive early successional agressive wetland often inundated soil conditions. species take advantage of disturbed, Aggressive and early successional often inundated soil conditions. species take advantage of disturbed, often inundated soil conditions.
N
N
nts
.
rden st.
Where light does filter into the tunnel, some vegetation befifound Where lightcan does lter into the tunnel, some vegetation befifound Where lightcan does lter into the tunnel, some vegetation can be found Where light does filter into the tunnel, some vegetation can be found
fra
rden st.
spring ga
st.
e e e e av av av av ge ge ge ge rid rid rid rid
e. e. e. e. av av av av a a a a ni ni ni ni lva lva lva lva sy sy sy sy nn nn nn nn pe pe pe pe
be
spring ga
broad brst. brdoa br oa d oa st. st.d st.
fairmount ave.
spring ga
N
nts
// zone 4 vegetation // zone 4 vegetation // zone 4 vegetation // zone 4 vegetation 15th 15 st.th15stth. 15 stth . st.
fairmount ave. fairmount ave.
N
nts
n st.
N
// zone 3 vegetation // zone 3 vegetation // zonesp3ringvegetation garden st. // zonesp3ringvegetation garden st.
fairmount ave.
little to no vegetation little to no vegetation little to no vegetation little to no vegetation
callowhill
bridge wall vehicular bridge vehicular bridge wall vehicular bridge
20th 20 th20 st.th20st. st.th st.
25th 25 th25 st.th25st. st.th st.
// zone 2 vegetation // zone 2 vegetation // zone 2 vegetation // zone 2 vegetation
n be fran kl n be fran in p a n fr klin rkw be ank pa ay lin rk n fra p w nk ark ay lin w wall pa ay rk wa wall vehicular y
.
nts
Above: east portal of tunnel keystone laying (1898) source: Above: east portal of tunnel phillyhistory.org. Below: the barrel keystone laying (1898) source: Above: east portal of tunnel vaults andlaying vents (1898) can stillsource: be seen phillyhistory.org. Below: the barrel keystone Above: east portal of tunnel in the tunnel today. vaults and vents can stillthe be seen phillyhistory.org. Below: barrel keystone laying (1898) source: in the tunnel today. vaults and vents can still be seen phillyhistory.org. Below: the barrel in the tunnel today. vaults and vents can still be seen in the tunnel today.
rden st.
.
west entrance west pillar entrance west pillar entrance pillar entrance west pillar N
rden st.
spring ga
.
barrel vault barrel vaultarea ventilation barrel ventilation vent vaultarea ventilation vent vaultarea barrel vent ventilation area vent
nts
vine st.
N
.
rden nts st.
N
vine st.
spring garden st.
nts
e e e e av av av av ge ge ge ge rid rid rid rid
e. e. e. e. av av av av a a a a ni ni ni ni lva lva lva lva sy sy sy sy nn nn nn nn pe pe pe pe
be
spring ga
broad brst. brdoa br oa d oa st. st.d st.
fairmount ave.
spring ga
vine st.
spring garden st.
// zone 4 structures // zone 4 structures // zone 4 structures // zone 4 structures 15th 15 st.th15stth. 15 stth . st.
20th 20 th20 st.th20st. st.th st.
25th 25 th25 st.th25st. st.th st.
fairmount ave.
rden st.
vine st.
N
fairmount ave.
spring ga
spring garden st.
nts
// zone 3 structures // zone 3 structures // zonesp3ringstructures garden st. // zonesp3ringstructures garden st.
fairmount ave.
n f be ran I-676 n kli be fran n I-67 p n kl ky 6 fr in be ank pk lin y n fra p nk ky lin pk y
nts
nts
// zone 2 structures // zone 2 structures // zone 2 structures // zone 2 structures
I-676
be
spring garden st.
10th 10 th10 st.th10st. st.th st.
vine st.
I-676
spring garden st.
e. e. e. e. av av av av ge ge ge ge rid rid rid rid
n f be ran I-676 n kli be fran n I-67 p n kl ky 6 fr in be ank pk lin y n fra p nk ky lin pk y
vine st.
spring garden st.
fairmount ave. spring garden st.
e. e. e. e. av av av av ge ge ge ge rid rid rid rid
I-676
be
spring garden st.
e. e. e. e. av av av av ge ge ge ge rid rid rid rid
I-676
fairmount ave. spring garden st.
10th 10 th10 st.th10st. st.th st.
fairmount ave.
broadbro brost. brost. ad ad st. st.ad
fairmount ave.
fairmount ave. fairmount ave.
broadbro brost. brost. ad ad st. st.ad
fairmount ave.
N
893, he 893, rtheDeco, 893, srtheDeco, 893, srt Deco, he s rt Deco, s
girard ave.
girard ave.
N
es
girard ave.
girard ave.
girard ave.
