Nathan Blei | Lock 32

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

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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

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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

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ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO

TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

LOCK 32 EXPERIENCE [CLICK ME]

Experiential Loop

HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI

Orchard

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ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO

TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Trail Swings

HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI

Recreation Pavilion

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ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO

TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Baseball Field

HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI

Stone Fishing Bank

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ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO

TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Trail Lookout Node

HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI

Trail Runway

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ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO

TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Lock 32 Approach

HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI

Lock 32 Front Perspective

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ARCH4002 BUILDING DESIGN STUDIO

TOPIC: AGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Lock 32 Gathering Perspective

HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY LOCK AND DAM SITES | NATHAN BLEI

Lock 32 River Perspective

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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

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