Master's Thesis Document | "A Witness to the Crib"

A WITNESS TO THE CRIB

Bryan Sportman University of South Florida School of Architecture + Community Design

Master’s Thesis Project: Spring 2017

A masters research project presented to the Graduate School of Architecture and Community Design at the University of South Florida in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Masters of Architecture.

Research Chair Levent Kara Assistant Professor

Project Committee Nancy Sanders Associate Professor Bob

MacLeod Program Director

Martin

Gunderson Adjunct Professor

Prologue 9

Storyline

Crib 13 Tunnel 17 Lake Shaft 19

Research + Exploration

Nest 23 Shield 27 Frame 35 Suspend 37 Tower 43

Project Character 49 View 53 Site 71 Prototype 73

Reference

List of Figures 83 Works Cited 85

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PROLOGUE

The city of Chicago has endured its share of hardships throughout its history; from pollution of the industrial revolution, to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. However, Chicago has managed to persevere through even the toughest of times. Perhaps one of the greatest feats being this city’s bold solution to its heavily polluted water. The Chicago River suffered severe pollution throughout the American Industrial Revolution from factories, mills, and warehouses adjacent to the river’s edge. The city pursued a massive project, so daring that the stronger, more prosperous cities on New York and Boston to the east swore Chicago would never succeed.

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Figure 001 :: Horizon

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Figure 002 :: Section of Crib

Figure 003 :: Section of Crib (2)

PROLOGUE

The idea was to construct a huge ‘well’ two miles off the coast of Chicago in Lake Michigan. The water here was much cleaner than the previous sources along the river itself.

There were three key components making this project possible:

The Crib The Tunnel The Lake Shaft

“... the original idea of constructing a tunnel, two miles in length, beneath the bed of Lake Michigan, which should literally tap the lake from the bottom, at that distance from shore, and through which pure water should be conveyed into the reservoirs of the city.”

The crib retrieves the water, the tunnel carries the water two miles to land, and the pumping station pulls the water from the crib, dispersing it throughout the city. The sections at left [Figures 002-003] illustrate the proposed structures, including dwellings for maintenance crews, a lighthouse, and vantage points into the well ensuring a functioning, steady water supply. The cribs lie in roughly forty-two feet of water, with the tunnels reaching an additional fifty feet below the bed of the lake.

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Figure 004 :: 2 Mile Crib - circa 1910

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Figure 005 :: 4 Mile Crib - circa 1931

CRIB

“We had plenty of pure water constantly in our view, tantalizing as the fact may appear.”

“The launch was announced...”

“The day was propitious, scarcely a ripple breaking the surface of the lake.”

“Tugboats plyed between the crib and the city, carrying out supplies to workmen and conveying visitors to the wonderful island”

The crib is a water intake structure.

Composed of huge timbers and tons of iron, making it strong, as it would be resting two miles offshore. In plan, the crib is built in pentagonal form in a circumscribed circle of ninety-eight and a half feet in diameter. It was constructed with three walls - the outer, the center, and the inner - almost making it three distinct structures, one inside the other. The structure was built as a vessel, and was transported from land [where it was built] to its final resting point two miles offshore.

Once established in its place, the crib became an ‘island’ in the lake. As the winter of 1865 approached, a house was built on the top of the crib with a small cupola, where a light and fog bell were kept at night to warn the mariner of his position, which the law had newly required city authorities to constantly observe.

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Figure 006 :: Tensile Map of Crib Sites

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Figure 007 :: Diagram Mapping all four Cribs and Tunnel Systems

CRIB

Figure 008 :: Wilson Ave Crib - built 1918 241° 57’ 58” N, 87° 35’ 28” W

Figure 009 :: Carter H. Harrison Crib - built 1900 41° 54’ 59” N, 87° 34’ 23” W

Figure 010 :: 4 Mile Crib - built 1891 41° 52’ 22” N, 87° 32’ 45” W

Figure 011 :: 68th Street Crib - built 1892 41° 47’ 10” N, 87° 31’ 54” W

Given the success of the two-mile crib’s launch, as the city and its pollution continued to grow, it was crucial to repeat the process again.

This time, four miles offshore.

