Human Scale

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MALMÖ : URBAN STRUCTURE AND THE HUMAN SCALE Lund University Master’s of Sustainable Urban Design 10.12.08 Carley Friesen

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SITE SITUATION

The site is situated along a path that links the new rail station to the Rosengård neighbourhood. This path was analyzed according to the 6 distinct districts that seem to lay along it. A vision was created to strengthen the positive qualities of each district. This project focuses on the 5th district, an area of combined residential, park, and light industrial land. The strict zoning of the area is seen as a problem because of the stark borders of non-space which it creates, and because of the in-human scale of the spaces. The physical lines demand a margin, creating a well of under used spaces. Urban actors on either side of the boundary are unsure of who the space belongs to, and are made to believe that the space on the other side of the fence is undesirable. In this way the zoning is creating more boundaries than space, and inhibiting the urban actors, rather than allowing for play across a rich, human scaled, urban fabric.

Site of Path in Malmö

1:4000 [Existing] N

The goal of the project, therefore, is to maintain the existing light industrial functions and to strengthen their presence, while linking this area to the surrounding zones, and achieving this linkage at the human scale. Three distinct zones; all large scale [Existing]

Public, Private and Semi-Private Space [Existing]

Fences, Catchments and Opportunities [Existing]

Zoning of Residential, Parks and Institution, Industry and Warehouse [Existing] Comparison of Residential Scale to Industrial Scale [Existing]


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STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

Urban structure is defined as including all buildings, infrastructure and green structure which create the urban environment, both temporary and long term. In today’s growing city, there is a desire to maintain a small community social structure, while incorporating large scale urban structures and networks such as digital communities, long distance rapid transit, and global markets. The study of this project shows how the future city can be created while maintaining fine-grain communities within the urban fabric, contributing to a high-quality of social life based on proximity. The structural analysis studied urban dwelling, urban green, and the urban path, with respect to the scale of the human body, and the scale of the human visual experience.

The Human Body in the Urban Context : Distance Study [Top : Undesirable Situations of Space] [Bottom : Desirable Situations of Space]

The results of these studies found that many areas in the site are lacking a human scale on all of these three levels.

Industrial Area 180 View plus Field of Human Vision [Existing]

Industrial Area 180 View plus Field of Human Vision [Proposed]

The proposals for each of the three elements can be seen beside the analysis, showing how the proposals have created human scaled elements, contributing to a richer urban fabric, and deeper urban experience. Below a simple study shows the scale of the human, compared with some elements of everyday life. How do these small elements compare with the scale of the urban realm, and can their scale be incorporated into the urban fabric?

Park Area 180 View plus Field of Human Vision [Existing]

Park Area 180 View plus Field of Human Vision [Existing]

How can the Human Scale be emphasized and maintained in a globalized and expanding urban form?

Scale Study

The Change in Green Structure through the Seasons [White : Existing] [Black : Proposed]

The Change in Human Structure through the Day [White : Existing] [Black : Proposed]


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URBAN DWELLING

PROPOSED PLAN

URBAN ORGANIZER

URBAN GREEN

Urban Organizers lead to

public squares.

The proposed plan for the area uses the elements of

URBAN DWELLING URBAN ORGANIZER URBAN GREEN

to link the areas together, to the surrounding city, and to introduce human scale. Church fence is cut back to create a

welcoming entry. Commercial facades

face multiple directions in the park.

An interesting area of multiple paths, including the old industry railway lines, creates a

Community space

can be created in unused buildings, with facades that reach into the community.

meeting point for all three areas.

Plan : Existing vs. Proposed Block Structure

The water collection pathway, and the urban organizer break the area into smaller, more well-defined areas making the neighbourhood feel more friendly.

Pagens bakery opens a store on the corner which faces multiple directions and creates a

reason for entry.

Diverse use of space

occurs where industry grounds, resident pathways and urban dwelling are combined.

A greenway of urban forrest and waterway acts to offset pollution from industry, and creates

Urban dwelling units are added where the sides of industrial buildings are not used, and

existing buildings are maintained.

learning environment a

Plan : Existing vs. Proposed Network Structure A Rich Order Order

The addition of urban dwellings creates pathways nessesary for access to all part of the neighbourhood. The old street pattern is given a rich, new order.

for

the community. Garden boxes create

intimate spaces on rooftops.

The park becomes a

safe place

with residence which faces it.

The waterway leads

connect with the south to

The introduced modular dwellings connect with the large scale existing buildings to structure a human scaled space.

New Population Estimate : 750 Residents plus Business and Studio Users

neighbourhood’s water treatment system.

Site Plan

1:4000 [Proposed] N


SERVICE/COMMERCIAL EXISTING (INDUSTRIAL) APARTMENTS STUDIOS

PROCESS AND ADAPTABILITY The proposal can occur over time as necessary, and change to fit the most current urban situations. Modular constructions allows for form to be set up, dismantled and reused. The proposal will also highlight sensitive areas, that could be the first to see development, in order to increase interest, awareness and use of the new area. Below, three possible stages are shown, beginning with the dark blue, a commercial area, and leading to the lighter blue with the introduction of family housing, and studio spaces.

