Trail Of Recovery Healing abandoned post-industrialized communities through Discovery, Research and Learning.
Studio work of: Corlandus Lang
CONTENTS 00 Thesis Statement 01 Richmond’s Beginnings and Overall Problem 02 Finding Opportunities and Site Location & Analysis 03 Finalizing Project 04 Precedents: - Olympic Sculptural Park, Seattle, Washington - Landscape Park, Germany - Vancouver Land Bridge, Vancouver, WA - City of Culture, Santiago, Spain - Grace Farms, New Canaan, CT 05 Thesis process work 06 Bibliography
Book
00 Thesis Statement
Type
Research and learning
Location
Richmond, CA
Site
Wildcat Trail-head
Class
ARH 510-550, Final Thesis Project
Semester
Fall 2018-Spring 2019
Instructor(s)
Philip Ra, Mini Chu
Thesis Statement: Cities that were once a symbol of positive development in industrial communities, such as Richmond, CA have now become distressed communities through urban decay, isolation and pollution by the very source of its economic growth. Several revitalization measures have been made to address these issues by way of breaking barriers, branching communities and re purposing industrial sites.
Focus of the efforts have been mostly economic rather than addressing the direct needs of its people and its community. Instead of creating more shopping centers and “Main Streets�, the new facility attempts to create a place that will house educational and innovative workshops that will contribute to the health and wellness of the community and re-connect society and nature back together.
Concept: A concept was developed by utilizing access to an existing trail and site topography that allowed the connection between nearby communities to converge in a public zone where the learning aspect of community building and development can thrive.
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01
.Richmond’s Beginnings .Overall Problem
Richmond’s CA, “City of Pride & Purpose”
. Incorporated in August, 7th 1905 . Sits on the shoreline of San Pablo Bay and east of the San Francisco Bay Area . Borders the cities of San Pablo, El Cerrito and Pinole . The Ohlone were the first inhabitants of the Richmond area . Carved out of the Rancho San Pablo that was originally part of the city, San Pablo . Rich history of ship yards, industrial warehouses and oil production
Richmond’s Upbringing
Kaiser Shipyards (known as Kaiser Permanente Medical)
These were seven major shipbuilding yards located on the United States west coast during World War II. The Kaiser shipyards were ranked 20th among U.S. of there persistence in wartime production contracts.
https://oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/kaiser_shipyards/#.W7_Z2WhKiUk
Ford Assembly Plant (known as Craneway Pavillion) This was the largest assembly plant ever built on the west coast. Was a major framework for the local economy during that time, the warehouse also transformed to aide with the current efforts of World War ii, it was built in 1930 during the great depression, a major development in Richmond’s harbor and port plan.
https://www.mishalov.com/richmond.bay.trail.18dec09/
Standard Oil (known as Cheveron-Texaco) The refinery was established as standard oil long before the city was incorporated in 1905. The construction on the refinery began in 1901 on a 600 Acre area within the portero San Pablo hills. This new site would accommodate a new pipeline terminal railroad settlement and a east yard formally known now as Point Richmond. This will also be the a contributor to the overall wellness of Richmond later in the years to come.
https://www.chevron.com/about/history
Terrain Vague: What defines Richmond? . Refineries . Freeways . Train-tracks . Industrial Sites . Disengagement . Isolation of Communities.
The city of Richmond was once an industrial economic center during WW2, thriving in companies, such as, Kaiser Shipyards, Ford Assembly Plant and Chevron-Texaco Refinery, formally known as Standard oil. Since then, these companies have stopped operation, gone out of business or have taken there business elsewhere. This leads to a stark contrast of low employment, minor city revenue and low urban development. The Refinery is the cities main framework of commerce such as petroleum based products. Such production of petroleum has dire effects, such as air pollution, hazards waste and contamination. But the big picture is what will happen to the city once the usage of petroleum runs out? What will the city do to abandoned industrial sites once production ceases? This caused a major urban development issue and its causing residents to move elsewhere. This economic downturn has lead to urban decay and isolation of communities such as North Richmond. From this project, the goal is to blur these boundaries of isolation and bridge communities back together and to eventually re-purpose industrial sites that will become abandoned in the near future.
https://richmondconfidential.org/2014/12/21/long-neglected-richmonds-downtown-is-being-slowly-reborn/
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Richmond, Ca in its heyday, economic boom in the 1950s, downtown Richmond O2
The city at it is known today in 2008, looking at the community with Chevron Refinery in the background
https://richmondconfidential.org/2014/12/21/long-neglected-richmonds-downtown-is-being-slowly-reborn/
O2
What Terrain Vague looks like in Richmond, CA...............