N
es es es
// residential land use // residential land use // residential land use // residential land use
broadbro brost. brost. ad ad st. st.ad
// commercial land use // commercial land use // commercial land use // commercial land use
nts N
nts
Made vine up grassland st. of warm season grasses, ocassional flMade owering perennials and early successional up of warm season grasses, ocassional grassland flspecies. owering perennials and early successional Made up of warm season grasses, ocassional grassland species. N
nts
flowering perennials and early successional Made up of warm season grasses, ocassional species. flowering perennials and early successional species.
meadow
Dominated meadowby native, flowering perennials.
Dominated old field by native, flowering perennials. meadow Dominated by native, flowering perennials. old field Found in areas of deeper soil substrate, this area meadow of both native exotic species is essentially old field Dominated by and native, flowering perennials. Found in areas of deeper soil substrate, this area a meadow undergoing succession by tree and of both native and exotic species is essentially Found in areas of deeper soil substrate, this area old eld shrubfispecies. a meadow undergoing succession tree and of both native and exotic species is by essentially Found in areas of deeper soil substrate, this area shrub species. a meadow undergoing succession by tree and of bothspecies. native and exotic species is essentially shrub a meadow undergoing succession by tree and shrub species.
// repurposed // repurposed // repurposed // repurposed
Left: Packard Motor Company, built in 1910 in the Classical Revival and Beaux Arts styles, currently loft apartments. Right: The in granary, built in Revival 1924, proposed asArts loft Left: Packard Motor Company, built in 1910 the Classical and Beaux apartments inMotor 2010. styles, currently loft apartments. Right: The in granary, built in Revival 1924, proposed asArts loft Left: Packard Company, built in 1910 the Classical and Beaux apartments in 2010. styles, currently loft apartments. Right: The granary, built in 1924, proposed as loft Left: Packard Motor Company, built in 1910 in the Classical Revival and Beaux Arts apartments in 2010. styles, currently loft apartments. Right: The granary, built in 1924, proposed as loft apartments in 2010.
the site and the city
context
Created for Temple University’s landscape architecture studio, this context map shows how the 3 mile railroad relates to Center City Philadelphia.
landmarks philadelphia museum of art perelman annex eakins oval boathouse row eastern state penitentiary 30th street station franklin institute barnes foundation rodin museum logan circle academy of natural sciences the granary community college of philadelphia philadelphia inquirer building comcast building love park liberty place one & two rittenhouse square pennsylvania convention center city hall reading terminal market franklin square
5
D
6 I-7
sc
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V
market s UNIVERSITY CITY
connection nodes walking/biking radii
t.
5 min bike ride
northern liberties
center city
museum district
fairmount park
inu
te
10 15
bik e ri
BREWERY TOWN
de
broad st.
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
10
y. ela w I-9
M
N
FRANKLINTOWN G
I-676 vine
J
15
K
st. expy.
5
CHINATOWN
10 15 V
S
O
P T
U
X
Q R
Z
inu
te
bik
e ri
de
Y
m
F
L
H
N
5
y. xp
ll e
lki
uy
ch
5
10 15 5d
C I
5
CALLOWHILL
are
SPRING GARDEN
A
W
exp
temple context
E
5
NORTHERN LIBERTIES
B
m
FAIRMOUNT
nts
Many photographers have been inspired by this railroad. These images are from the UPenn and Temple studio site visits; a photographic tour conducted in conjunction with the Above Below Beyond exhibit; and from a slideshow for The Temple News by Steven Reitz.
Steven Reitz and Susan Kolber
This model from the UPenn architecture studio shows a proposed design for the viaduct portion of the railroad.
What’s next? Our design studio assignments asked us to envision possibilities for the future. The excitement, buzz and dialogue generated by fun, unusual, thought provoking or really do-able ideas is an invaluable resource for making real projects happen. Above Below Beyond helped community members, non-profits and city officials see the possibilities - and imagine some ideas of their own.
conversation starters The UPenn and Temple studio work showed examples of how design concepts come to life. Displayed at the exhibit, the UPenn architecture studio’s final project boards demonstrated how a design program can guide the use of obsolete infrastructure like our railroad. UPenn Professors Julie Beckman and Ariel Genadt challenged their students to rethink the possibilities of an urban infrastructural ruin. The students were asked to organize and design a Remembrance Park and urban plant nursery along the abandoned elevated portion of the railroad in the Chinatown/Callowhill neighborhoods of Philadelphia.
Design credits: this page above: Nhat Dang, Ryan Leifield; this page below: Noelle Tay and Alicia Willett; facing page above left: Juliet Gensemer, Olivia Hass, Marvin Harris; above right: Dan Hawkins, Laura Bridgman, Sam Beattie; below: Noelle Tay and Alicia Willett
The idea behind the unique program was to imagine a cohabitation of distinct functions of various degrees of publicity and operation schedules, attracting a diverse range of the city’s inhabitants, beyond the site’s immediate urban environment. The components of the program were also meant to foster a landscaped urbanism at the scale and socioeconomic reality of the city of Philadelphia, different from the well-known examples of Manhattan’s High-Line and Paris’ Promenade Plantee.
