Midterm Learning Portfolio

ANSH VAKIL LEARNING PORTFOLIO ARCHITECTURE DESGIN STUDIO III CCSF SPRING 2013

1. INTRODUCTION 2. ICE BREAKER • PHOTO MONTAGE 3. AREA ANALYSIS (WEST PORTAL AVENUE) • ITERATION ONE 4. AREA ANALYSIS (WEST PORTAL AVENUE) • ITERATION TWO 5. AREA ANALYSIS (WEST PORTAL AVENUE) • ITERATION THREE 6. AREA ANALYSIS (WEST PORTAL AVENUE) • ITERATION FOUR 7. UTOPIAN DISTRICT • ITERATION ONE 8. UTOPIAN DISTRICT • ITERATION TWO 9. MISSION BAY SURVEY 10. FIELD TRIP (UCSF MISSION BAY CAMPUS) 11. MISSION BAY DISTRICT PROPOSALS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Architecture is a mulP-­‐faceted approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces. Architecture capitalizes on a local community’s asset, inspiraPon and potenPal, ulPmately creaPng good public spaces that promote people’s health, happiness and well being. Architecture is a term that began to be used by architects and planners to describe the process of creaPng buildings, plazas, parks, streets, and waterfronts that will a_ract people because they are pleasurable or interesPng.

Architecture and memory exist analogically in an essenPal, yet largely provisional relaPonship, which is given meaning by a producPve pracPce of making, doing, living, and being, and is undertaken by both designer and user as they engage their individual memories and experiences. And memory, as an element component in our connecPon to the world, will always by important to the ways in which we find meaning in the buildings and spaces we interact with.

To make meaning in architecture is to begin a creaPve pracPce which organizes past experiences, present acPons, and future desires into significance at any given moment.

ICE BREAKER

PHOTO MONTAGE AS A CONSTRUCTED NARRATIVE

ICE BREAKER

Today, San Francisco is one of the top tourist desPnaPons in the world, and is renowned for its cool summers, fog, steep rolling hills, and eclecPc mix of architecture. It is also a primary banking and finance center on the west coast of the United States.

In between all this I, a lone individual in the city’s 46.9 square mile area, am maintaining an ever changing relaPonship with it. There exists a friendly and welcoming relaPonship between the city and myself with the excepPon of certain areas.

On narrowing down to the smaller picture, I have established what defines the grind in our life. It is managing Pme between work, school and our social life. It is the journey through space that we travel to get to our final desPnaPon that influences our everyday life.

I approached this project by taking the bigger picture of looking at the formal relaPonship I share with the city and then narrowing it down to my everyday life, juggling between my work, school, and social being.

The lef side shows the quiet, reserved, and peaceful life of a residenPal area. Characterized by its monotonous building structures, the occasional cafes and restaurants, and the lightly populated streets this area represents my immediate environment. I pass through it to get to school and on my way to work. Its essence is it’s subtle environment. Whereas, the right side shows the bustling, aggressive, dynamic, and rapid environment of a commercial area.

Characterized by its unique building structures, plenPful cafes and restaurants, and highly populated streets, this area represents my adopted environment. I use this space to maintain a social life. It’s essence is in it’s social strata ranging from restaurants, bars, clubs, lounges to retail stores, commercial establishments, and bakeries to its public transportaPon system.

The part of the picture that has an impact on me is the part that projects out of the surface.

AREA ANALYSIS (WEST PORTAL AVENUE)

SKETCH-UP MODELS

NODES

PATHWAYS

EDGES

MAP

LANDMARKS

ANSH VAKIL ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO

ITERATION ONE

The area I chose to analyze is West Portal Avenue. West Portal is an area with a good mix of social and commercial life as well as business establishments alongside family homes.

West Portal staPon is located in the North end of the street and plays the role of a major transportaPon hub. All the muni lines come together at one point along with various buses.

• Pathways: Its pathways are narrow and shaded. It has numerous side streets that make it

easily accessible. One can walk, drive, bike or take public transportaPon on West

Portal Avenue.