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/5485087468
Miller Knox pier Regional Shoreline, Richmond CA
https://richmondconfidential.org/category/topics/a-journey-into-north-richmond/
https://richmondconfidential.org/category/topics/a-journey-into-north-richmond/
A resident riding through the streets of North Richmond,where
Urban debris left behind within the community
we see urban desolation.
Vegetation runs wild and unranked.
https://richmondconfidential.org/2012/04/20/questions-swirl-around-flap-between-ons-and-sheriff-at-scene-
https://abc7news.com/news/fire-burning-at-chevron-refinery/24697/
https://www.resilience.org/stories/2014-12-16/fighting-back-against-oil-bomb-trains/
Consistent presence of authorities in these communities create an illusion of
Major issues of pollution bellowing from nearby refineries
Seperation and disconnection due to insfrastructre, such as train
crime
that effect communities health and well being.
tracks and road conditions.
This mapping indicates the overall air pollution that is distrusted across the north bay as a result of wind flow from the western direction toward the east. We see
Refinery’s are a major contributor to air pollution within the Bay area primordially with Richmond being the heart of the problem. With the addition of exhaust from motor vehicles adds another layer of issues to the matter.
Problems with Air Pollution
Major impact areas are, Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Hercules, Rodeo, Vallejo, Benicia, Martinez, Bay Point, Pittsburg, Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood.
Problems with Isolation
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Diagram map of community isolation within certain areas of the city O2
How industrial sprawl is effecting the city fabric
Problems with Industrial Sprawl
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With Opportunity, what I envision for communities of Richmond, is to allow nature to draw them back to the Terrain Vague of nature, a place where the community can reclaim back.
Response:
To approach these concerns by breaking boundaries, restore connections to nature and to Regenerate industrial sites to habitable zones for community dwellers.
The users of this idea, such as city residents, adjacent communities and professionals will be able to converge within spaces, dedicated to educational systems such as classrooms, lectures, workshops. To also include innovative spaces for the research of renewable resources, sustainable development and urban renewal.
From this experience will render a positive outcome for both community and innovators that will harness social and economical progression that will become a beacon for future development of health and wellness for communities locally and worldwide.
Break Barriers
Connect back to Nature
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02
. Finding Opportunities . Site Location & analysis
What site within the city which will serve as a major impact for this project? In order to identify a potential site, certain criteria must be established to set a series of parameters that the thesis is composed of, that being the site must: be able to break barriers by way of infrastructure, allow passage to the nearby waterfront of Richmond and experience the essence of nature, and allow the re-purposing of industrial sites, such as Chevron refinery and other nearby industrial companies. And the site must be next to a major transportation artery.
Name of Site: Wildcat Creek Trail Head Site Conditions: Potential site is 14.6 Acres This site is located adjacent of North Richmond and consists of trail pathways that are considered a main source of access. - Transportation Artery: Richmond parkway - Auto Truck business toward North - Water treatment plant toward the NW - Marsh land toward West - North Richmond Community - Flee market toward south - Nature Habitat toward south - Small creek Contains: - parking lot - Small park - existing trails leading from nearby community
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Site Visit
O2
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Panoramic view of the site facing north O2
From parking area, looking toward the site
I took what tangible and intangible data i gathered from the site visit and began to develop a site analysis digram
Site Analysis Diagram
Access trails and points on intrests
Natural habitat areas around the site
Adjacency and connections
Intangiable (heart and lung concept) The intangible part of this diagram describes the site as the heart of the matter and nature is where the fresh oxygen is, so by trying to draw nature into the site by pumping th oxygen into the terrain vague spaces and allowing these spaces to heal over time
Concept model
A concept model was developed from how land can form spaces through adulation. A layer is spread over terrain vague areas allowing the land to undulate into pockets forming spaces where nature and building can stitch together.
