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01 introduction
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table of content
02 holyoke in images
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00
preface holyoke history
6 9
03 small scale intervention 35 presence of water play! 1 raising the awareness of water (short term) 2 reclaiming the waterfront (middle term) 3 re-establishing urban quality (middle term) 4 preserving the waterfront (long term)
39 41 43 46 47 49
04 urban fabric
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05 highlighting
75
06 utopia toolbox
83
07 urban planning methodology
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holyoke. an urban diary the urban fabric arial view barriers ground view
highlighting sewing tool
57 59 61 70 72
76 80
08 INDICATORS & URBAN CATYLISTS 1 the hidden museum 2 open square 3 gallery passages and 4 canal living
103 105 109 111
09 sewing the net
113
sewing the net final
115 119
4
introduction
01 5
PREFACE This urban design studio project investigates the downtown area of the City of Holyoke in Western Massachusetts, USA.
confusingly interwoven with history and past, points of interests, cultural misunderstandings, the lack of communication and no adaquate funding.
Holyoke (pop. 39,900) is located in the Pioneer Valley which accommodates plenty of New England’s well established colleges. However, Holyoke’s historic downtown is largely desolated and suffers social and ethnic segregation of a large Puerto Rican community. The problems in Holyoke are multifarious and
If this was not enough, one of the largest shopping mall of New England (“Holyoke Mall at Ingleside”) was built right outside of the city and accelerated the desolation of the downtown area. Concluding one could say that Holyoke is facing almost the main problems of urban decay in the United States: suburbia, segregration, social declination
Holyoke, MA Holyoke, MA New York City
Puerto Rico
NORTH AMERICA 6
es for urban developments. Downtown Holyoke offers such an unbelievable potential for a new, trend-setting urban development concerning its history and geographic/geological special features. These potentials become integral part of these projects which claim to be an urban catalogue, a theoretical work and planning proposal at the same time.
Especially the contact to the inhabitants of downtown areas and recent urban planning decisions insinuated that the result could not be an ordinary urban masterplan. In the following you will see that my project consists of a series of interventions concluding in a new urban planning methodology and new impuls-
VERMONT
Holyoke NEW YORK
BOSTON: NEW YORK CITY: PUERTO RICO*
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Boston
(*from Boston or NYC airports)
090min CAR 240min BUS 170min CAR 360min BUS 223min AIR
MASSACHUSETTS
CONNETICUT
RHODE ISLAND
New York City 01 Introduction
A
in downtown areas and deindustrialization. This makes this studio project almost impossible and the one urban planning solution ridiculous.
NEW JERSEY
NEW ENGLAND, EAST COAST 7
50
8
0
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HOLYOKE, MA :: siteplan
HOLYOKE::HISTORY: Because they were settled by Europeans early on, the states of New England (among them Massachusetts) consider themselves to be more traditional and European-like than other parts of the United States. They were settled as far back as the early 17th century: something that can still be noticed in the architecture (or reproduction) dating from that period and after.
1633 – Captain Elizur Holyoke lead an expedition up the Connecticut River to explore the potential for settlement. Two years later European agriculture settlement began in the region. Initially concentrated in Springfield, settlers soon began to migrate to the surrounding areas that would later become the towns of West Springfield, Chicopee and Holyoke. 1684 - John Riley, the first person to settle the area, purchased 16 acres of land on what became known as Ireland Parish.
Holyokes history in peticular contains obvious traces of its period of prosperity at the turn of the 19th century when it used to accommodate a huge paper mill industry and was nicknamed The Paper City. The addition and discontinuation of cultural influences during Holyoke’s history are essential for understanding and processing the city’s diversity.
1831 - Ireland Parish had 130 dwellings. 1832 - The Hadley Falls Company was incorporated to build a cotton mill. July 1847- Water survey began to measure the river at South Hadley Falls. The findings showed a great potential for mill development in New England. December 6, 1847 - First stone laid for the canals of the Hadley Falls company at Holyoke. November 1848 - First dam across the Connecticut River completed and washed away. August 5, 1848 - 1,277 men were employed by the Hadley Falls Company building the dam and canals. Most were Irish.
01 Introduction
October 22, 1849 -New dam, 80 ft wide and 1,000 feet long, was completed. March 4, 1850 - Holyoke became a town.
9
1880 - Holyoke’s population reached 21,915 (4,368 native born, 4,241 Irish, 4,902 French Canadian, 509 German) at an average of 10.52 persons per dwelling.
1853 - Parson’s Paper Mill was organized in Holyoke. January 1854 - Lyman Cotton Mills established.
1884 - Holyoke Street Railway incorporated.
1855 - Holyoke’s population was 4,639 (2,623 native born, 1,657 Irish).
1885 – Population of Holyoke: 46,000.
1856 - Holyoke established Board of Health.