• Edges: West Portal Avenue is home to jagged and non-­‐linear edges. Some structures share a common wall while others are separated by dark, narrow alleys. It separates private establishments from public space.

• Nodes: There are numbered courtyards and public socializing places, breaks in the sidewalk

leading into establishments, parking lots, crosswalks, and parallel streets.

• Landmark: West Portal StaPon and CineArt at the Empire Theatre.

All these elements come together to form a district that is familiar to the person experiencing the space.

EDGE

PATH

NODE

ANSH VAKIL

TOP VIEW

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO III

FRONT VIEW

LANDMARK

ITERATION TWO

The area I chose to analyze was West Portal Avenue. It’s an area with a mix of social, residenPal and commercial establishments.

• Pathways: The paths are narrow and alternaPng between shaded and open areas. There are

autumn tree covers at intervals that give shade from the sun. The pavement is

made of concrete, whereas, the road is made of asphalt. The edges of buildings

area angled with respect to the pathways. North-­‐South moPon of traffic along

2 lanes each 70’ wide. Mainly two storied buildings with flat roofs. There are 7’

wide sidewalks.

• Edges: The edges of buildings are jagged and non-­‐linear as you move along the pathways. The

sidewalks are long and straight with breaks for a side street. West Portal Avenue is a

25mph speed zone, it has a biker lane, muni tracks and is bounded by various

establishments.

• Nodes: ChaoPc, perpendicular paths, major juncPons at the ‘West Portal’ Muni StaPon. The

West Portal staPon is located in the North end of the street and plays the role of a

major transportaPon hub. All the muni lines converge at this point. There is a movie

theatre, diverse restaurants, cafes, and bars.

• Landmark: ‘West Portal’ Muni StaPon, Cinemark movie Theatre, Waldorf High School.

PATHWAYS

THE PATHWAYS ALTERNATE BETWEEN SHADED AND LIT AREAS

THE SIDEWALK IS MADE OF CONCRETE WHEREAS THE STREET IS MADE OF ASPHALT. THERE IS NORTH-­‐SOUTH MOVEMENT OF VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ALONG FOUR LANES, EACH 12’ WIDE. SIDEWALK AND STREET EDGE

TREE COVER

THE PATHWAYS ARE CONFINED TO SIDEWALKS AND ENTRANCES TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ESTABLISHMENTS

WEST PORTAL IS AN ACTIVE AND FUNCTIONING SPACE

WEST PORTAL STATION IS A MAJOR TRANSPORTATION HUB

RETAIL STORES, RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS, AND GROCERY STORES CREATE AN ACTIVE AND LIVELY ENVIRONMENT.

INCONSISTANT LACK OF PLACES TO LOCATION OF TRANSIT SIT STOPS

NORTH END (COMMERCIAL)

SOUTH END (RESIDENTIAL)

ANALYSIS OF WEST PORTAL

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO III

SLIM DIVIDER

WEST PORTAL IS STRAIGHT AND LINEAR. IT LEADS TO HIGHWAY 1 AND I-­‐280 SOUTH. IT IS ACCESSIBLE BY ALL MODES OF TRANSPORT. HIGH LEVELS OF ACTIVITY BETWEEN 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

ANSH VAKIL

ITERATION THREE

The pathways at West Portal Avenue alternate between shaded and lit areas. The paths are mainly confined to sidewalks and entrances to public and private establishments. There are tree covers that shade an area from the sunlight. The pathways are uneven and broken at certain points; they lacks uniformity.

The sidewalk is made of concrete, whereas the streets are made of asphalt. There is North-­‐ South movement of vehicular traffic along 4 lanes each 12’ wide. Pedestrians, private cars, public Buses, taxis, and muni trains are the main users.

There are a series of retail stores, bouPques, restaurants, coffee shops and grocery stores that create an acPve and lively environment. During the day it is occupied by shoppers, employees, clients and the occasional student. It has a major transportaPon hub, i.e. West Portal StaPon that makes it accessible from the Sunset District, Ingleside, and Downtown San Francisco.