While the UPenn studio focused on the elevated portion of the railroad, the aim of the Temple studio was to prepare a master plan for the entire 3 mile corridor. Seen together, the design concepts cover a wide range of ideas and possibilities.
Design credits, clockwise from top left: Re[Map] Re[Think] Re[New] by Sam Beattie, Laura Bridgman and Dan Hawkins, Inquirer Skywalk by Patrick Whealton, Tunnel Obscura by Amy Syverson, Woodland Walk by Leah Purdy, The Wetland by Cindy Culp, Aaron Karnas, John Tallon, and Dennis Murphy
take aways To extend the reach of these ideas, we created design concept “trading cards” for visitors to take home. We also created an “exhibit supplement” full of case studies of similar, successful projects that were completed as part of the Temple studio.
Amos Shaffer, Kate Holmquist and Above Below Beyond
ideas from the community Our railroad corridor has 4 basic typical sections. We provided postcards of these sections so visitors could leave their own ideas behind. We are thrilled with the results!
this is do-able! Through this whole process, we were overwhelmed with the positive response to our interest in creating such a project. An amazing community - including Kickstarter backers, UPenn, Temple, professors, fellow students, the Next City team, friends, family, the Wells Appel office , and the nonprofits currently working to develop the railroad as a park - provided us support and the generosity with which it was given showed us that this kind of work is do-able. We generated a little bit of buzz and were so happy to be featured in a number of publications. Here is one of our favorite excerpts from a Next City article: “We hear the stories about all-nighters in front of the computer, students ‘living’ in their studios spaces at universities across the country - the sweat, tears and prolific frenzies that fill review halls with impressive renderings. But after the excitement of the project’s presentation fades, how valuable is this work to the community? Three undergraduate design students from Philadelphia universities believe student work can play a bigger role in shaping the urban fabric.” Next City - Kate Holmquist
Other news about Above Below Beyond appeared at ArchDaily, Inhabitat, The 34th Street Magazine, the Temple News, the Design Philadelphia Shaker and Curbed Philly. Interested in finding out more or helping to make this happen? Here are a number of organizations to go to for more useful information about this and other similar projects. NEXT CITY ·Next City is a non-profit media organization dedicated to connecting cities and informing the people who work to improve them
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Through stewardship, innovative design and programming, and excellence in operations, we cultivate a vibrant community around the High Line.
FRIENDS OF THE HIGHLINE BLOG ·Written by Friends of the High Line’s full-time staff members, the High Line Blog is the best place to come for updates on events and happenings on the High Line. Here you’ll find park news, updates about the rail yards, news from our office, the latest press, photos and video, events, and interesting things happening in our community. Like the High Line, it’s a work in progress. Check back periodically, and we hope you can visit the High Line and see for yourself!
CENTER CITY DISTRICT ·The Center City District (CCD) and Central Philadelphia Development Corporation (CPDC) share a common mission: to enhance the vitality of Center City Philadelphia as a thriving 24-hour downtown and a great place to live, work or have fun. The Central Philadelphia Transportation Management Association (CPTMA) works to make travel within Center City efficient, reliable, pleasant and safe.
FRIENDS OF THE HIGHLINE ·Friends of the High Line works to build and maintain an extraordinary public park on the High Line. We seek to preserve the entire historic structure, transforming an essential piece of New York’s industrial past. We provide over 90 percent of the High Line’s annual operating budget and are responsible for maintenance of the park, pursuant to a license agreement with the
THE READING VIADUCT PROJECT ·In the fall of 2003 John Struble and Sarah McEneaney attend a presentation by Joshua David , co founder of Friends of the High Line at The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Earlier that day Struble and McEneaney had walked the viaduct with David and staff of PHS. Inspired by the grass roots efforts of The Friends of the High Line John Struble and
Sarah McEneaney decide to form a non-profit group dedicated to the preservation and adaptive reuse of the abandoned Reading Viaduct. The advocacy group is founded in December 2003. We currently have a volunteer Board and over 200 supporters/subscribers from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. FRIENDS OF THE RAIL PARK Friends of the Rail Park is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to cultivate visions and advocate for a continuous threemile linear park and recreation path in Philadelphia, connecting many neighborhoods and cultural institutions to Fairmount Park along the historic elevated Reading Viaduct and City Branch rail cut of the former Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. Founded in 2010 as VIADUCTgreene, the organization is committed to continuing dialogues initiated with communities along the route, stakeholders, city decisionmakers, and potential partners to build support for Philadelphia’s Rail Park.
Reach us at: abovebelowbeyond.org facebook.com/abovebelowbeyond This publication was printed by the Newspaper Club. Newspaper Club is a service to help anyone make their own newspapers. www.newspaperclub.com. They were so wonderful to work with, and we highly recommend them!
For more information visit us at abovebelowbeyond.org and facebook.com/abovebelowbeyond
the viaduct
beyond
the cut
above below
the tunnel
*futures for a former railroad
park junction
For more information visit abovebelowbeyond.org, and our facebook page at facebook.com/abovebelowbeyond!