The Promise of Patterns by The Kubala Washatko Architects

THE PROMISE OF PATTERNS

Creating Vibrancy on Fourth and Wisconsin

THE KUBALA WASHATKO ARCHITECTS Why are we here? Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been successfully using Patterns for 25 years We see the City as a living organism. We see an opportunity to help create meaningful change. We are Invested in Vibrancy. tkwa.com

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO VIBRANCY What is vibrancy? Being Alive. All Living things exhibit a number of similar general featuresâ&#x20AC;Ś They can only exist within an ecosystem They are not mechanistic They are much more complex than one might think at first They are beautiful, elegant They resonate with human beings They are regenerative

WE PROPOSE… …that the built environment can exhibit relative degrees of being alive.

CHRISTOPHER ALEXANDER …that the built environment can exhibit relative degrees of being alive. This PROPOSAL is not a new one, nor is it original to TKWA. We are indebted to the work of Christopher Alexander, whose recent set of books entitled “The Nature of Order” delves deeply into the nature and properties of the built environment.

VIBRANCY THROUGH PATTERNS Creating a living built environment requires a process that is, in itself, alive. Discovering and then Applying Patterns in an iterative fashion oďŹ&#x20AC;ers a problem solving process that takes its cues from Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s form-making process.

WHAT IS A PATTERN? A Patternâ&#x20AC;Ś â&#x20AC;Śdescribes the relationship between a recurring human activity and the geometry of the physical environment best suited to enhance that activity.

WHAT IS A PATTERN? The nature of a pattern can be explained through understanding how an EDDY becomes.

WHAT IS A PATTERN? Conditions necessary for eddy creation. Variety of Nutrient Density Eddy Advection Wind Stress Ekman Upwelling Shoreline Shape Water Current

WHAT IS NOT A PATTERN?

STYLISTIC PROCESS Stylistic Process: 1.Concept Forces designers to stop is developed earlylistening. 2. Is not easily shared. 3. Must over-simplify complexity. 4. Is deaf to ecological needs. 5. Lacks long term value.

STYLISTIC PROCESS Functions are forced to fit the concept.

MECHANISTIC PROCESS Programmed Space

Programmed Space

Programmed Space Programmed Space Programmed Space

Programmed Space

n o i t a l u c r i C Programmed Space

Programmed Space

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Roomsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; are often considered the real parts of a building.

Programmed Space

MECHANISTIC PROCESS

Style is forced to ‘wrap’ the functions

PATTERNS Pattern Language Process: A Pattern is whole, in that it excludes nothing & is connected to everything. A Pattern is an organized way to carefully listen to our clients and accurately see both the cultural and natural landscapes from which a building design will unfold.

REDUCTION Stylistic Process: 1. Forces designers to stop listening. 2. Is not easily shared. 3. Must over-simplify complexity. 4. Is deaf to ecological needs. 5. Lacks long term value. Mechanistic Process: 1. Fragments a larger continuity. 2. Discounts Feeling & Emotions. 3. Marginalizes Art & Beauty. 4. Is often imposed on Nature. 5. Separates Form from Function.

PATTERNS :: DISCOVER THE PROBLEM Pattern Writing Process: 1. Observe everything, without distraction. 2. Hold what you observe in your mind. Chew on it. 3. Feel where discontinuities occur. 4. Name the discontinuities. 5. Discover the reasons for their appearance. 6. Propose a solution that generally resolves these incoherent forces.

A PATTERN IN PRACTICE Madison Children’s Museum

SPEED BUMP ISSUE: Children tend to enter the front door of the Museum and ‘take-oﬀ’ like bullets to spaces beyond.

SPEED BUMP SOLUTION: Without caregivers having to say a word, the Speed Bump grabs the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention and holds it just long enough. A check-in area can incorporate an exhibit or feature to hold children's attention (exhibit, large fish tank, stair, ramp, climbing apparatus, etc.). This space will need to be safe, within the view of busy caregivers, and act as a device to s-l-o-w down several children for a specific interval of time.

PAUSE MAKE FUNNY Madison Children’s Museum

4MKE

SOLVING FOR VIBRANCY With a Vibrant / Creative PROCESS

PROCESS

WRITING PATTERNS FOR WESTOWN Typically, one would write 50+ patterns for an area of this size.

