how can we create an urban oasis ?
project abstract
From t space t room s distan After o City, th
ho ur
This q need a interca the be routin and em mimic gaps b design
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madeleine baskin intd capstone spring 2021 University of Cincinnati | DAAP UN
the dawn of the pandemic, out of necessity people quickly became confined to the they reside in, and for urban dwellers the very city, especially park space, is their living space. With greenspace being limited in quantity in urban cities due to density, social ncing measures make these greenspaces even smaller and harder to feel immersed in. observing this first hand in the first few weeks of the cornavirus outbreak in New York hese personal observations turned into inspiration prompting me to ask the question -
ow can we create an rban oasis?
query has been a guiding force throughout this capstone term and brought to light the and desire for natural reprive from the city - one that could pose a solution that is more ately woven within the city fabric. How can we think beyond physical green to harness enefits and qualities of nature? How can this experience become a part of city dwellers nes rather than a far destination? How can urban environments respond to their context mulate a phenomenon or formation in exhibited nature? How can we blend, contrast and c natural and urban fabrics? Environments like greenspace begin to address these missing but full immsersion, use of the sensory interaction and qualities of spatial and interior n can take it beyond to create moments of urban oasis within the concrete jungle.
what we n
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people are deprived of sensory experience
extra density the city with
Especially in public settings, the limiting or elimination of the use of our senses have people clamoring to feel in touch with the world around them. However, activation of scenes poses a new environmental risk to users health and will need to adapt as well.
Both urban and suburban pressure of lack of closene in major cities people are c apartment square footage. layer of biological stress an a tactic people are attempt counteract this stress.
need
y pressures of low nature
cities are feeling the ess to nature, especially confided to their tight This is inducing a new nd immersion in nature is ting to self-employing to
lack of energizing retreat from the home
The ‘home’ has become a workhorse, serving every function for the user from office space to gym to playground. People are left feeling drained by the home environment, not allowing it to be a peaceful safe haven away from daily life. What if there was a place that makes them feel energized and inspired once again in their daily endeavors?
taking back the con problem: Due to limited amount of greenspace allocated per person in dense urban cities and COVID restrictions limiting access to greenspace, people are lacking ways in which they can have the amenity of nature in their neighborhood and recharge using the rejuvenating qualities of nature.
why? 3
Communities lack access to an interior space that provide the same benefits as nature elements, experiential sensorial experience to better connect with nature, a retreat from the home, and additional living space and properly accommodate social distancing. In northern climates that cannot accommodate physical greenery year-round and are at the whim of seasonal weather change, having a communitycentric nature inspired place is essential.
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ncrete jungle
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greenspace at an extra premium Users of urban greenspace are forced to adapt their existing conditions, however the existing exterior environment doesn’t provide enough urban fabric to adequately service both the physical and emotional needs of user. Dense urban city dwellers and suburban communities alike long for access to a more fulfilling nature oriented place to envelop in their community, not one that is unlocked when environmental conditions are favorable during a season.
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design interior centric p place and experiential im
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pocket parks rooted in mmersion
project goals
hybridized space forming the community living room, designed for full immers blended and harnessing the restorative powers of nature through experience ba
unity
unity in community users in unified in needs one with natural environment community living room encourage interaction and connection between users
resto
restoring deplete access to individuals rest sensory experien restoring com
sion with natural environments, interior and exterior fluidity fully ased design.
tore
ed communities nature tored through nce and nature mmunity hub
ignite
refilling users with energy to reemerge in the busy world ignite scene of imagination and discovery encourage play and release of energy and activity
experientia
blend
rejuvenate
blending the urban and natural fabrics
personal retreat and restoring moments
disco
igniting im and cu
al program
overy
magination uriosity
connect
energize
connecting with nature’s restorative tactics
energy boosting and refreshing interactions
nyc greenspace
co
w
Thes beca expa as in espe
w
low
Wit are gard mor larg resi dive ove this wel cou
concrete vs. green half-mile buffer
major nyc parks
concrete jungle
why is nyc prone to urban deserts?