1890 - YMCA opened.
1859 - The Holyoke Water Power Company assumed control of all the holdings of the Hadley Falls Company, including dams and canals, the stone quarry and the swing ferry.
1893 - Holyoke Hospital opened.
1860 - Migration of the first French Canadians to Holyoke. 1860 – Island population estimated at 583,308. 1861-1865 –American Civil War 1865 - Merrick Thread Mill, Germania Mills and Whiting Paper Company were established. 1871 - Holyoke’s Town Hall construction began.
1894 - Holyoke had 24 paper manufacturers, 3 envelope manufacturers, 2 cotton mills, 1 hosiery manufacturer, 1 dyer, 2 silk mills, 2 thread mills, 5 woolen mills, 16 machinery manufacturers and 19 miscellaneous manufacturers. 1899 - American Writing Paper Company was formed. 1900- The wooden dam was replaced by a new stone dam, which took five years to construct.
1873 - Smallpox epidemic in Holyoke.
1900 – Under the Foraker Law, a US Federal Law, Puerto Rico became a US territory. In accordance, an American led civil administration replaced the military.
1873 – Abolition of slavery in the Spanish colony of Puerto Rico.
1902 - New Public Library opened on Maple Street.
1875 - Holyoke’s pop. reached 16,260.
1903 – ½ of Holyoke’s population was of French-Canadian descent.
1873 - Holyoke was incorporated as a city.
1877 - Providence Hospital opened.
10
1917 – Holyoke’s peak population reached 62,210 people.
1946 - Holyoke Graduate School founded, later changed its name to Holyoke Junior College.
1917 - Puerto Rican migration to the United States began during World War I when the United States government needed both soldiers and workers. During 1917 and 1918, the government transported thousands of men from Puerto Rico to industrial complexes.
1957 – The first Pablo Casals festival takes place at the University of Puerto Rico. 1959 - Skinner Mansion, Wistariahurst, donated to the City of Holyoke.
1923 - American Writing Paper declared bankruptcy.
1964- The Puerto Rican community made up 9.3% of the total New York City population.
1927 -Lyman Cotton Mills closed.
1964 - Holyoke Junior College became Holyoke Community College.
1930 – 1940- 1,800 Puerto Ricans migrated to US yearly.
1968—Economic recession on the Island of Puerto Rico resulted in influx of Puerto Ricans to Holyoke (and throughout the US) seeking employment in the tobacco industry. Holyoke saw the second wave of Puerto Rican migration. This wave was known as the “Welcome Wave” because it consisted of an influx of college educated, middle class Puerto Ricans who could not find suitable jobs on the island. This wave also resulted in a demand for bilingual education and services.
1930- Along with Holyoke, Puerto Rican communities were established in New York City, mainly in East Harlem and Brooklyn, and Chicago, New Haven, Hartford, Boston, Jersey City and Philadelphia. 1934 - National Textile Strike. Eventually more than 3,500 textile workers in Holyoke picketed. Late 1940s – 1950s – Holyoke saw the first large wave of Puerto Rican migrants. This wave is known as the “Wanted Wave” because the US had restricted European immigration and needed laborers to work on tobacco farms and apple orchards. As the Puerto Rican economy suffered, there were not enough jobs on the island for the people living there. Annualmente 31,000 Puertoriquenos emigraban a los Estados Unidos.
1970s – Due to a recession in the US economy, many of the manufacturing and chemical companies that had established operations on the island closed down or relocated to the lower-wage countries of Latin America, the Caribbean or Asia. This 11
01 Introduction
1970 – 2,000 Spanish speaking people lived in Holyoke.
resulted in massive unemployment- as high as 25%- among Puerto Rican workers. 1970s – Springfield used Urban Renewal to demolish Puerto Rican community in the North End, and push them into Holyoke. Urban renewals allowed city governments to call certain areas “blighted” and were razed for other kinds of development. 1979 – Holyoke Mall at Ingleside was built. Late 1970s – 1980s – Holyoke saw the third wave of Puerto Rican migration. This wave became known as the “Unwanted Wave” because many of the industries of Holyoke had closed, leaving few entry-level jobs. Also, this wave was made up of Puerto Ricans from a lower socio-economic class, many only spoke Spanish. 1982 – Nueva Esperanza, Inc. was founded in Holyoke to facilitate economic development within the Latino Community. 1980s – Four primarily Puerto Rican neighborhoods emerged in South Holyoke, Churchill, the Flats and Downtown. 1985 – Betty Medina Lichtenstein was elected to the School Committee, first Latino/a elected to a public office in Holyoke.
in South Holyoke. It is a grass-roots organization that promotes economic, human and community development in Holyoke, Massachusetts through projects relating to food, agriculture and the environment. 1998 – Holyoke Task Force was organized after several local organizations involved residents, service providers, and city and school department officials in an investigation of the needs of the city. This effort uncovered the need for a coordinated city effort to increase after school activities for more youth of all ages. 1999- YouthBuild Holyoke was founded by Nueva Esperanza with funding from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Massachusetts Department of Education. Since then, YouthBuild Holyoke has trained over 100 youth, has helped complete over 35 units of housing, and has provided thousands of hours of community service to the community, the city, other non-profit organizations, as well as local, state and federal agencies. 2005 – Parsons paper mill closed. 2006 – Nuestras Raices received local barn to create a new space to promote the history and use of agriculture in the Puerto Rican community, both in Puerto Rico and the Connecticut River Valley.