The South End of the street is all residenPal, whereas the North End is populated by the commercial establishments.

West Portal Avenue is located on the southern limit of San Francisco.

The street is straight and linear. It leads to Highway 1 and Interstate-­‐280. It is easily accessible by all modes of transport. There is high volume of pedestrian acPvity from 4:00pm – 10:00 pm. Establishments close down by 11:00pm, aferwhich the area is relaPvely empty.

The space fails because there is a lack of places to sit, lack of gathering points and inconsistently located transit stops. There are occasional areas where there is a slim divider that makes that secPon dominated by vehicles.

PATHWAYS

WEST PORTAL AVENUE (12 PM)

WEST PORTAL AVENUE (2 PM)

WEST PORTAL AVENUE (4 PM)

LIGHT: THE PATHWAYS OF WEST PORTAL ALTERNATE BETWEEN

SHADED AND LIT AREAS. THE PATHS ARE MAINLY CONFINED TO SIDEWALKS AND ENTRANCES TO PRIVATE AND PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS. THERE ARE TREE COVERS THAT SHADE THE AREA FROM SUNLIGHT. THE WESTERN SIDEWALK GETS SUNLIGHT DURING THE MORNING WHEREAS THE EASTERN SIDEWALK GETS LIGHT DURING THE AFTERNOON. THE RATIO OF BUILDING HEIGHT RELATIVE TO THE WIDTH OF THE SIDEWALK PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN INFLUENCING THE SPATIAL EXPERIENCE AND A PERSON’S CHOICE OF USING THAT SPACE. WEST PORTAL HAS A SHADED AND COMFROTING VIBE THAT MAKES IT PLEASANT TO WALK THROUGH, WHILE OTHER AREAS ARE HIGHLIGHTED BY SUNLIGHT WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED OTHERWISE. THE BRIGHTNESS AND RESPONSE THAT LIGHT HAS ON THE MATERIAL USED ON THE BUILDINGS REFLECT A PLACE OF FUN, EXCITEMENT AND ETHUSIASM. THE EFFECT OF SUNLIGHT ON SOLID MATERIALS REBOUNDS THE AESTHETIC VALUE OF THE AREA, WHICH MAKES IT PLEASANT TO THE EYES OF THE OBSERVER.

STREET DIMENSIONS

TRAFFIC MOTION (10 AM)

TRAFFIC MOTION (4 PM)

TRAFFIC MOTION (12 PM)

TRAFFIC MOTION (6 PM)

TRAFFIC MOTION (2 PM)

TRAFFIC MOTION (8 PM)

EXCERPTED FROM h_p://maps.google.com/

WEST PORTAL AVENUE IS A SOCIALLY ACTIVE AND FUNCTIONING SPACE

WEST PORTAL AVENUE (10 AM)

SOCIAL LIFE: THERE ARE A SERIES OF RETAIL

STORES, RESTAURANTS, COFFEE SHOPS AND GROCERY STORES THAT CREATE AND ACTIVE AND LIVELY ENVIRONMENT. DURING THE DAY SHOPPERS, EMPLOYEES, CLIENTS, AND THE OCCASSIONAL STUDENTS OCCUPY THE AREA. THE SOUTH-­‐END OF THE STREETS IS ALL RESIDENTIAL WHEREAS THE NORTH-­‐END IS COMMERCIAL. RUSH HOUR IS BETWEEN 10 AM – 12:00 PM AND 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM.

WEST PORTAL STATION (WEST)

SUCCESSES:

WEST PORTAL AVENUE AND ULLOA STREET JUNCTION

WEST PORTAL STATION (EAST)

NORTH END (COMMERCIAL)

SOUTH END (RESIDENTIAL)

• WEST PORTAL IS A TRANSPORTATION HUB, i.e. WEST PORTAL MUNI STATION. IT IS A MAJOR JUNCTION WHERE SEVERAL MUNI LINES COME TOGETHER. IT INCREASES ACCESSIBILITY AND MOBILITY. • IT LEADS TO I 280 SOUTH AND HWY 1 • IT IS EASILY ACCESSBILE BY ALL MODES OF TRANSPORT. • THE PLACE HAS DEFINED ENTRANCES AND VISIBLY ACCESSIBLE PLACES.