se neighborhoods in New York City are areas that had not been traditionally heavily invested in by the New York City Park system ause they are areas that were not originally designed for play. The population of New York City and the metropolitan area is rapidly anding and being inclusive of the original culture of communities and bringing in more amenities to uplift these communities such nserting green space is a necessity. The density of the city makes carving out greenspace in a existing city structure a difficult task, ecially one that feels ingrained, comfortable and in-touch with the neighborhood in which it resides in.
where best to craft an urban oasis?
wer east side
th a vibrant history of park and garden advocacy within, the Lower East Side has a handful of community gardens and they known to be “serene places to visit and lively community gathering spots.” This neighborhood is known for their community dening culture, and one of the most lively in Manhattan. The parks within the Lower East Side are deemed adequate, however, re relief from the concrete could greatly benefit this neighborhood as they lack actual grassy surfaces and green space and are gely mixed with concrete and cement pavement within the park. Almost all people who attend parks in the Lower East Side are idents of the community, and over half were born in another country other than America, giving the neighborhood a incredibly erse and culturally rich and welcoming community for all. According to the same study conducted by New York For Parks, the erwhelming majority of attendees visit the park to read or relax, pointing to the need for additional space for people to enable s ability, especially once the weather becomes cooler and before the weather breaks in the springtime. The Lower East Side is ll on its way to being nature haven with current measures in place, and the integration and insertion of urban oasis programming uld elevate the neighborhoods comfortability for its residents and provide a lush urban oasis to always retreat to.
lower east side
n
bu
Focu part space urba integ Man rent, footp
neighborhood site small scale parks
major nyc park
concrete jungle
bridges
adjoining neighborhoods
major nyc parks
major streets
local streets
uilding typologies space in between untapped rooftop bodega
using on spaces that are already a integrated of the architectural landscape or forgotten es with in Lower East Side will allow this an oasis to feel approachable and a natural gration to the existing community culture. ny of these spaces been vacant due to high , lack of development or more open retail prints as result of the pandemic.
neighborhood profile Welcome to the neighborhood! The Lower East Side has always had a rich demographic diversity and prides itself on its sustained cultural diversity. The neighborhood is known for a forward thinking attitude with historic roots. The unpretentious, no-frills attitude of the Lower East Side draws people from all walks of life, contributing to the neighborhood’s unique and eclectic identity. During the day, LES is pretty quiet, many people explore hidden pockets of the neighborhood during the day. South of Grand Street is much quieter, housing closer to Manhattan Bridge is more affordable but becomes a public transportation desert. While the Lower East Side area is gradually becoming more popular, rent is still much more affordable than other neighborhoods in Manhattan and is closely connected to Brooklyn. Those who live in the neighborhood love it for its well-worn, homey touches of community, and the free spirited nature of the diverse and welcoming community. The preserved pre-war walk-ups are a dominate characteristic of the character of the neighborhood.
w
c l e
m o
e h t o et
e neig h
bo
rh
o od
site fa
natural x
untapped rooftop
bod
abric
x urban
dega
in-between
untapped rooftop
bod
dega
spatial diagrams axon diagrams with patches of urban fabric space being used
in-between
untapped rooftop
bod
dega
spatial diagrams axon diagrams with spatial strategy + form + space
in-between
activity high
in-between
duration + time long
bodega
individual vs. group solo
bodega
in-between
in
bodega
n-between
low
1 in -
short
b e w te e n
2 roo op
group
3 bodega
action postures
rooftop site - untapped rooftop site orientation - above posture - lounge action - picnic, gather, lounge natural inspiration- clouds formations
bode
site - bo site orientati posture action - resting reading, studyi natural inspir behind w
ega
odega ion - inside resting g, mediation, ing, working ration- cave waterfall
in-between site -in-between site orientation - in-between posture - meandering action - wandering, walking, pausing to rest natural inspiration- walk in the woods or forest
interior qualities ceiling plane
ceiling plane
walls & ceiling
walls & ceiling
furniture
furniture
walls & floor
floor plane
rooftop
bo
odega
ceiling plane
walls & ceiling
furniture
floor plane
in-between
interior qualities
what qualities makes this an interior? the insertion of an interior environment pattern and strategy of any other interior space or environment - through the cr immersive environment arises and uses interior elements as the basis to design
pl e c ace a and sp spatial qualities define and create a sense of location and destination each location responding to specific site orientation and characteristics to draw a natural inspiration connection and achieve immersion into nature.