1985 – Betty Medina Lichtenstein was elected to the School Committee, first Latino/a elected to a public office in Holyoke. 1992 - Nuestras Raíces was founded by the members of La Finquita community garden 12
13 01 Introduction
14
holyoke in images
02 15
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02 In images
The beauty of the Upper Canal at sunset 17
old railway bridges at the Upper Canal overgrown by plants are supposed to be abolished instead of being restaurated
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02 In images
Holyoke Common is the only maintained and public waterfront in downtown Holyoke but lacks users because of its bad design.
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02 In images
lovely caribbean colored but abandoned store fronts of a 19th Century brick building + wall paintings on Main Street, downtown Holyoke.
South Hadley Falls , Conneticut River 22
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02 In images
Only Spanish speaking businesses (building now abandoned) The red sign signalized the firemen that a fire in this building is not to extinguish in order to let it burn down completely.
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02 In images
Abandoned or closed down buildings on Race Street (Lower Canal)
abandoned residential building on Main Street, Holyoke 26
02 In images
cleaning of the canals in September 2007 27
a pink stretch limosine on a lot on Main Street 28
02 In images
Race Street/Spring Street, lower canal 29
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02 In images
lower canal in downtown Holyoke. To the right: Race Street
ghettorization of residential housing in South Holyoke, randomly empty lots 32
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02 In images
Open Square building, second courtyard. Old Mill building in between the two canals showing the water running underneath + through the building.
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small scale intervention
03 35
0
50
BUILDING PLAN APPLETON ST
100
AP APPLETON ST
ST
ST
RS BOWE
APPLETON ST A
APP LET ETO ON ST ON
NT CE ES CR
SOUTH CANAL ST
PLAN APPLETON ST
ST
CABOT ST
ST ST
CR ES CE NT
SOU TH SUM MER
ST
SOUTH EAST ST
CABOT ST
SOU TH BRI DGE
CLEMENTE ST
CABOT ST
CRE SCE NT ST
CABOT ST CABOT ST
SOUTH SUMMER
ST
CABOT ST
SOUTH BRID GE ST
WORCESTOR
ST CABOT C
APPLET ON ST
WATER ST
WINT ER ST
MAIN ST MAIN ST
RACE ST
CABOT ST
CR ES CEN T
SOUTH CANAL ST
BIGELOW ST
RACE ST
NICK COSMOS WY
NEWTON ST
NICK COSMOS WY
CABOT ST
SPRING ST
SOU TH EAS T ST
ST
CABOT ST
ST
T
E ST
ST CABOT C
SPRING ST S
APP AP LETON ST
RACE ST
CABOT ST
parking garage salvation army CIAL ST
mission: iglesias de dios laundry service mc donalds
CABOT ST
NEWTON ST
HIGH ST
MAPLE ST
CHESTNUT ST
SSEX ST ESSEX
NO NOR TH CAN AL ST
APPLETON ST
APPLETON ST
ST
PINE ST
HIGH ST
ESSEX ST
100
ELM ST
50
MAPLE ST
CHESTNUT ST
ELM ST
PINE ST
WALNUT ST
ESSEX ST
0
WATER ST
ST
WINTER T
ST
RS BOWE B
ST
A ST ONEK
T EN C ES CR
50
ST
WINTER
RACE ST
MAIN ST
RACE ST
APPLETON ST
APPLETON ST
APPLETON ST
NOR TH C ANAL ST
ST ER CENT
ST WE
SETT SAMO
ST
ST
APPLETON ST
HE
HIGH ST
MAPLE ST
H
CHESTNUT ST
PINE ST
DIVISION ST
T ST IGH DW
Viod Plan APpleton ST OT O PEQU
MIDDLE ST
SUFFOLK ST
SUFFOLK ST
SUFFOLK ST SU
WALNUT ST
PINE ST
SUFFOLK ST
SETT SAMO
IGH ST
SUFFOLK ST
SUFFOLK ST
T
ST
DWIGHT ST
E ST
100
A
50
HERIT G
0
CO
50
T ST IGH DW
ST EAST RTH NO
EAST
EAST
WATER ST
RACE ST
FRON
CEN
50
CAB O
TS T
CA BO
T ST
residential retail industrial public/institutional unknown
cuba market la cosecha halfway house war memorial 50
0
50
police station
Building USE
(church)
100
abandoned occupied and frequently used occupied but used only certain periods/day rarely occupied boy on chopper two guys in a car with loud speakers and hip hop music
Building Occupancy
little boy looking out of a backdoor mother + child + buggy
two guys in car mother + child horning
two guys having a car race teeanger in car loud music
three gay or transsexual guys on the balcony yelling to somebody in the street. Wanted me to take a picture of them.