The ‘Four Mile Crib’ was built in 1891. As the city’s population rapidly grew, it was necessary to construct several more water intake cribs in Lake Michigan. The sites of the crib formed a linear gesture as shown in the map at left [Figure 007]. In total, the city of Chicago had built nine cribs in its history. Today, six are still standing, with three active and in use.

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Figure 012 :: Working Upon the “face� of the Tunnel

Figure 013 :: Railroading Under Lake Michigan

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Figure 014 :: Bricking Up the Arch

Figure 015 :: The Turntable in the Tunnel

TUNNEL

Simultaneous to the construction and launch of the crib, a separate team of workmen dug the lake tunnel, nearly eighty feet below the water’s surface. The tunnel was the most crucial component of the massive project, as it was the gateway between the clean and pure water of Lake Michigan and the city of Chicago.

“An imaginary straight line was drawn, which the tunnel was to follow...”

“The compass, the natural reliance of man upon the lake, could not be relied upon under the lake.”

Figure 016 :: Descending The Shore Shaft

The point in the lake where the tunnel should receive water had already been fixed.

This required the tunnel workers to construct the tunnel in a perfectly straight line extending to the lake shaft, above which is the crib’s final resting place.

The width of the tunnel is five feet, with a height of five feet two inches, with the top and bottom arches being semi-circles. Only two miners could work upon the excavation ahead of the two masons laying the brick. As the distance between mining and the shore grew, rails were placed in the tunnels to transport earth back to the shore, where it was lifted to the surface.

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Figure 018 :: Lake Shaft Intervention

LAKE SHAFT 19

Figure 017 :: Connecting to Onshore Waterworks

Figure 019 :: Crib Shaft Intervention

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Figure 020 :: Watchtower Wire-frame Study

Through a study of how the three major components [the crib, tunnel, and lake shaft] work together, it was at this point where the development of two characters came about. On the historic site of the lake shaft/pumping station was a watchtower and at the site of the crib was a series of small dwellings for the crew watching over the water supply. Originally an idea of a team of maintenance workers at each site, the concept was narrowed down to just two singular characters: The Crib Keeper The Crib Watcher

The crib watcher was placed at the lake shaft site, working within a tower on land keeping a watchful eye on the crib and its surroundings. The crib keeper, on the other hand, is responsible for overseeing the water supply to the city is always clean and pure, while also protecting the crib from any visitors.

Figure 021 :: Crib Keeper’s Dwelling Study

Figure 022 :: Section Model of Crib Dwelling

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Figure 023 :: Collage Study of Chicago, IL

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Figure 024 :: Collage Study of Marfa, TX

NEST

Studying an urban model [Chicago] and a rural, solitary model [Marfa], the collages at left [Figures 023 - 024] were created in representing both the built environment and public interaction. These collages were then intersected at their midpoints, creating a threedimensional cube. Drawing spaces from each of the collages, a series of spatial moments came to life. The Nest is experienced by one inhabitant, whom continuously wonders amongst the corridors and spaces, keeping a vigilant eye on activities below.

The Nest occurs in an urban condition, with a highly civic program below.

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Figure 025 :: Corridor

Figure 026 :: Looking Up Into the Spatial ‘Nest’

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Figure 027 :: Section - 001 of ‘Nest’

NEST 25

Figure 028 :: Section - 002 of ‘Nest’

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SHIELD

The spaces within the Nest are contained by a protective boundary. The Shield is a linear framework of elements in which create a scaffolding. The shield is translucent to outsiders, but transparent to the lone vigilante above. The shield is not intended to protect physically, but visually. The watcher above is able to observe going unnoticed by those below.

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Figure 029 :: ‘Nest’ Axonometric View

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Figure 030 :: Nest 1

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Figure 031 :: Nest 2

Figure 032 :: Unusual Silence - Marfa, TX

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Figure 033 :: Judd Concrete Box #3

Figure 034 :: Judd Concrete Box #4

Figure 035 :: Judd Concrete Box #5

Figure 036 :: Judd Concrete Box #15

Figure 037 :: View From Chinati Exhibit

FRAME

The concrete boxes created and laid out

by Donald Judd are scaled to the humans height.

They are positioned in a linear fashion and rest on a vast open field. While walking amongst the boxes, I experienced changes in the view through each of the boxes. I realized standing far away from the box provides a much more narrow view [Figure 033] whereas standing within one of the boxes provided a much broader view [Figure 034].