Pedestrian Continuity Short Blocks Supporting Streets Big Meets Small Street as a Room Experiential Delight 4th Street Cultural Promenade A Walking Connection to the InterModal Ubiquitous Urban Living Milwaukee on Foot and Pedal Moveable Feast Portals out of Sows’ Ears Over the Valley on 6th…

WRITING PATTERNS FOR WESTOWN Typically, you would write 50+ patterns for an area of this size. We will illustrate Six

1. Pedestrian Continuity 2. Short Blocks 3. Supporting Streets 4. Big Meets Small 5. Street as a Room 6. Experiential Delight 4th Street Cultural Promenade A Walking Connection to the InterModal Ubiquitous Urban Living Milwaukee on Foot and Pedal Moveable Feast Portals out of Sows’ Ears Over the Valley on 6th…

1. PEDESTRIAN CONTINUITY ISSUE: Milwaukee suﬀers from pedestrian fragmentation. Though the City oﬀers places of pedestrian intensity, they are relatively isolated from each other; often by distances requiring a car to traverse.

“Pockets of great, pockets of awful, with too much space between the pockets of great to connect it all.” “Lack of connectivity, lack of sense of ownership.” Community Voices

1. PEDESTRIAN CONTINUITY MATC

Bradley Center

State St

2nd St

Old World 3rd St

Milwaukee Rep

Wisconsin Center

WIsconsin Ave

Plankinton St

Grand Avenue Mall Michigan Ave

5th St

Marquette University

James Lovell St

8th St

4th St

9th St

10th St

Milwaukee Public Library

6th St

Kilbourn Ave

Wells St Marquette University

Pabst Theater

Water St

Milwaukee County Courthouse

Activity Centers are marked with circles

Clybourn St

sized according to their intensity

St Paul Ave Intermodal Station

Third Ward

1. PEDESTRIAN CONTINUITY SOLUTION: A seamless network for pedestrians is needed to support activity and flow. Develop centers of intense pedestrian activity every 1200-1500 feet along inter-connected pedestrian ways. Provide a continuously vibrant and dynamic walking experience between these centers, utilizing small scale shops, restaurants, cafes and local businesses. Implement traďŹ&#x192;c calming techniques along with way-finding strategies to help create an easy to follow path of travel.

1. PEDESTRIAN CONTINUITY

5 Minute Walk

1. PEDESTRIAN CONTINUITY

2. SHORT BLOCKS ISSUE: Urban block size has a critical impact on the life of a city. Research shows that as block size grows past 200’ x 200’, the vitality of street life diminishes.

“...long blocks tend almost always to be physically self-isolating.” Jane Jacobs The Death and Life of Great American Cities

“No vitality, no reason to go there, traffic, racism, fear.” Community Voices

2. SHORT BLOCKS

Sanborn Map 1900

2. SHORT BLOCKS SOLUTION: Small blocks are needed throughout Milwaukee. Large blocks need to be broken up into smaller, more human-scale parcels. Find ways to utilize existing alleys or nooks as public realm spaces. Recreate the historic street grid when redeveloping superblock building sites. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most blocks must be short; that is, streets and opportunities to turn corners must be frequent.â&#x20AC;? Jane Jacobs The Death and Life of Great American Cities

2. SHORT BLOCKS: MELBOURNE OBSERVED CHALLENGES: Many of Milwaukee’s blocks are lifeless and lack vibrancy. Westown average block size is approximately 350’ x 400’. Portland, Oregon—often revered as an urban model for vibrancy—has blocks that are approximately 200’ x 200’.

2. SHORT BLOCKS: MELBOURNE

2. SHORT BLOCKS: ITHACA

3. SUPPORTING STREETS ISSUE: The general nature of anything alive that it is supported by a strong network. Wisconsin Avenue is not currently part of a network of strong supporting streets. Within a block of Wisconsin, activity immediately and dramatically drops oﬀ; adjacent streets (Michigan and Clybourn) and feeder streets (2nd, 4th and 5th) are primarily filled with parking lots and other low-intensity users. “Vacancies, disinvestment.   There is no there there.” Community Voices

3. SUPPORTING STREETS

WISCONSIN

AVENUE

3. SUPPORTING STREETS N. 5th Street

3. SUPPORTING STREETS N. Plankinton

3. SUPPORTING STREETS W. Michigan

3. SUPPORTING STREETS Third Street

3. SUPPORTING STREETS Plankinton

3. SUPPORTING STREETS Wisconsin

3. SUPPORTING STREETS SOLUTION: Great cities, blocks, buildings, have intensity of life on every side. We recognize it immediately as a sense of vitality in every nook and cranny-a row of shops tucked into an alleyway, a lively sidewalk cafe on a leafy side street. People find these places because they expect that life continues beyond the primary frontage. Pay attention to the creation of vitality on side streets and alleyways. Create opportunities that introduce new functions and users to the area.

