Ana Cristina Vargas Portfolio June, 2014
This project uses parametric design to propose an adaptable urban design for South Boston Waterfront. The main design idea concept is to use the existing parcel structure to organize macro blocks that can work as independent neighbourhoods. The parametric model allows the design to have flexible density and public spaces according to the changing market needs.
Block Variations
Scene 1: Low Density
Scene 2: High Density
Neighborhood Design
Street Design
Neighborhood Design
THE URBAN FACADE
This project proposes to re-urbanize Providence by introducing an urban structure that creates a public space network to reconnect isolated parts of the city.
Exercise 1: Facade Analysis
Exercise 2: Urban Facade Design
Providence
Masterplan:
Public Space Network
Public Space and Urban Design Guidelines`
Milan: A traditional city civic structure
The idea of the project is connect the different neighbourhoods in Providence related to its Downtown through a network of public spaces. Analysing two public space networks, a modern one (Caracas) and traditional one (Milan) provides an idea of their scale and how the space are related to provide a meanigful experience. In the case of downtown Providence, there are three scales of connections that were designed:
Caracas: A modern city civic structure
Neighborhood Design
Bird’s Eye View
1. The scale of the city, connecting Brown Campus, through Downtown towards the residential neighborhood. 2. The scale of downtown Providence beginning at Capitol Hill, with the Jewellery District. 3. The scale of the neighborhood creating a new section of downtown where the highway used to be, that is strong enough to become the connection between the two isolated parts of the city.
Urban facade Ana Vargas
Escale 1/4’=1’
Street Facade
Street Perspective Combining existing Buildings with Strret Facade Exercise 3: Urban Facade Composition 1, facade repetition and variation
A catalogue of spatial relations between buildings provides an array of components for the public space network. This concept is explored at two scales: the civic structure scale, which is evident on the plan and the smaller “picturesque” scale which is composed of a dialogue between public and private spaces and needs to be experienced on foot. The typology of the courtyard building is used to play between private and public courtyards that Escale 1/16’=1’ provide an intimate nonetheless public layer to the civic structure of the neighborhood. URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES PARCELS
Medium Street Type
Large Street Type
1. Urban Blocks are 200’ by 200’ and they are divided in 24 type A parcels and 6 type B parcels. A semi public space inside the block can be access through type B parcels ground floors. (Figure 1)
Small Street Type
Type A: parcels are 30’ by 60’. Only two consecutive parcels can be combined and designed by one architect. Type B: parcels are 80’ by 60’. These parcels cannot be combined and are required to leave 25% of their ground floor as public passage to the interior open space of the urban block. (Figure 3) 2. Each parcel must be developed with party wall buildings to guarantee a continuous urban façade. 3. The minimum height of the buildings is 60’ and maximum height is 90’. will be 15’ wide, they will have one bicycle lane (6’) and four car lanes (11’).
Escale 1/16’=1’
FACADES
Exercise 3: Urban Facade Composition 2, class facades
1. Ground floors must be aligned according to their parcel limit. They might recess a maximum of 15’ only to articulate the street with their ground floor. 2. Facades will obey a horizontal regulating line marked at 15’ from the level of the sidewalk. 3. The upper part of the building (from 15’ and upwards) facades can have balconies or bay windows not exceeding 5’ over the sidewalk. 4. When the building is heigher than 60’ its façade must be receded 20’. STREETS
to trespass
trespass sequence
1. The streets running west-east will be 60’ wide. The north sidewalk will be 20’ wide with the following divisions: 10’ walking transit, 5’ bicycle lane, 10’ row of trees. The street will have two car lanes measuring 22’ wide. The south sidewalk will have 13’ wide. 2. The streets running north-south will be 80’ wide. Their sidewalks will be 15’ wide, they will have one bicycle lane (6’) and four car lanes (11’).