3 65 1 2

4 ** Section 2

20

1

46

1:200

Perspective 6

11 Section 1

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1:200

43

1

THE STREET USE

The current streets and sidewalks are oversized in this area to serve industrial traffic. However, in many parts of the site, this is actually not necessary. The streets are narrowed by the addition of urban dwelling, which can act as commercial, service, apartment or studio spaces. The dwellings wrap over and out from the building, redefining the street section, and creating a more intimate feeling in the industrial area.

SERVICE

** 19 Section 3

APARTMENT

26

1:200

1

STUDIO

The streets are variable to create an exciting sequence through and around the area. The spaces narrow and widen as the user progresses through the space. This variation in street scale allows for a wide variety of activities to occur, and for the space to adapt and change overtime. Plan 5

1:500 N

SERVICE/COMMERCIAL UNITS - (10X12) 120 M2 APARTMENT UNITS - (8X14) STUDIO UNITS - (6X10) **Public transit stops are possible in these wide areas.

112 M2

60 M2

Service units are created to maximize the surface area, or their ability to have facades on the street. Apartments and studios are created to maximize the number of units that have south facing windows and access to balconies. Section 4

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18

9

1


23

1

5

4

Perspective 1

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PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SPACE Public to private place gradients are defined and with the use of threshold and levels, rather than with the existing fences.

DEFINITIONS OF SPACE

The proposal creates many new types of space that before were nonexistent on the site. A rich adaptable and versatile neighbourhood, one that still maintains all of the functions of the current city state is the result.

PUBLIC SEMI - PRIVATE

The public and private realms have been further defined, and in some cases redefined. Due to the excess of industrial fence in the existing neighbourhood, there has been an attempt to define space using levels and thresholds, rather than fencing.

PRIVATE

A more diverse building stock has been added to the area, that can accommodate large and small scale business, family-sized dwellings, and studios or workshop spaces. One of the industrial buildings has been converted to act as a community space . The buildings are modular and pre-fabricated to allow for change over time, and to ensure they are constructed with the human body in mind. The green boxes are used to further define spaces. They can be arranged as the user wishes, and can change location as is appropriate. They are raised above the ground so they are accessible to all people more easily.

Perspective 3

Perspective 2

The urban organizer and urban waterway create discrete pathways through all three neighbourhoods on the site. They guide the user, but also allow for a variety of activities to occur along them. They can be arranged to direct users and to create more human scaled spaces.

Elevation

4

1:400

Elevation

5

1:400


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STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS

These images show the desired offsets by story and in the facade of urban dwelling. By creating a small offset at each level, the individual apartment is emphasized and the exterior space is used as a patio. Offsets on the facade, allow more light inside. The offsets create exterior nooks and human scaled, discrete space.

URBAN DWELLING RESEARCH: Study of the human perception of scale based on contextual setting. ‘How far away does my friend appear to be because of our context?’

Kvarntorget, Landskrona

SCALE: Large scale buildings, human scale apartments defined

The main floor is on street level, allowing the units to be used for commercial or service uses. There are entries for these uses facing the street, and there is a separate entry to access the residential spaces of the building. In this example, the first floor extends halfway up the existing building.

FUNCTION: Housing, Commerce, Service, Institution SPATIAL EXPRESSION: Street Definitions, Exterior enclaves, Exterior Balconies, Interior Spaces, Public to Private Urban Dwelling Plan

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Urban Dwelling Plan

The second floor is larger, apartment units. They each have access to a front balcony which faces the street. The back wall is still shared with the existing building.

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The third story contains three sizes of spaces. They range from a large apartment to a small studio. All units have windows and balcony access on the street side. Two of the units have direct doors to the back patio (roof of the existing building). There is also access to the back patio in the common entrance area.

URBAN GREEN RESEARCH: Study of temporal green structure and human use of green from leisure to survival. ‘Is the functional outcome greater than the maintenance input?’

The extended site contains three scales of green space which coincide with their level of privacy. The proposal introduces small scale (private) green with the garden boxes as individuals may take ownership over them. The water treatment system also adds small scale. An urban forest could be a large scale addition along the railway.

SCALE: Seasonal life, human scale FUNCTION: Urban Agriculture, Urban Greening, Water Treatment, Habitat SPATIAL EXPRESSION: Exterior Green Spaces, Moveable Structure, Public to Private

Urban Green Plan

1:100

The urban organizer consists of two parts : an undulating pathway, and a water treatment channel. The organizer crosses boundaries in the site, and encourages users to cross the site, as has not previously been done. The undulating path provides a leader to exceptional areas, defines new discrete spaces amidst the large scale industrial paths, and creates tables and seats that can be used by residents and workers in the area.

URBAN ORGANIZER RESEARCH: Study of human vision through sequence ‘What structures lay in the human experience?’ SCALE: Daily life, human scale FUNCTION: Table, Seat, Shelter, Pathway, Water Treatment SPATIAL EXPRESSION: Exterior Network, Exterior Small Scale Gathering places, Public

Modular, moveable garden boxes are added to the area. These can be used for perrenial plantings or as gardens. The boxes ensure that the soil and plants are not contaminated by the industrial context. A small height given to the boxes makes them more accessible, as they are at the level of the human arms.

Urban Organizer Plan 1:500

The water treatment channel shows the natural flows of the three areas. It also connects the site to the south neighbourhood.


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