LOCK 32 VANCEBURG, KY
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES -LOCK 32Lock 32 is an abandoned site that was originally part of the a lock and dam system along the Ohio River. The site is abandoned, but is currently being used for local school district bus storage. My design goal was to make this site a resource for the Vanceburg community. This goal steered my programming to include after-school programs, interactive learning components, and recreation spaces throughout the site. Making this a space that people want to spend time at and could benefit from seemed appropriate for this abandoned piece of history. Nathan Blei
ZONE AE FLOODWAY
N VANCEBURG
OHIO RIVER 0
50
100
200
LOCK 32
CL
ABANDONED POWER HOUSE
RIVER ACCESS ORIGINAL LOCK 32 ACCESS DRIVE EXISTING SITE WALKWAYS
ADJACENT LOT - QUARRY
SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS STORAGE
WATER ACCESS
NEIGHBORING BUILDINGS UNUSED BALLFIELD
VANCEBURG, KY
ROUTE 8
HORSESHOE PITS
POPULATION: 1,800 LEWIS COUNTY SEAT MINIMAL RIVER INTERACTION PRIMARY RIVER USE: FISHING
ADJACENT LOT - FARMING
CL AD RAILRO
BUS STORAGE
N
Site Aerial
Lock 32 is just a 6 minute drive west of Vanceburg, KY.
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
50 100
200
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
Existing Site Plan
The site is set up along a central axis that guides the entry access drive, approach walkway, and river access.
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
KEY VEGETATION PARKING COMPETITIVE RECREATION NON-COMPETITIVE RECREATION SEATING / REST
EXISTING
PROPOSED
INTERACTIVE DAM WATER FEATURE ORCHARD ROCK FEATURE THRESHOLD / ENTRY STRUCTURE HIKING / TREE TRAILS ACCESS ROAD CIRCULATION
Site Diagramming
Upon diagramming the existing site, I began drawing over top with a “proposed” layer to further design the site.
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
PATH
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
N
50
100
200
Master Plan
This diagrammatic masterplan begins to spatially layout the site with various programs indicated by each hatch.
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
KEY VEGETATION PARKING COMPETITIVE RECREATION NON-COMPETITIVE RECREATION SEATING / REST INTERACTIVE DAM WATER FEATURE ORCHARD
MASTERPLAN
MASTERPLAN
ROCK FEATURE THRESHOLD / ENTRY
Orchard Chunk
The orchard bleeds interaction between the tree trail and the parking. The tree trail conveniently places the user at the right elevation of the tree to pick fruit. The parking then allows for a less formal orchard experience as it allows locals to back their truck directly up to the tree to pick fruit from their tailgate.
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
Node Chunk
STRUCTURE
The nodes at each end of the river front tree trails are hiking interventions that facilitate great river views, a place of rest, and a good spot to cast a line. These outdoor rooms are informal fishing piers at the ends of the scenic, secluded hiking trail.
HIKING / TREE TRAILS ACCESS ROAD CIRCULATION PATH
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
KEY VEGETATION PARKING COMPETITIVE RECREATION NON-COMPETITIVE RECREATION SEATING / REST INTERACTIVE DAM WATER FEATURE ORCHARD
MASTERPLAN
MASTERPLAN
ROCK FEATURE THRESHOLD / ENTRY
Recreation Seating Chunk
The ballfield and horse shoe pits are existing recreation spaces that will be renovated. These spaces are being transformed so that people can gather and watch the recreation. The seating at these recreation spaces is an informal mound seating that allows for elvated ground seating. The mound seating is split and defined by the trail accessing the recreation space.
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
The proposed water feature will facilitate additional water interaction for users of the space. There is a formalized dining area on one side of the water feature that is intended to be part of a grand gathering space. There is an informal rock bank intervention on the other side of the water feature that is intended to allow users to climb on. It is another good spot to cast a line and hangout along the trail.
STRUCTURE HIKING / TREE TRAILS ACCESS ROAD CIRCULATION PATH
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
Water Feature Chunk
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
KEY VEGETATION PARKING COMPETITIVE RECREATION NON-COMPETITIVE RECREATION SEATING / REST INTERACTIVE DAM WATER FEATURE ORCHARD
MASTERPLAN
ROCK FEATURE THRESHOLD / ENTRY
Spill Over Waterfall Chunk
The water in the river is pumped into the water feature, is filtered, and is released back into the river in a way that it will spill down the sloping site. This spill over creates a waterfall effect that the trail user can look down upon as they traverse the scenic trailway. This is done to enhance the experience of the trail as well as make a positive ecological impact on the river.
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
STRUCTURE HIKING / TREE TRAILS ACCESS ROAD CIRCULATION PATH
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
Site Axon
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
KEY RENOVATED POWERHOUSE
NEW CONSTRUCTION
TREE TRAIL SYSTEM WATER
RR
UTILITY
KAYAK SHOP RR
LOBBY OUTDOOR GATHERING / DINING
ELEV CAFE UP
First Floor Plan
The first floor lobby is an extention of the central axis on the site. The lobby is intended to be a breezeway circulation down to the water access. A kayak shop and cafe are the two programs housed on the first floor. The cafe is intended to open up to the outdoor gathering space to create a great place for dining and hanging out along the tree trail system.
Diagrammatic Physical Model
This physical model focuses in on the renovation of the abandoned powerhouse and the new construction branching off the existing building. You also get an understanding of the trail system tying into this space to create the outdoor gathering space underneath the new wings. Lastly, this model helps depict the relationship this space has with the river edge and the sloping site.
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
RIVER LOOKOUT
ROOFTOP PLAYGROUND
STUDY
DAM HISTORY EXHIBIT
STUDY
OPEN STUDY
TUTOR
TUTOR
GALLERY
RR ARCHIVE
RR
RR
RR
SMALL CLASSROOM
DN
SCULPTURAL LEARNING EXHIBIT
ELEV
DN
ELEV OUTDOOR STUDY
UP
LARGE CLASSROOM
Second Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan
The second floor is geared to be a learning center that preserves the history of the site. The powerhouse will be renovated into a museum that displays artifacts and history of the site. There is a sculptural dam diagram that is displayed in the double height space of the museum. This museum experience seemlessly transitions into a gallery in the attached wing. The gallery displays artwork and photographs of local history focused on the Ohio River. There is an intentional river lookout at the end of the gallery experience to cap off the gallery experience.
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
The third floor is geared to host after-school programs as well as educational field trips. The renovated powerhouse hosts study rooms as well as a grand view down into the museum. This space transitions into the attached wing that hosts classrooms. The wing below also creates the opportunity for a rooftop playground and an outdoor study space. These spaces get great views and provide students with some fresh air.
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
TRAIL SYSTEM
Focused Chunk Model
This chunk highlights how this space would actually look in context to the river edge. The intent behind locating the focused program with the powerhouse is an attempt to connect people to the history of this site and to bring them closer to the river edge.
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
LOCK 32 EXPERIENCE [CLICK ME]
Experiential Loop
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
Orchard
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
Trail Swings
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
Recreation Pavilion
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
Baseball Field
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
Stone Fishing Bank
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
Trail Lookout Node
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
Trail Runway
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
Lock 32 Approach
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
Lock 32 Front Perspective
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
Lock 32 Gathering Perspective
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
Lock 32 River Perspective
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER
ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO
TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
AGING INFRASTRUCTURE Historic and Contemporary Lock and Dam Sites Nathan Blei Spring 2021
Lock 32 Aerial Perspective
HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI
YOU ARE HERE: FORECASTS FOR THE OHIO RIVER