The boxes act as windows, in that as you stand closer, your view widens. Stand farther back, and your view narrows thin. This framing of views is crucial to the experience of the watcher.

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Figure 038 :: Landscape Framed from Within Chinati

Figure 039 :: Nest Suspended in Light

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Figure 040 :: Light Travels Through Nests, Into Tunnel

SUSPEND

Working with a much greater context, this project zoomed out from the ‘Nest’ and placed greater emphasis on the idea of suspension. Each of the plaster volumes in the model below [Figure 039] represent a nest, with one observer. The four suspended nests occur above a larger mass built into the ground, where light penetrates through apertures. Expanding on the idea of shield in the previous project, the network of scaffolding supporting the nests physically connect them together allowing transportation from one nest to another.

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Figure 041 :: Suspension of Space Model Bird’s Eye View

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Figure 042 :: Connection Between Nest + Scaffolding

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Below ground, the central piece represents the tunnel found beneath the lake bed. Above ground, this piece represents the water crib itself. The light in which penetrates through to the tunnel acts in a similar way to the water flowing through the crib system. The out-lier piece left of the scaffolding represents the lake shaft.

The out-lier serves as a transportation device between above and below ground.

The serial photograph above illustrates the movement of light through the central piece of the model.

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Figure 043 :: Suspension of Space Model Elevation View

Figure 044 :: Serial Photograph Capturing Variances of Light Into Tunnel

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Figure 045 :: Typical Lighthouse Floorplans

TOWER

Through studying conditions of suspension and solitude, observing and strolling, the crib watcher was in need of a place of dwelling. It was apparent that the watcher needed to be stationed in a tower. The lighthouse was a precedent leading to the design of the watchtower overlooking the adjacent corresponding crib.

The lighthouse was introduced to this project after stumbling upon a nationwide search in Australia; in search of a volunteer lighthouse keeper to be stationed in Maatsuyker Island.

The keeper is to be left alone on the island, miles away from civilization. Every six months, the Australian government searches for a new lighthouse keeper to be stationed nearly one hundred miles away from the closest city. The island is only accessible by helicopter, leaving the keeper not only alone, but stranded.

Studying the plan and section of traditional lighthouses; the crib watchtower will have a specific program assigned to each level. The stairs will be strung on the exterior of the tower, protected by a translucent screen, shielding the watcher from onlookers and harsh weather conditions. Throughout the circulation, there will be various vantage points overlooking the crib, most importantly, but also Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. These views offer moments for the watcher to experience reflecting back on the city at west, and the vast nothingness that is Lake Michigan’s horizon line at the east.

Figure 046 :: Typical Lighthouse Cross Section

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Figure 047 :: Vertical Construct #1 ‘Body’ - Series

Vertical Constructs depict the habitable space within the watchtower in dark gray. The surrounding scaffoldings act as framing devices depicting viewing apertures for the watcher. The constructs are suspended in space just as the dwelling for the crib watcher is to be suspended above the water’s surface, but composed within the volume. The stairwells providing circulation occurs between the spatial core and viewing planes.

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Figure 048 :: Vertical Construct #2 ‘Body’ - Series

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Figure 049 :: Crib Watcher Vantage Points

CHARACTER

The crib watcher is the mysterious figure in the tower, “the eyes in the sky.” Their role is to observe the overall state of the water crib at all times, and are not to leave their station high in the tower. The watcher has several vantage points with direct views of the crib on varying levels of the tower [Figure 049] Their only responsibility is to observe and monitor what the crib keeper is doing. It is a sense of always being watched that the crib keeper experiences, mysterious in the sense that the keeper cannot see into the tower.

The crib keeper on the other hand plays a much more enduring role. While the crib watcher remains perched in solitude atop the tower, the crib keeper’s duties are: to travel back and forth between the crib and the shore to gather supplies for the watcher, maintain operating status of the water crib, and maintain underground tunnels. The crib keeper’s paths are shown in the vector map at left [Figure 050].

These vectors make up the network of boat and tunnel routes in which the crib keeper travels.

There is a drastic contrast between the roles of the two characters. The crib watcher travels in a very small, more intimate vertical ‘node,’ whereas the crib keeper travels vast distances in the horizontal.