person person(s) in a car obervation took place saturday between 1-3pm, sun shine, I remained approx. 10 min per block spanish man trying to old woman walking up help TJ finding a house and down the street many number (in spanish). Did times. Was going in rags. not want us taking pictures of what is going on in the casey street. adult, ca. 30, studied Natural Resources at UMass. Told us about the history of Holyoke and its industral decline. He wore dark sunglasses, camouflage shirt and baseball cap, had yellow-brown teeth.
people in public space group of 4 teenagers
mother + child
SURFACE QUALITIES 36
ap pl e
dw r ig
t bo ca
to n
ly m
an
ht s
st
t
st
st ill
h rch
Chu wn
nto
The
th Sou
ts
Fla
e yok Hol
The starting point has been a study on four streets intersecting the canals perpendicularly and so connecting the Downtown and Churchhill neighborhoods with lower Holyoke (The Flats and South Holyoke): Cabot Street, Appleton Street, Dwright Street and Lyman Street.
linear intervestigations 14
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The geographical decline towards the Conneticut River is accompanied by a similar social decline indicated by observations. The building density changes from a very fragmented wooden residential area upper town to elongated industrial brick mill buildings surrounding the canals; becoming a little bit more fragmented again in the Flats. There we find a mixture of industrial and residential use - predominantly brick structures as well.
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15 19 14
24 20
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1
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VISTAS
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37 13
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03 small scale Intervention
Dow
TS HGIH
38 Appleton Street::section & BLOCKED UP WINDOWS
open window
barred window
The intense linearity of these streets bridging the canals annihilates the presence of water in the eyes of the viewer and ignores its possible urban quality. However, the water is experienced by the openingup of vistas (see p. 37) and a perceived change of speed owing to a break in the linearity. TS NIAM
39
03 small scale Intervention
Presence of Water
40
HOLYOKE ISLAND :: PUERTO RICAN USER holyoke holyoke puerto rico
san juan
lower holyoke lower holyoke
Uptown
Churchhill
Downtown
The Flats
South Holyoke
few people in the streets area is a geographical and phsychological barrier few people in the streets
no public events
holyoke „island“ holyoke „island“
canals slice the city in parts
noof public events windows closed fear crimes no openings to the streets disconnections between cultural groups canals slice the city in parts area is a geographical and buildings abandoned or rarely used phsychological barrier lack of cultural identity windows closed fear of crimes no openings to the streets disconnections between cultural groups very quiet streets
Play!
feral open spaces/run down surface quality buildings abandoned or rarely used
lack of cultural identity
very quiet streets
creating a meeting point by sharing same interests
4
few people in the streets
erase boundaries creating a meeting point by sharing area is a geographical and same interests
phsychological barrier few people in the streets
4
erase boundaries between cultural groups disconnections
area is a geographical and phsychological barrier lack of cultural identity
no public events
recall the water! re-establish awareness of water as urban quality
use canal as new junction 3 linerecall the water! re-establish awanoof public events reness of water as windows closed fear crimes quality no openings to theurban streets use canal as new junction 3 canals slice the city in parts line
canals slice the city in parts
The first experiences of neglecting the waterspaces in Holyoke and the previous studies on Appleton Street led to a series of multi-stage small scale urban interventions with different levels of sustainability and permanence.
buildings abandoned or rarely used windows closed fear of crimes respond to cultural no openings to the streets achieve participation needs, American city cultural groups disconnections between add/change a surface very quiet streets 1
suitble for other cultural groups
feral open spaces/run down surface quality
buildings abandonedsandy or rarely beachused 2 lack of cultural identity outdoor city for instead of dirt outdoor respondpeople to cultural achieve participation needs, American city add/change a surface very quiet streets suitble for other cultural feral open spaces/run down surface quality 1 groups sandy beach 2 outdoor city for instead of dirt outdoor people
unhinging the tangle of effects
41
03 small scale Intervention
A workshop was initiated to approach the urban fabric playfully in order to deal with the extraordinary social and spatial conditions of Holyoke; especially focussing on the needs of the Puerto Rican community located in Holyoke downtown.