Escale 1/16’=1’
Exercise 3: Urban Facade Composition 3, contemporary facades
Civic Structure
sorround/craved out
embrace
Escale 1/16’=1’ Urban facade Ana Vargas
Ana Vargas * SMArch Urbanism *Urban Design Option Studio *Prof. Michael Dennis
stand alone
Masterplan
Open Public Spaces
Ana Vargas * SMArch Urbanism *Urban Design Option Studio *Prof. Michael Dennis
Ana Vargas * SMArch Urbanism *Urban Design Option Studio *Prof. Michael Dennis
connect
Tracing Public Spaces introduces a new methodology to study, create awareness and inspire future leaders, children, to take action to transform public spaces in high-density informal settlements. It proposes a multi scalar bottom-up analysis, with innovative tools of representation and design to address the challenges of community public spaces. The ‘Tracing Public Space’ method has been developed through fieldwork in India, Venezuela and the USA. The method is based in observation, representation and design using a ‘toolkit’ that enables a two-way learning process between the designer as an ‘outsider’ and children as ‘insiders’. Most of the fieldwork was done in the Malvani Transit Camp in Mumbai where over forty years of informal and permanent growth the existence of open shared courtyards is threatened. These small-scale open spaces are crucial for communities, and particularly for the women and children who are their main users. Tracing Public Space becomes a vehicle to sensitize the community to protect courtyards from encroachments and promote an inclusive and adaptive use of shared space. Visit tracingpublicspace.org
1 Cameras, Cellphone App, Measuring Tape
Measure, observe and locate
2 Fieldbook,
Write, draw and cut
3
Courtyard Model
Map the edge and think spatially
4
Cardboard Pieces Toolkit
Design
5 Objects in public space
Transform Public Space
DEMOSTRATION: 2 hour small change, big impact
Tracing Public Spaces proposes a design strategy that is based on a toolkit that can be used by communities to assemble different public space scenarios according to their needs toolbox
x3
Scene A: Temporary Playground
toolbox
x9
Scene B: Monsoon temporary roof and library
19 de abril M
Vereda
Arco Sucre
El Kiosko
3
Plaza Agricultura
Boulevard 4
1
Boulevard J.F. Rivas
Parada con Escaleras
Arco Vista Alegre
Boulevard 3
Boulevard 2
Boulevard
4 Caseta Telefónica
1
Boulevard Guaicaipuro
Plaza Infocentro
Plaza El Semillero Plaza Simón Bolívar
M Palo Verde
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HOMOCIDES MAP Petare Norte, Caracas
Route 1 Mariches way Route 2 La Bombilla Route 3 Tito Sport
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David Rojas
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Angel Acosta
JITNEY ROUTES TU CAMIONETICA
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Jesús Gonzalez Darwin Padilla
Julio Villareal Hidalgo Freddy
MAPPING TH E UNMAPPED Javier Quintana
Carlos Turipe
24 de julio M
Abraham Guerrero
Safe Access to Public Spaces in Petare Norte, Caracas Elvis Calcurian
By Ana Vargas (SMArchS Architecture and Urbanism MIT)
Oscar Olivares Jessy Barrios Yeison Villegas Fernando Balnco 1
Community Space
5 de julio
2
Multiporpose field
Ivan Soler Edward García Pedro Martinez
Argenis Ruza Silvia Gutierrez Alberto Alvarez
Plaza
3
4
Game space
5
John Soto y Luis Santamaria
M
José Suarez Frank Guevara Gregorio Izarra Alexander Pimentel Pedro Blanco Deivis Matos José Bernal Larry Wladimir Angulo
Antonny Gonzalez
Paletas
6
Opportunity for PS
7
Jonathan Yasin
Street Baseball
8
Street Basketball
Wingelbert Amarista
Enrique Rodriguez
Jorge Manzano
Henry Linsay
d ar
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Subway and Cable Car Stations
1
Spontaneos Public Spaces
Deivi Palencia
M Palo Verde Paletas
5
2
Minicancha
Plaza J. F. Rivas Plaza Cine
M
8
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5 de julio
Route 4 Agricultura Route 1 12 de octubre Route 1 Periphery
Yoni Tortoza
Pedro Gamez
7
Parada Mototaxi
Route 1 Mariches way Route 2 La Bombilla Route 3 Tito Sport
Luis Pacheco
Tito Sport 3
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24 de julio M
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Arco San José
Petare Norte, Caracas
Lheringer Griman
19 de abril M
Boulevard
TRANSPORT MAP
TU CAMIONETICA Ciro Cruz
4
Erick Nubles
Esquina del Módulo
Avin Manrique
JITNEY ROUTES
Cesar Vielma
6
Elvis Garcia
Angulo Gomez
1
Design
Digital Photographic Essay: http://architecture.mit.edu/class/landphoto/archive/projects12/urbanscape_acvargas/essay/index.html