Figure 050 :: Crib Keeper Vector Map

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Figure 051 :: Section Drawings of Watchtower

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Figure 052 :: Watchtower Rendering

The rotunda of the Marfa Courthouse is the highest space in Marfa, featuring windows overlooking the entire town and it’s vast surrounding landscape.

VIEW

View plays a major role in this project in terms of the crib watcher. Although there are various vantage points from within the tower, it was crucial to keep the watcher from the keeper’s sight at all times. The narrow windows shown at left [Figure 053] provide more visibility from within the tower than outside of the tower. The watcher stands close to the window and is able to see a wider panoramic scene of the crib.

From the keeper’s perspective, the view inside the tower is minuscule. The watcher’s stairwell is protected from view by a translucent screen, where a view is only attainable from inside the stairwell. This allows the watcher to circulate throughout the tower unnoticed.

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Figure 053 :: Marfa, TX - Highest Point

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The first level consists of a storage space [barrels, crates, firewood] to supply the crib witness

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The second level consists of a foyer space and main stairwell leading to the crib witness’ dwelling above. The crib keeper does not have access to this level, and any other level above.

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The third level consists of a seating space, with incorporated fireplace, and a washroom.

Exterior stair is protected from view by a screen wrapping the southwest corner of the tower. A large window holds views to the west toward the city.

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The fourth level consists of a viewing platform with a tall, narrow window looking toward the crib, and a larger window offering views to the east toward Lake Michigan

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The fifth level consists of an eating area and kitchen.

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The sixth level consists of another viewing platform with a tall, narrow window looking toward the crib 65

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The seventh level consists of a sleeping space, with an outdoor viewing platform wrapping around the perimeter

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The eighth level consists of a control room, with an outdoor viewing area at the north, and large windows at the southeast corner.

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SITE

The selected site was that of the 4 Mile Crib, the oldest of the remaining cribs standing today. The site is located four miles southeast of Chicago Ave. and 3.3 miles east of Monroe Harbor. This particular crib has existing tunnels under Lake Michigan leading to Chicago Ave. and 14th Street [near Monroe Harbor].

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Figure 054 :: Aerial View - Final Model

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Figure 055 :: Watchtower Axonometric View - Final Model

PROTOTYPE

At the site of each water crib will be a watchtower built with underground connections to the tunnel network. A bridge from tower level 1 to the crib’s loading area will serve as the keeper’s access to the storage room. The tower stands at 102 feet tall, and features a lift offering quicker access to the tunnels.

The components:

prototype

contains

three

The Tower The Tunnel The Crib

Two of these components are existing structures. The towers at each site are to be placed adjacent to both the crib and the tunnel, in this case on the north side of the 4 Mile Crib. A similar layout to the prototype will take place at the remaining three sites. In total, four watchtowers will be constructed

Figure 056 :: Illuminated Watchtower

Figure 057 :: Illuminated Tunnel

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Figure 058 :: Tension Space Between Watchtower and Crib

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Figure 059 :: Watchtower: Front Water Crib: Rear

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Figure 060 :: Eastern Elevation View

Figure 001 :: Horizon 9 Figure 002 :: Section of Crib 10

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“The Water Supply System of Chicago” - John Ericson