feral open spaces/run down surface quality
1
42
te
This project tries to raise the awareness of water in the middle of the city and make people conscious of water as an urban quality. During a short term urban intervention people are asked to abandon a little rubber duck on the canals and start to recapture their imminent urban environment. 43
03 small scale Intervention
participa
Raising the awareness of water (short term intervention)
1
44
03 small scale Intervention
The rubber duckies are distributed through the mail to locate residents. Because of this surprising effect accompanied by a change of awareness of the canals people are sparking interest to participate by abandoning their personal rubber duck. Playfully the water is brought closer to the population. Pedestrians are realizing the water again with a positiv connotation.
front elevation
side elevation 45
2
Reclaiming the waterfront
(middle term intervention) In a second step sand is going to be distributed on the lot in between the two canals at Appleton Street. This forms a beach on the watersides. By creating a new unusual surface quality (see p.36)
46
and addressing the presence of water and the Puerto Rican Geography at the same time, the beach will be a magnetic open space for the residents of entire Holyoke.
(middle to long-term intervention) In a third step this beach functions as a multifunctional playground which can host various events - such as Beachvolleyball matches. The installation of volleyballcourts (volleyball was invented in Holyoke in 1895) closes the circle between the neighboring
population participating and communicating with their direct urban environment, satisfying explicit cultural needs which strenghtens their cultural identity and adresses the actual history of entire Holyoke (p.9).
03 small scale Intervention
3
Re-establishing urban quality
47
4
HERITAGE PARK
OUTLOOK::Site PLAN (+Canal Walk) OUTLOOK::PLAN
UPPER CANAL
APLLETON STREET
(CANAL WALK)
2 beachvolleyball courts
beachchairs
food stand
tent for beachchairs
porter potties
48
costs 4
2 1 3
durance
preserving the waterfront
(long term intervention) actor: public
actor: community
actor: public
scheduling a temporary intervention
SURFACE QUALITIES AFTER intervention
A forth step is the final revival of Holyoke‘s waterfronts: The outlook creates a beginning and a highlight of the upcoming Canal Walk and increases the perception of water and the use of water as an urban recreation area. As soon as the temporary beach has been removed, the outlook/dock can easily be connected to the projected Canal Walk. 49
03 small scale Intervention
actor: community actor: community
OUTLOOK::view
OUTLOOK::SECTION
50
51
03 small scale Intervention
The slopes in the outlook address both, the sand and the original water‘s edge, and become a new wooden lawn. They allow the instability of water to be experienced physically. The outlook especially turns the user�s attention to the old City Hall which is an urban landmark and visible from various view points within the city.
OUTLOOK::ALMOST A front elevation 52
53 03 small scale Intervention
54
urban fabric
04 55
56
HOLYOKE. AN urban diary
“
I do not understand this city. I notice it doesn’t work but the key problems do clearly not become apparent to me. I perceive social segregation and I recognize an abandoned city center with decaying beautiful and historic buildings. I discover 19th century mill and factory buildings and a few of them are said to be still in use. But why don’t I see any workers operating in them and why do I rarely hear any noise coming out of these buildings? I notice public spaces but no one using them. There is a museum and an art gallery but I did no one watch go visiting them. The sign of the Canal Gallery is overgrown by plants and hardly recognizable. The main entrance is a locked up steel fire door. The art community is not present in public but said to be very productive.
stand for a vibrant industrial assembly line full of dynamics and interactions now just seem to stand still. They gave up competing with the light wood or plastic covered (mostly residential) short-living buildings in upper Holyoke. And I recognize an American society which preferred moving out into the sourrounding landscape leaving their actual city behind rather then facing themselves with re-structurizing their historic city center. Those who stayed back could not afford an own home uptown. This led to a one-sided lower income population in downtown Holyoke. (September 2007)
04 URBAN FABRIC
And last but not least I notice water, beautiful canals in the middle of this city having been an important historic background for it, but I do not see anyone paying attention to these anymore. In fact the canals had become a spatial and structural ditch in the core of the city. When the development of the railway turned uninteresting for Holyoke in times of deindustrialization, former important interconnections were lost and only remained as decaying relicts in form of rusty iron bridges. The heavy brick buildings which once used to
“
57
58
The Urban fabric I divided the analytical eye in two parallel ways of thinking: an aerial view of an urban planner manifested in plan and a perceptive ground view of an urban user.
However, the results showed me disconnections between some single layers. Holyoke‘s complex gestalt consists of additions and subtractions, it is a patchwork. A patchwork of different communities and social belongings: Irish, Polish, Puerto Rican and American, a patchwork of many different building conditions and building ages, a patchwork of building typologies and building heights. A patchwork of activities. 59
04 URBAN FABRIC
In order to try to understand the underlying systems in Holyoke and find a basis for a design attitude I extracted visual and available data such as building heights, building ages but also accessibility or feeling of private property etc. on single layers hoping to find continuous patterns or logic connections.