4. BIG MEETS SMALL ISSUE: The general nature of anything alive that it is supported by a strong network. Wisconsin Avenue is not currently supported by a network of strong supporting streets. Within a block of Wisconsin, activity immediately and dramatically drops oﬀ; adjacent streets (Michigan and Clybourn) and feeder streets (2nd, 4th and 5th) are primarily filled with parking lots and other low-intensity users. “No planning, superblocks, no ownership.” Community Voices

4. BIG MEETS SMALL

“Dead at night. Unsafe. Too many panhandlers and homeless.” Community Voices

4. BIG MEETS SMALL SOLUTION: Encourage finer-scaled activity to achieve balance in a neighborhood. 1. New superblocks, require a liner of smaller businesses along the street face-a balance that will attract consistent traďŹ&#x192;c thoughout the day and week. 2. Existing superblocks, expand right-of-way into the street and invite temporary uses (i.e.: food carts/street vendors). 3. If no other options exist, focus on improving the sidewalks directly opposite the superblock.

4. BIG MEETS SMALL Detroit Redwings Arena

1. New superblocks

4. BIG MEETS SMALL Portland Food Carts

2. Existing superblocks

4. BIG MEETS SMALL Portland Food Carts

2. Existing superblocks

4. BIG MEETS SMALL Detroit Redwings Arena

2. Existing superblocks

5. STREET AS A ROOM ISSUE: The street is often seen as a passage for vehicles instead of an environment for human activity. As a result, sidewalks become accessories to the street; storefronts are more like wallpaper than 3-dimensional places. Urban renewal eﬀorts focused primarily on car convenience have left Westown with streets that are unfriendly to pedestrian activity. “Lack of cohesive purpose, lack of vitality, skywalks,   no residential density. Community Voices

5. STREET AS A ROOM StreetSections.com

5. STREET AS A ROOM SOLUTION: Create a vibrant room around the street filled with pedestrian-scaled amenities. A street needs an active height equal to its width--this creates a rich and vibrant environment. Think of the entire volume as the street, paying attention to the ground, walls, and ceiling.

5. STREET AS A ROOM StreetSections.com

5. STREET AS A ROOM New Orleans

5. STREET AS A ROOM Wisconsin Avenue, 1951

5. STREET AS A ROOM West Wisconsin Avenue, Street Car Era

6. EXPERIENTIAL DELIGHT ISSUE: Wisconsin Avenue is a major artery in Westown, but the experience of walking down it is anonymous and forgettable. Much of the street is scaled for cars, resulting in long stretches that feel monotonous at a walking pace. There are few reasons to pause, wander, or return to the area.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lack of cohesive purpose, lack of vitality, skywalks, â&#x20AC;¨ no residential density. Community Voices

6. EXPERIENTIAL DELIGHT

6. EXPERIENTIAL DELIGHT SOLUTION: Define the pedestrian experience of a street happens at the smallest scale. Factor all five senses into the emotional experience of a place to give it identity; paving texture, smells wafting from restaurants, sounds of music or children playing. Pause: Small niches outside the flow of traďŹ&#x192;c invite passersby to rest or engage in impromptu conversation. Wander: Multiple layers of activity encourage pedestrians to discover new routes or passages. Return: A bustling neighborhood overflowing with activity will inspire people to return again and again.

6. EXPERIENTIAL DELIGHT Melbourne

Pause Wander Return

PAUSE FUNNY

PATTERNS PROMISE TO… …Involve and educate community members who become quality design critics. The community has a voice and is empowered. …Build consensus amongst design team and larger community. …Organize design intent. …Allow the subtlest kinds of information to migrate, untrammeled, into the design / construction process. Meaning is not imposed or predetermined. …Stimulate visualization.

VIBRANCY & 4MKE What is at stake?

Westown is in a state of flux. High potential to reshape the neighborhood. What are we going to live with for the next 100 years?

Workshop

Time to put the patterns to the test!