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Concept model
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Vision of how this form will also attract users and how the users will use the building according to what nature implies
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Envision
O2
Diagram of site gesture
The diagram explains a simple gesture of simply reversing a buildings orientation from parallel to perpendicular. This allows the concept of breaking barriers of not creating a building frontage that blocks access from the street, instead opens this passage up and allows passage through.
From this ideation, taking square footage and applying program to the gesture. Rather than placing a large structure on the site, but splitting these masses into 3 adjoining structures that still adhere to the same rules and parameters from the concept.
Program Analysis and development
Developing program analysis and how program will now alter the form and shape of the building according to its placement and use.
Lobby/Atrium: 1200 sq-ft
Auditorium: 4,000 sq ft
Retail: 500 sq-ft
Cafe: 900 sq-ft
Library: 3,600 sq ft
Public Spaces
Large Conference rooms: 450 Sq-ft each
Small conference Rooms: 150 Sq-ft each
Classrooms: 700 sq-ft each
Startups/Incubators: 75 Sq-ft each
Archivist Office: 120 Sq-ft
Kitchen: 300 Sq-ft
Collaboration Spaces: 459 Sq-ft each
Semi-Public Spaces
Robotics: 900 Sq-ft each
Innovation Spaces: 450 Sq-ft each
Builders Spaces: 450 Sq-ft each
Test Room: 450 Sq-ft
Work Room: 150 Sq-ft
Private Spaces
Work Room: 150 Sq-ft
Vertical Farming: 600 Sq-ft
Program Diagram
Building & Structure form
Final form generation is established to locate topography that will best suited for program and access.
Gently making incisions to lift certain portions of the topography so that program can now be placed within the pockets of the buildings.
Book
03 Finalizing Project
A smooth transition.............
A form is generated that enhances the trail experience while breaking barriers from infrastructure and helps the community connect back to nature while experiencing nature itself.
Aerial view of the site and building
Overall site plan and context An enlarge site context showing connection from site to the nearby communities and how this trail can draw users to the waters edge through the site.
Site Plan The site plan shows the overall adjacency, land development and concept as to how the building helps the enhancement of this connection to the water, but shows how this connection reaches far beyond into the community and the inner city.
It is apparent that nature is an important factor in this project and by drawing that factor within the site also bridges the gap of terrain vague spaces. Filling up those unused spaces with life and vegetation.
Program Layout Simply showing program layout and how circulation is performed thought the site.
Floor Plans
Lab Building: - Vertical Farming Lab - Robotics Lab - Innovative Lab
Trail Head (Public Building) - Administrative offices - Retail store - Cafe (Buffet) - Base Camp (lobby) - Amphitheater
Learning Center - Classrooms - Library - Computer lab space - Conference spaces
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Ground Floor Plan O2
2nd Floor Plan
Learning Center (2nd floor) - Incubator spaces (Startups) - Collaborative spaces
O2
Longitudinal Section (Trail Head) Public Building This section shows the internal relationship between each program and how each is occupied and used.
Retail shop
Base Camp (Public Entrance Lobby)
Auditorium and lobby
Transverse Section (Perspective) This shows program, structure and activity are established between all 3 buildings and how circulation through them works. For instance, the internal activity vs external activity differs because external directs more toward circulation on the trail and internal directs toward activity in each space.
Learning Center
Trail Head(Pub
Roof Promenade
Roof Promen
Libray area
Trail Passage way
Retail area an
blic Building)
Lab Building Roof Promenade
nade
nd lobby
Trail Passage way Lab Spaces
Building Section (Learning Center) This section shows the internal context of how the building works Structural and programatically.