ANALYSIS OF WEST PORTAL AVENUE

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN STUDIO III

FAILURES: • LACK OF PLACES TO SIT

• LACK OF GATHERING POINTS • INCONSISTENTLY LOCATED TRANSIT STOPS • SLIM DIVIDER THAT RESULTS IN DOMINATION BY VEHICLES

WEST PORTAL AVENUE TRANSIT

EXCERPTED FROM h_p://maps.google.com/ LACK OF PLACES TO SIT

SLIM DIVIDER

ANSH VAKIL

ITERATION FOUR

Comparing the effects of light, showing the contrast in social life and bringing out the differences between the success and failures I tried to prove the vitality of West Portal Avenue in the city of San Francisco.

• Light: The spaPal experience at West Portal Avenue is greatly influenced by sunlight and the pathways that alternate between shaded and lit areas due to the presence of tree cover. The response of light on open space and building material reflects an area of fun, excitement, and enthusiasm. The buildings are colorful rather than covered with monotonous and dull glass. Sunlight on the solid concrete surface rebounds the area’s aesthePc value which is pleasing to the eye.

• Social Life: The North-­‐End is commercial, whereas, the South-­‐End is residenPal. North-­‐End has

restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, etc. that create an acPve and lively area.

South-­‐End has homes that create a family oriented environment. North-­‐End has alleys leading to bars and pubs entrance, hidden retail stores, and small coffee

shops. South-­‐End alleys lead to peoples private backyard.

• Success: 1. TransportaPon Hub 2. Leads to I-­‐280 and Highway 1 3. Defined entrances and visibly accessible places Failures: 1. Lack of places to sit 2. Lack gathering spots 3. Slim divider 4. Inconsistently located transit stops

UTOPIAN DISTRICT

BRIDGE

UNDERPASS

GARAGE

UTOPIAN DISTRICT

EASE OF ACCESSIBILITY: Accessibility into a district plays a key role in it’s vitality. The main street connects the district to neighboring ciPes and areas. It is accessible by all modes of transport; such as, cars, busses, and trains. The district is bicycle and pedestrian friendly with disPnct bike lanes, sidewalks, skywalks, and defined pathways. The district is equipped with Bart staPons, muni-­‐staPons, bus stops, and bridges that make it reachable from a distant area. Making it easily accessible increases social interacPon among people and mediates an acPve relaPonship between the user and the district.

RESTAURANTS

RETAIL STORES

CAFES, BARS & NIGHTCLUBS

PARKING LOT

BART STATION AND BUS STOP

GROCERY STORES

MULTIPURPOSE ECONOMY: Through my study of the establishments in West Portal Avenue, I have calculated that to make an area socially acPve it must have 60% retail stores, 30% cafes, bars and nightclubs, 9% restaurants and 1% grocery stores.

Among them, 70% are local businesses and 30% are large-­‐scale corporaPons.

The district promotes local business and promotes community based economy.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUDIO III DEFENSIVE SPACE: This district has a residenPal area to the south-­‐end, away from the bustling life. This area is constructed with the community’s involvement in mind. The residenPal community takes care of the maintenance and potenPal developments. It is community oriented and promotes family development.

Having a community sustaining area makes it non-­‐vulnerable to government withdrawal of support. Since its vitality depends on the users involvement; it has the ability to bring people of different racial backgrounds and financial standings closer together.

There are 2 Housing Forms: 1) Single-­‐Family Houses 2) Two-­‐Storied Condominiums Every family has their personal property without a common wall or fence to the neighboring property, which gives them a feeling of ownership and a_achment.