2
1
4
4
3
5 6
7
2
2
2
SITE PLAN
TOPOGRAPHY
60
AREAL VIEW By extracting one map into various layers I was able to recombine different informations: some of these new combinations seem obvious but nevertheless interesting in their clear statements: i.e. industrial and no residential buildings are located on the watersides. Others show mainly older buildings being abandoned while newer buildings use to be one-storey residential homes set back from the streetline. Especially the different building ages show a diffuse patchwork and mirrow my experiences on site.
+
residential
+
retail
industrial
2
2
1
4
8
3
5 6
7
2
3
2
public buildings 1 2 3 4 5
BUILDING USE
6 7 8
61
town hall church police station schools/kindergardens public pavillion museum gallery community outreach
first floor occupancy industrial retail residential public parking building
04 URBAN FABRIC
2
vacant site and buildings
+
perceived as vacant
+
streets
water
remaining buildings
parking
parking
parking
parking parking parking
parking
parking
parking
parking
parking
parking
parking
parking
parking
parking parking
parking
parking
parking parking parking
parking
parking
vacant building tax titled building no activities recognizable vacant lot/without anybody taking care of it
Building OCCUPACY occupancy BUILDING
occupied or unknown
62
height: 1 storey
+
height: 2 storeys
+
+
height: 4+5 storeys
streets
+
height: 6 storeys
water
height: 3 storeys
>6 4-5 3
Building HEIGHTS heights BUILDING
2 1
63
04 URBAN FABRIC
building height in storeys
+
+
+
+
year built before 1900 1901-1919 1920-1939
BUILDING AGE
1940-1969 1970-2007
64
04 URBAN FABRIC
Community grid
Designed Waterfronts 65
noise
NOISE
FEELING OF OF PRIVATE PRIVATEPROPERTY PROPERTY did not have the heart to go their before my fourth visit in holyoke did not have the heart to go there
66
04 URBAN FABRIC
WATER REFLECTIONS 67
As the multifariousness of the data became increasingly complex through multiplication of layers and combination possibilities, a clear planning approach became increasingly more remote due to the lack of a clear indication for a superior planning strategy. However, the information gathered show single points where interference is going to be neccessary and will be integrated into the design process of this project
Train Tracks
I started switching my point of view from the areal view to the perspective view of an urban user riding the public busses and locating the underground water systems which circulate the water from the Upper to the Lower Canal underneath existing buildings using the downhill grade.
to Northampton
However, all these information could have still been mapped in plan and do not require this change of view but in fact illustrate a new attitude towards an urban planning strategy. PVTA Buslines 68
Water circulations
69
BARRIERS
KEEP OUT
canal gallery entrance
loc
fence
Barriers
“wherehouse�
According to this change of perspective the notations of the site became more and more a mapping of personal and more subjective experiences: i.e. a mapping of physical, spatial and even emotional barriers which completely block the access to the site. 70
receiving space
spatial: blocked by a fence
visual: trees and weeds block vista
visual: trees block vista into heritage park; programmatic: parking site blocks access to park spatial: rail trail integrated in park design, but sometimes blocked by a fence or by level difference
visual/spatial: little gate in an abandoned space
spatial: rail trail integrated in park design, but sometimes blocked by a fence or by level difference
spatial: a garage blocking the space
terrain difference terrain difference
sign: “CAUTION: no trespassing” Building/bridge in very bad condition
“Don’t even think of parking here” hot steam pipes, weed and fence trench and little wall locked building site
parking
spatial: fence blocks the entry to the “wherehouse”
04 URBAN FABRIC
fences, trash, leftovers and open storage
71
GROUND VIEW This highly experimental view (ground view) culminates in an investigation of veiled activities taking place on my site. It turns out to be the starting point of the design project: My experiences on site were coined by a dualism of contrast. The result was a mapping of informal discoveries („cells of vivacity“). But while occupancy of this space and activities has been visible in the industrial age there are no visible and outstanding indicators of vivacity noticable today. Their respond to the streets and public is minimal or non-existent. These in-permeable brick volumes lack the interchange between in- and outside. The existing streets only intersect the canal island instead of functioning as (inter-)connections. My reoccuring reception of this space is an odd relationship of standstill and fluidity. The brick buildings with their pausing character and the fluid condition of water create an interesting beauty of the space. This project wants to disclose these hidden activities.