Roof Promenade
2nd floor mezzinine space
Entranc stairs & Trail passage
Library Space
Access & Structure Diagrams O1
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Site Access and Accessibility O2
Structure diagram
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View community traveling on the trail toward the facility O2
Looking back at the facility from the trail
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04 Precedents
Book
05
Thesis Process work
Sketch work
This sketch shows the location and site context
Sketch of how circulation played a role in the form of the building and how to access nature
Concept models
Concept study models of layering and stitching
View of model and how to stich t=nature to the building
This layering effect creates pockets of program
Digtial modeling of language
Using this layering language and how it fits with program underneath
Different layering effects with different program layouts
Model iterations
Digtial modeling of form
Digital modeling that invoke form and shape according to site conditions
Iterations of curving, undulating and hovering
Physical model iterations 1
Concept Models of program and layering
Opening suggesting mor public than private area
Physical model iterations 2
Concept Models of program and layering
The undulating form was what i was looking for within these iterations, which would help conceive the vision of the project in the future
Digaital model of finalization 1
Form iterations of building and program combined along with the concept of access and topography.
Close view, and we see the undulating form in these masses.
Digaital model of finalization 2
Iteration of taking away the undulation but allowing the buildings to read as one structure, not one.
How this form curves over the site.
Iteration models of structure and form
A finalized version of what the building will look like by incorpersting topographic lines and trail accesss through the site.
Another mock-up version of this wisting and bending gesture.
Sun Studies The conclusion from this study, is that less sunlight near the southern passageway during the winter months and more direct sun during the spring and summer months. This concludes that certain portions of the structure must bend or distort its shape to let in more light within the open public spaces.
Winter Solstice
9AM
12PM
3PM
Spring Equinox
Summer Solstice
Physical site model (Finalized)
Beginning works of site model and how the topography help shape the overall building.
Adding texture to the site model that help it blend into the site.
Finalized site model and how smooth it looks
Book
06 Bibliography
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. “Richmond Fire Released Range of Toxic Chemicals Into Air, Reports Show.” KQED, 12 Feb. 2018 . Wollan, Malia. “Richmond and Chevron Choose Fork in the Road.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 31 Oct. 2009, . “The World’s Leading Sustainability Assessment Method for Masterplanning Projects, Infrastructure and Buildings.” BREEAM, . Arcgis.com, . “MAP: An Overview of Every Toxic, Contaminated Site in Richmond.” Richmond Confidential, 12 Dec. 2018 . Windfinder.com. “Wind and Weather Statistic Richmond Pier.” Windfinder.com, . “Industrial Cities.” University Information System . Post-Industrial Cities.” Planetizen - Urban Planning News, Jobs, and Education, . Dieterich-Ward, Allen. “Pittsburgh: A City of Two Post-Industrial Tales.” The Conversation, The Conversation, 19 Sept. 2018 . Olmstead, Gracy. “How to Save the Post-Industrial Town?” The American Conservative . Weiss/Manfredi: Seattle Art Museum: Olympic Sculpture Park, . California History Lectures, servlet1.lib.berkeley.edu . Latz Partner.” Parco Dora, Turin, IT . Desjardins, Jeff. “A Forecast of When We’ll Run Out of Each Metal.” Visual Capitalist, 4 Sept. 2014, . Moffatt, Mike. “Will the World Ever Run Out of Oil?” Thoughtco., Dotdash, . “The End of Fossil Fuels.” Ecotricity, . Landscape Park Duisburg-Nord | Urban Green-Blue Grids.” Urban Green-Blue Grids for Sustainable and Resilient Cities . See