POLE MAZE

PARK

CLEAR AND VISIBLE ENTRANCE

HOUSING FORMS

PLAY AREA

ANSH VAKIL

ACTIVE COMMUNITY SPACE: This district caters to the community that is larger than the family but smaller than the city. The community space is usually achieved through a communicaPon with the founded space. It is in this that an acPve community transpires.

I intended on creaPng an acPve community space so as to promote social interacPon and outdoor acPviPes. With the help of parks, play areas and public a_racPons this district gives the users a reason to come out and enjoy their new found space.

This would lead to a feeling of ‘togetherness’, ‘personal a_achment’, and a ‘thriving space’ for foreign users. In all, adding to the district’s vitality.

ITERATION ONE (REFLECTIONS)

SUCCESSES: • SupporPng claims were clearly visible and explained in detail as to how it brings out the district’s vitality.

• Graphic representaPon matched verbal presentaPon. • Looking at major transportaPon medians and accessibility opPons proved to be a strong approach in addressing the realm of reality in this project.

• Having a self-­‐sustaining economy would prove to be a profitable move towards the districts well-­‐being.

• Having four major secPons (Financial, Commercial, Public, and ResidenPal) divided differenPated by color provides a clear understanding of my strategy of having an organized and systemaPc district.

FAILURES: • Lacks clarity in message and vision statement.

• Due to the absence of a color legend the viewer is unable to visibly create a connecPon between my intent and what is shown.

• Use of similar colors to represent the Public and ResidenPal secPon was ofen misconstrued as being one and the same.

• The project requires more evidence in support of the vision statement: “AcPve and MulP serving District”.

• Provide sequenPal illustraPons showing how each conclusion defines a journey.

MULTI-PURPOSE: Through further detailed study and analysis of the mulPpurpose establishments in West Portal Avenue, I can confirm that for an area to be socially acPve it must have: 60% retail stores, 10% bars, 10% nightclubs, 5% cafés, 14% restaurants, and an opPonal 1% grocery stores.

Among these establishments, my utopian district enforces, 70% to be local businesses and 30% internaPonal corporaPons.

This diverse use of space with regulated businesses would increase foot traffic, improve the community economy, and promote local businesses.

RETAIL STORES, BARS RESTAURANTS AND NIGHTCLUBS AND CAFES

This district’s ease of accessibility coupled with it’s many services adds to it’s vitality and overall community development.

UTOPIAN DISTRICT:

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

GARDRENS, PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

ACTIVE SOCIAL DISTRICT

AN ACTIVE AND MULTIPURPOSE COMMUNITY

ACTIVE:

POLE MAZE

OPEN COMMUNITY SPACE

TRANQUIL SPACE

This district caters to the community. It builds for the community and re-­‐invests in it. This process of using and planPng gives rise to a self-­‐sustaining economy.

With the help of parks, gardens, playgrounds, public a_racPons, and an open gathering space I intended on creaPng an acPve community space.

In order to promote social interacPon and outdoor acPviPes that would benefit the local economy, having an acPve community space would be vital.

This district stands out from it’s neighborhood because of it’s feeling of ‘togetherness’, ‘personal a_achment’ with each local, and its ‘bustling personality’’ to foreign users.

Having a mulPpurpose community complements an acPve district.

Each exist in co-­‐dependence with one another.

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

TRANQUIL DISTRICT PLAY AREA

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN STUIO III

ANSH VAKIL

ACTIVE SOCIAL DISTRICT

ITERATION TWO (REFLECTIONS)

SUCCESSES: • Clear visibility of intent and main vision statement.

• Direct and credible supporPng claims • This iteraPon was an improved reproducPon of the previous iteraPon. I corrected the failures and clarified my intent.

• Strong visual and graphic representaPon. • A district with a high density of mixed uses provides a new dimension to the outlook of this district’s vitality.

FAILURES: • Show pedestrian flow, vehicular acPvity, and stores and service staPsPcs that would create an acPve neighborhood. Use a neighborhood in the city of San Francisco as a base model for this research.

• Provide related diagrams, matrix and charts in support of your conclusions.

• Similarity in colors, although less in this iteraPon due to the use of a color legend, was misinterpreted as a connecPon between two secPons.