72
paper brewery dance performances and brewery on top floor
+
seating
race street building was recently bought by artist which now rents studio space.
cabot 100 buildings became a residental building
canal gallery 25 artists have their studios in here. kerry rooney pays $230 /month rent for her studio room. they have a little terrasse facing the lower canal.
also artist’s studio space.
carouselstudios: screen printing lady bug: manufactures artificial flower arrangements
++
fountain
+
seating
swing
open square retail (1st floor), studio spaces (2nd) floor, offices and housing. a cafe is open 9am - 5pm. only building who is using the water-systems again.
deerfield woodorking: workshop + nice little factory store
+
+
interesting slopes + pits
bridges/highwalk
+
+
seating
owner is restaurating this little house and is dreaming of his own little restaurant and a renovated foot-bridge.
cafe tables
sheet metal fabricator thinks about getting retired and selling the building the complex used to be one building with a central courtyard
occupant moved out last week. building might be bought by the city
masonry works, owner also lives in this building
+
04 URBAN FABRIC
antique water pavillion
“wherehouse” collection of every historic item from industrial holoyke. meetings point for irish community meetings and weddings
73
74
highlighting
05 75
highlighting Every block in between the canals features one chimney differing in shape, material and height. Additionally every block owns a distinguished spatial character such as enclosed spaces, passage spaces, linear structures etc. Each chimney can be spatialized to a block (therefore differing spatial characters) and therein ongoing activities. The chimneys on site become indicators and catalysts for concealed activities. They are highlighting the content of the different “cells� (spaces) in between the canals which seem not to be accessible at first glance due to spatial or emotional barriers (p71). They are supposed to work as a sewing tool for the complex urban fabric using an identical design language although each of them maintains a very individual character by having its own architectural style (shape, material, height). The chimneys work in three scales: as an object highlighed by illumination, an indicator for a cell of activity (block) and as landmarks in the urban skyline marking the progress. 76
octagonal footprint, tapered, fortifications height: est. 70 feet material: brick stands on own plinth
round footprint, tapered and dilating height: est. 130 feet material: brick+plaster stands on plinth beside a building.
rectangle footprint, tapered with cornice height: est. 130 feet material: brick seems to stand on building
round footprint, very slender height: est. 130 feet material: iron/metal stands on a 2-3 storey building
CHIMNEY CHARACTERS & VIEW FROM SOUTHWEST
SITES
SPATIAL CONDITIONS 77
secret ( sigilaro
)
lineal linear
05 Highlighting
passage pasaje
#ABOT 3T
bolso de espacio ( ) pocket spaces
!PPLETON 3T
$WIGHT 3T
,YMAN 3T
el cerco enclosure
78
79 05 Highlighting
SEWING TOOL The chimneys are visible from multifarious view points within and even outside the city: from uptown Holyoke and High Street, from road 116 entering Holyoke, from Interstate I-91 (with traffic to and from New York City) and Interstate I-391 (connecting to the Masspike I-90 to Boston). In Holyoke the chimneys, the old industrial relicts of Holyoke’s past, stand present to be seen from all over Holyoke. The act of painting each of these chimneys acts as an indicator for the activities within the space they occupy. While acting as single elements indicating an explicit activity or development the context of the chimney sews the entire landscape together.
80
81 05 Highlighting
82
utopia toolbox
06 83
84
UTOPIA
06 UTOPIA TOOLBOX
Deriving from my aerial and ground view studies I was able to conclude necessary planning guidelines cataloguable in built form, infrastructure, zoning (use), lightening, public amenities, surfaces and water. I used these categories as my toolbox for a self initiated utopia workshop creating scenarios overexeggerating urban planning methods.
85
WATER :: UTOPIA UTOPIA - WATER - flooded
UTOPIA - WATER - open canals
UTOPIA - WATER - water basins
UTOPIA - WATER - water basins II
86
UTOPIA - WATER - dizzy, dizzy canals
UTOPIA - WATER - mini canals
UTOPIA - WATER - fountains
06 UTOPIA TOOLBOX
UTOPIA - WATER - roof top water
87
INFRASTRUCTURE :: UTOPIA UTOPIA - INFRASTRUCTURE - bridges
UTOPIA - INFRASTRUCTURE pontoons
UTOPIA - WATER - docks
UTOPIA - INFRASTRUCTURE - streets
88
UTOPIA - INFRASTRUCTURE - footwalks
UTOPIA - GREEN - Trees I
GREENS :: UTOPIA UTOPIA - GREEN - Trees III
06 UTOPIA TOOLBOX
UTOPIA - GREEN - Trees I