env ir o
creates a cohesive multiple aspects; responsive to the the site context wi natural inspiration a separate environm the concret
within an exterior setting follows the same rhythm, forms, function, reation and definition of place and space the opportunity to craft a an experience.
t n e on m
environment in as the design is environment of ith an analogous n and also creates ment apart from te jungle.
in ter io
s t n e m r ele
replicating interior elements is the basis of the design strategy and used as a template to form the kit of parts replicating floor plane, walls, furniture and celling plane that are uniquely designed to each site and responsive to the context.
application site orientation
posture
+ resting
bodega: inside
+ lounging
rooftop: above
+ meandering
lot: in-between
element of nature
+
= bodega
waterfall cave
+
= roo op
clouds and sun
+
= in -
walk in the woods
b e w te e n
experientia
blend
rejuvenate
disco
al program
overy
connect
energize
lower east side 1
1
1 154 stanton street
untapped rooftop
adjacent bu
picnic hills
adjacent building
wind chimes mobile
cloud lounge
entry/threshold space
sidewalk
floor plan
uilding
energize energy boosting and refreshing interactions
picnic hills
connect connecting with nature’s restorative tactics
blend blending the urban and natural fabrics
cloud lounge
untapped rooftop
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look & feel
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14
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untapped rooftop 8.
1.
7.
2. 4.
materiality
1. dichroic film applied to clear acrylic
2. light blue moulded fiberglass
4. grid panels suspended from posts
5. mirrored circles applied to brick wall graphic
7. neighboorwoods color rooftop blue
8. neighboorwoods nature textural effect logo
3. cloud as a material in its natural form in the space
6. white textured fiberglass, moulded for pinic hills
9. mirrored environmental graphic mural
untapped rooftop
untapped rooftop
untapped rooftop
lower east side 1
2
2
2 328 grand street
in-between
tree swin
spanish moss
adjacent building
tree st
stepping stones entry/threshold space sidewalk
floor plan adjacent building
discovery igniting imagination and curiosity
rejuvenate personal retreat and restoring moments
ngs
tumps
blend blending the urban and natural fabrics
adjacent building
in-between
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20
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look & feel
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in-between 7.
8.
1.
7.
2. 3.
materiality
1. rubber flooring white with black speckles, made from recycled tires
2. dark green multi-layered mesh, can hold tension
3. light green multi-layered mesh, can hold tension
4. concrete stamped or trex to look like birch wood
5. grid system above as ceiling element integrated with LED lights
6. led tube light, flexible and rope, moves with the fabric
7. neighboorwoods color in-between green
8. neighboorwoods nature textural effect logo
9. light environmental graphic mural
in-between
in-between
in-between
lower east side 2
1
3
3
3 209 henry street
bodega semi-private personal caves
quiet wave cave
sound proof pod
entry/threshold space
floor plan waterfall divider
energize energy boosting and refreshing interactions
ds
rejuvenate personal retreat and restoring moments
blend blending the urban and natural fabrics
bodega
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25
26
28
29
look & feel
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30
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bodega 8.
5.
1.
7.
3. 6.