Your Local Sea Level and Coastal Flood Risk.” Climate Central, . US Department of Commerce, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Is Sea Level Rising?” NOAA’s National Ocean Service, 27 Oct. 2008, . “Silicon Alley Moves to Roosevelt Island | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News.” WNYC, . Weiss/Manfredi: Seattle Art Museum: Olympic Sculpture Park, . Marvin, Rob. “Roosevelt Island: New York City’s Next Startup Hub?” PCMAG, PCMAG.COM, 20 Oct. 2016 . “Cornell Tech Campus Framework Plan.” SOM, . WEISS/MANFREDI’s ‘The Bridge’ Topped Off at Cornell Tech Campus.” ArchDaily, 14 Mar. 2016, . Eventlocation Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord.” Fiylo, 27 Feb. 2018,
. Surging Seas: Risk Zone Map.” Climate Central . “What Is Superfund?” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 30 Nov. 2018 . Davis, Aaron. “New 10.5 Megawatt Solar Farm Opens on Site of Former Chevron Landfill in Richmond.” East Bay Times, East Bay Times, 19 Apr. 2018 . Stephens, Suzanne. “The Bridge by Weiss/Manfredi at Cornell Tech.” Architectural Record RSS, Architectural Record, 21 Nov. 2017 . Gonchar, Joann, et al. “The House by Handel Architects at Cornell Tech.” Architectural Record RSS, Architectural Record, 15 Nov. 2017 . Solis, Ben. “Major Cleanup of Zephyr Oil Toxic Hotspot on Muskegon Lake Imminent.” MLive.com, MLive.com, 16 Mar. 2018, . Hazardous Waste Cleanup: Former Chevron Refinery Facility - Hooven, Ohio.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 19 Dec. 2017 . “Vancouver Land Bridge. Credit: Lara Swimmer.” Land8, land8.com/land-bridge-is-an-ecological-masterpiece/vancouver-landbridge6/. . Seattle DJC.com Local Business News and Data, www.djc.com/news/en/11156167.html . “Vancouver Land Bridge.” Db Design, 27 Oct. 2011, devonbouttedesign.wordpress.com/academia/representation/vancouver-land-bridge/. . “Project 2: Place [Precedence].” Arch Y2, year2architecture.weebly.com/project-2-place-precedence.html. . Jett, Megan. “The City of Culture / Eisenman Architects.” ArchDaily, ArchDaily, 8 June 2011, www.archdaily.com/141238/the-city-of-culture-eisenman-architects.. . “Cidade Da Cultura De Galicia / City of Culture of Galicia | Eisenman Architects.” Archello, archello.com/project/cidade-da-cultura-de-galicia-city-of-culture-of-galicia. . “ShowCase: City of Culture of Galicia.” Archinect, archinect.com/features/article/91086/showcase-city-of-culture-of-galicia.. . “Grace Farms / SANAA.” ArchDaily, 14 Oct. 2015, www.archdaily.com/775319/grace-farms-sanaa . “Next-Open-of-Grace-Farms-by-SANAA-15.” Aasarchitecture, aasarchitecture.com/2014/11/next-open-grace-farms-sanaa.html/next-open-of-grace-farms-by-sanaa-15 . Cochran, Sam. “Grace Farms Complex Unveils SANAA-Designed Building Amidst Nature Preserve.” Architectural Digest, Architectural Digest, 3 Dec. 2015, www.architecturaldigest.com/story/grace-farms-complex-sanaa-building . Pollock, Naomi R., et al. “Grace Farms by SANAA.” Architectural Record RSS, Architectural Record, 2 Apr. 2019, www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/10395-grace-farmsby-sanaa?v=preview . Blaze, Matt. “Ruins of Carfloat Slip, Point Richmond, CA.” Flickr, Yahoo!, 28 Feb. 2011, www.flickr.com/photos/mattblaze/5485087468. . “A Journey Into North Richmond Archives.” Richmond Confidential, 11 Dec. 2018, richmondconfidential.org/category/topics/a-journey-into-north-richmond/. . “Questions Swirl around Flap between ONS and Sheriff at Scene of North Richmond Shooting.” Richmond Confidential, 12 Dec. 2018, richmondconfidential.org/2012/04/20/questions-swirl-around-flap-between-ons-and-sheriff -at-scene-. . Kgo, and Kgo. “PHOTOS: Fire Burning at Chevron Refinery.” ABC7 San Francisco, 6 Aug. 2012, abc7news.com/news/fire-burning-at-chevron-refinery/24697/. . “Fighting Back Against Oil Bomb Trains.” Resilience, 16 Dec. 2014, www.resilience.org/stories/2014-12-16/fighting-back-against-oil-bomb-trains/. . “Gallery of Grace Farms / SANAA - 35.” ArchDaily, www.archdaily.com/775319/grace-farms-sanaa/572290e0e58ecee44a00009b-grace-farms-sanaa-overall-elevation