Figure 003 :: Section of Crib (2) 10 Figure 004 :: 2 Mile Crib - circa 1910 12 - The US Coast Guard Figure 005 :: 4 Mile Crib - circa 1931 12 - The US Coast Guard Figure 006 :: Tensile Map of Crib Sites - Model 12 Figure 007 :: Diagram Mapping all four Cribs and Tunnel Systems 14 Figure 008 :: Wilson Ave Crib - built 1918 15 Figure 009 :: Carter H. Harrison Crib - built 1900 15 Figure 010 :: 4 Mile Crib - built 1891 15 Figure 011 :: 68th Street Crib - built 1892 15 Figure 012 :: Working Upon the “face” of the Tunnel 16 ”The Great Chicago Lake Tunnel” - Jack Wing Figure 013 :: Railroading Under Lake Michigan 16 ”The Great Chicago Lake Tunnel” - Jack Wing Figure 014 :: Bricking Up the Arch 16 ”The Great Chicago Lake Tunnel” - Jack Wing Figure 015 :: The Turntable in the Tunnel 16 ”The Great Chicago Lake Tunnel” - Jack Wing Figure 016 :: Descending The Shore Shaft 17 ”The Great Chicago Lake Tunnel” - Jack Wing Figure 017 :: Connecting to Onshore Waterworks 18 ”The Great Chicago Lake Tunnel” - Jack Wing Figure 018 :: Crib Shaft Intervention - Model 18 Figure 019 :: Lake Shaft Intervention - Model 19 Figure 020 :: Watchtower Wire-frame Study - Model 20 Figure 021 :: Crib Keeper’s Dwelling Study - Model 21 Figure 022 :: Crib Dwelling Section Model - Model 21 Figure 023 :: Collage Study of Chicago, IL - 2D Collage 22 Figure 024 :: Collage Study of Marfa, TX - 2D Collage 22 Figure 025 :: Corridor - Model 23 Figure 026 :: Looking Up Into the Spatial ‘Nest’ - Model 23 Figure 027 :: Section - 001 of ‘Nest’ - Drawing 24 Figure 028 :: Section - 002 of ‘Nest’ - Drawing 25 Figure 029 :: ‘Nest’ Axonometric View - Model 27 Figure 030 :: Nest 1 - Model 29 Figure 031 :: Nest 2 - Model 31 Figure 032 :: Unusual Silence - Marfa, TX - Photograph 33 Figure 033 :: Judd Concrete Box #3 - Photograph 34 Figure 034 :: Judd Concrete Box #4 - Photograph 34 Figure 035 :: Judd Concrete Box #5 - Photograph 34 Figure 036 :: Judd Concrete Box #15 - Photograph 34

List of Figures Figure 037 :: View From Chinati Exhibit - Photograph 34 Figure 038 :: Landscape Framed from Within Chinati - Photograph 35 Figure 039 :: Nest Suspended in Light - Model 36 Figure 040 :: Light Travels Through Nests, Into Tunnel - Model 36 Figure 041 :: Suspension of Space Model - Bird’s Eye View - Model 37 Figure 042 :: Connection Between Nest + Scaffolding - Model 39 Figure 043 :: Suspension of Space Model - Elevation View - Model 41 Figure 044 :: Serial Photograph Capturing Variances 41

of Light Into Tunnel - Model Figure 045 :: Typical Lighthouse Floorplans 42 - Elspeth Beard Architects - Burnham-on-Sea Lighthouse Figure 046 :: Typical Lighthouse Cross Section 43 - Elspeth Beard Architects - Burnham-on-Sea Lighthouse Figure 047 :: Vertical Construct #1 ‘Body’ - Series - Model 44 Figure 048 :: Vertical Construct #2 ‘Body’ - Series - Model 46 Figure 049 :: Crib Watcher Vantage Points - Drawing 48 Figure 050 :: Crib Keeper Vector Map - Model 49 Figure 051 :: Section Drawings of Watchtower - Drawing 50 Figure 052 :: Watchtower Rendering 52 Figure 053 :: Marfa, TX - Highest Point 53 Figure 054 :: Aerial View - Final Model 71 Figure 055 :: Watchtower Axonometric View - Final Model 72 Figure 056 :: Illuminated Watchtower - Final Model 73 Figure 057 :: Illuminated Tunnel - Final Model 73 Figure 058 :: Tension Space Between Watchtower and Crib - Final Model 75 Figure 059 :: Watchtower: Front 77

Water Crib: Rear Figure 060 :: Eastern Elevation View - Final Model 79

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Works Cited “Chicago Water Cribs.” Atlas Obscura. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 December 2016.

Ericson, John. The Water Supply System of Chicago. Chicago: Cameron,

Amberg, 1905. Print.

Hejduk, John, and Kim Shkapich. “The 13 Watchtowers of Cannaregio.”

Mask of Medusa: Works 1947 - 1983. New York, NY: Rizzoli,

1989. 344-54. Print.

Rizzo, Cailey. “Go Off the Grid for 6 Months as a Lighthouse Keeper in

Tasmania.” Travel + Leisure. N.p., 17 Jan. 2017. Web. 29 Jan. 2017.

Wing, Jack. The Great Chicago Lake Tunnel. Chicago: n.p., 1867. Print.

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Figure ## :: Final Presentation Pin-up Friday, April 7, 2017

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Bryan Sportman bryansportman@outlook.com University of South Florida School of

Architecture + Community Design Master’s Thesis Project Spring 2017