• Lack of content in the acPve use of public spaces.

MISSION BAY SURVEY

MISSION BAY SURVEY MISSION BAY DISTRICT, SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco’s new Mission Bay development covers 303 acres of land between the San Francisco Bay and Interstate-­‐280. The Board of Supervisors established the Mission Bay North and South Redevelopment Project Areas in November 1998.

The maximum development program for Mission Bay includes: • 6,000 housing units, with 1,700 (28%) affordable to moderate, low, and very low-­‐income households.

Redevelopment Agency sponsored non-­‐profit developers will build 1,445 of the affordable units on 16 acres of land contributed by the master developer. The remaining 255 affordable units will be included in privately developed projects.

• 4.4 million sq. f. of office/ life science/ biotechnology commercial space.

• A new UCSF research campus containing 2.65 million sq. f. of building space on 43 acres of land donated by the master developer and the City.

• A state-­‐of-­‐the art UCSF hospital complex serving children, women, cancer paPents.

• 500,000 sq. f. of city and neighboring-­‐serving retail space.

• A 500 room hotel.

MISSION BAY DEVELOPMENT TRAFFIC CIRCULATION STREET LAYOUT

• 41 acres of new public open space, including parks along Mission Creek and along the bay, plus 8 acres of open space within the UCSF campus.

• A new 500 – student public school, a new public library and new fire and police staPons and other community faciliPes. Mission Bay is served by transit by Muni’s new 3rd Street Light Rail system, bus lines and the regional – serving Caltrain.

Mission Bay is expected to create more than 30,000 new permanent jobs, in addiPon to hundreds ongoing construcPon jobs. Total development cost for Mission Bay is expected to exceed $4 billion.

As of January 2010, 3,126 housing units, including 674 affordable units, have been constructed in Mission Bay. An addiPonal 319 units are under construcPon. More than 1.7 million of commercial office and biotechnology lab space has been built, with five addiPonal projects in predevelopment.

Seven buildings have been constructed on the UCSF campus, including five research buildings, a campus community center, and a university housing development. More than 12 acres of new parks and open space have also been completed.

FIELD TRIP (UCSF MISSION BAY CAMPUS)

UCSF MISSION BAY CAMPUS (FIELD TRIP)

MISSION BAY DISTRICT PROPOSALS

ACTIVE NEIGHBORHOOD: In an area that is predominantly filled with office and residenPal buildings, I think having bars, cafes, restaurants, and nightclubs would be useful for this districts development.

Weekdays can get monotonous: gym, work, home, dinner, TV, bed, repeat. Breaking up the everyday with a few drinks, coffee or upbeat music greatly benefits one’s personal relaPonship, happiness and efficiency. This would be a grateful addiPon for the current employees and residents.

VISTA POINT: Mission Bay is bounded by Townsend Street on the north, Third Street and San Francisco Bay on the east, Mariposa Street on the south, and 7th Street on the west. It has stunning views of the Bay,

Oakland hills, Mt. Diablo, and

Downtown San Francisco. Designing

a Vista Point at this locaPon would

prove vital to drawing tourist’s and

local’s a_enPon to enjoy the

ambience this locaPon has to offer.

MISSION BAY DISTRICT PROPOSALS

INTERACTIVE MUSEUM: San Francisco is no stranger to interacPve science museums.

The likes of the Academy of Sciences, located in the heart of San Francisco, has gained high popularity among locals as well as visitors due to it’s engaging and acPve environment.

Given that Mission Bay is home to life science, and biotechnology firms, I propose building an interacPve museum to facilitate the public educaPon and raise revenue to further the district’s development.

InteracPve museums create a fun and dynamic hands-­‐on learning environment that inspires imaginaPon and curiosity.

InteracPve museums are the only other source of public educaPon outside of a classroom or library. The nature of an interacPve museum provides a good space for a family event or a kids field trip or even an informaPve trip down history for majority of adults.

This proposal would help create jobs, generate revenue, and increase acPvity in the Mission Bay district.