materiality
1. medium blue acoustic felt
2. medium gray acoustic felt
3. chiffon textured image printed on fabric or vinyl
4. water as a texture and feature generating sound and obscuring window
5. acoustic ceiling light fins
6. white textured cork flooring
7. neighboorwoods color cave wall peaceful peach
8. neighboorwoods nature textural effect logo
9. backlit environmental graphic mural
bodega
bodega
bodega
branding in-between
bodega
neighborwoods
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site specific logo: in-between icon
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site specific colors: light green, dark green, and yellow (as light)
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site specific logo: neighboorwoods logo in in-between green & tree textured
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site specific logo: bodega inside icon
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site specific colors: peach, shades of yellow (as light), pairs with blue of space
rooftop
neighborwoods
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site specific logo: neighboorwoods logo in peaceful peach & water texture
neighborwoods
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site specific logo: rooftop above icon
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site specific colors: shades of sky blue, and yellow (as light)
3
site specific logo: neighboorwoods logo in sky blue & cloud textured
neighbo
orwoods urban oasis
image & research sources how can we create an urban oasis? 1
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summer 2020
image sourced from designboom “brookyln’s domino park painted circles on the grass to ensure social distancing”, image by marcella winograd image sourced from Unsplash; image by Nathan Anderson
untapped rooftop: look & feel 8
summer 2020
image sourced from Picfair, image by Marcelo Araujo image sourced from Unsplash; image by Manuel Peris Tirado image sources from New York Post “The windows to the souls: NYC dwellers living in coronavirus lockdown”, image by Mark Peterson image sourced from TIME “Why America’s Lasting Advantages May Allow the Country to Emerge Stronger After COVID-19”, image by Noam Galai
greenspace at an extra premium 6
summer 2020
image sourced from Picfair, image by Marcelo Araujo
taking back the concrete jungle 2 3 4
summer 2020
image sourced from Unsplash; image by Sander Weeteling
what we need 2
summer 2020
image sourced from Unsplash; image by Sander Weeteling
project abstract 1
sourced
image sourced from Landezine, Landscape Architecture Platform, “Buga 05 Playground”, image by Klaus Leidorf image sourced from Yanko Design , “The Cloud Chair Makes You Quite Literally Feel Like You’re On Top Of The World!”, image by Shota Urasaki image sourced from Pinterest, art installation by Jacob Hashimoto image sourced from dezeen, “Nap Bar in Dubai invites visitors to sleep on soft pebble-shaped seats” and from design milk “Nap Bar Invites You to Take a Break and Recharge”, image by Smarin Furniture image sourced from PrepScholar, “How to Identify the 10 Different Types of Clouds”, image from Pixabay image sourced from Tumblr, art installation by Juwelier E. Kutter
spring 2021
untapped rooftop: look & feel 14 15
image sourced from Shutterstock, image by Peter Paunchev image sourced from Pinterest, Chubby Cloud installation for Anya Hindmarch London Fashion Week
in-between: look & feel 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
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spring 2021
image sourced from Pinterest, image by Alcon Lighting image sourced from Pinterest, image by Ola Rindal image sourced from designboom “katayoun lazar + pinkcloud.dk’s ‘dubai smiles’, a recreational pavilion with huge hammocks in dubai”, image by Katayoun Lazar and pinkcloud.dk image sourced from Pinterest, art installation by Jesús Rafael Soto image sourced from Pinterest image sourced from gestalten, “Dreamscapes & Artificial Architecture: Imagined Interior Design in Digital Art”, coffee table book with various authors and artistic contributors image sourced from dezeen, “Linda Tegg fills Jil Sander HQ in Milan with “spontaneous plants”, art installation by Linda Tegg for Milan Design Week image sourced from dezeen, “BIG’s New York City school for WeWork encourages interaction and play” designs and images by BIG Architecture
bodega: look & feel 24
sourced
spring 2021
image sourced from dezeen, “Wavy green lounge by Svet Vmes Architects replaces an old school entrance”, images by Atevž Paternoster and Agencija Umer image sourced from Pinterest image sourced from Architectural Digest, “10 Forward-Thinking Buildings by Snøhetta”, art installation for Milan Design Week, images by Getty Images image sourced from Pinterest, image by Workspace Furniture Collection image sourced from Pinterest images sourced from Eventscape image sourced from Smarin image sourced from Archillect
spring 2021
thank you! Madeleine Baskin BS Interior Design madeleinebaskin@gmail.com INTD Capstone Spring 2021 Professor Mandy Woltjer University of Cincinnati | DAAP
neighborwoods urban oasis
Madeleine Baskin BS Interior Design madeleinebaskin@gmail.com INTD Capstone Spring 2021 University of Cincinnati | DAAP