89
GREENS :: UTOPIA
LIGHT :: UTOPIA
UTOPIA - GREEN - greenspaces
UTOPIA - LIGHTS - waterlights
UTOPIA - GREEN - greenspaces
UTOPIA - LIGHTS - buildings
90
UTOPIA - LIGHTS - chimneys
UTOPIA - LIGHTS - iluminated windows
AMENITIES :: UTOPIA UTOPIA - AMENITIES - stairs
06 UTOPIA TOOLBOX
UTOPIA - LIGHTS - streetlights
91
AMENITIES :: UTOPIA
Built Form :: UTOPIA
UTOPIA - AMENITIES - street furniture
UTOPIA - BUILT FORM - demolishing
UTOPIA - AMENITIES - stairs/topography
UTOPIA - BUILT FORM - fill in
92
SURFACES :: UTOPIA UTOPIA - WATER SURFACES - flooded - brick pavement
UTOPIA - BUILT FORM - gate conditions
UTOPIA - SURFACES - brick pavement II
06 UTOPIA TOOLBOX
UTOPIA - BUILT FORM - middle condition
93
SURFACES :: UTOPIA UTOPIA - SURFACES - brick pavement IV
UTOPIA - SURFACES - green walls
SURFACES scenarios :: UTOPIA UTOPIA - USE SCENARIOS - housing/residential
UTOPIA - SURFACES - green roofs
94
95 06 UTOPIA TOOLBOX
96
urban planning methodology
07 97
URBAN FABRIC urban conditions AERIAL VIE building he
PATCHWORK
RESPONSES
wide problem definition possible responses
TOOLBOX
design toolbox
W
ights
no consist ency perforatio n
building ag
refill refill respond to historic existence
no consist ency perforatio n
e
intermixture of uses expansion of uses into the vaccum new bridges improve infrastructure break through
building oc
cupancy
seperatio
n of uses
lack of co
nnectivity
patterns
felt vacanc community bus connec
lack of tran
sparency
y
grid
lack of co
nnectivity
extend PVTA B48 flip blocks inside out lack of tran sparency lighting create transparent no distinct ion betwee public an n brick buildings d private spaces create different lack of tran surfaces/pavements sparen
tion
noise accessable feeling of
waterfronts
private pro
perty
respond to
street
surface qu
alities
open spac es barriers hidden ac
open up windows create junction point for communities
BUILT FORM
USE (ZONING) INFRASTRUCTURE LIGHT USE (ZONING) INFRASTRUCTURE LIGHT SURFACES
cy
tivities
water refelc tio
ns
standstill
fluidity sta
ndstill
GROUND
vs fluidity
distinction between public and private spaces
PUBLIC AMENITIES WATER
VIEW
MAKE EXTISTING ACTIVITIES/CONDITIONS VISIBLE 98
UTO
BOX
oolbox
UTOPIA fill in demolish gates covered sp aces stairs street furn
iture
topograp
hy
pontoons landing
T FORM
green spac es
: trees
green spac es
OBJECT
: trees 2
green spac es
: trees 3
green spac es
ZONING)
light chim neys light faca
des
light street
GHT ZONING)
TRUCTURE
IGHT
RFACES
light water light windo ws infrastruct
ure bridge s
infrastruct
ure footw alk
s
ure street s
surfaces surface w aterbank surface pe r activity
URBAN PLANNING METHODOLOGY
surface pe
r activity
green roof s green wall s pavemen t walk conn ec
AMENITIES
„CELL“
infrastruct
use: resid
CITY ting
The starting point of this urban planning methodology leads back to the idea of small scale and low cost interventions on one hand and on comprehensive analytical studies in holyoke on the other hand. These many layers of my urban fabric collected during the observations result in various problem definitions and therefore in many different methods of resolutions.
ential
use: publ
ic
ATER
water: op en ca
nals
water insid e water: min i ca
nals
VISIBLE
water: dizz y ba
nk
water: foun ta
ins
99
07 urban planning methodology
TRUCTURE
UTOPIA TOOLBOX
SURFACES
AMENITES
INFRASTRUCTUR fountains
streets
bridge (footbridge)
landing
pontoons
stairs
seating. (street furniture)
topography
waterbank
per activity
canal living
connecting activities
LINEAR semiPRI VATE space with RESIDENTAL atmo sphere
green roofs
gallery passages
green walls
SemiPUBLIC cha racter and HIDDEN ALLEYWAYS with GATE situations, ver tical GREENSPACES
trees I-III
open square
chimney
OPEN + RECESS spaces PENETRATED by water with very PUBLIC feeling
facades
enclosure
street
HIDDEN, RECLU SIVE ENCLOSED space with an INTIMATE feeling, CUTTHROUGHs by railway
water
SPACES
windows
SPACE CHARACTERS
residental
possible planning intervention derived from the urban catalogue
public/commercial
existing condition characteristic condition for the space
GREEN SPACES
LIGHTS
USE
SPACE RECIPEs existing condition
INDICATORS
100
characteristic
AMENITES
INFRASTRUCTURE
WATER
BUILT FORM fill in
demolish barriers
gates
covered spaces
water inside
mini canals
dizzy bank
fountains
streets
bridge (footbridge)
landing
pontoons
This toolbox can be applied in three different scales: object (chimney), cell (block) and city.
existing condition
characteristic conditon for the space
possible planning intervention
Drawing on my planning maxim to strengthen, evaluate and accentuate existing characteristics, I compared the ingredients of my Utopia Toolbox with the experimental discoveries (activities, spatial specialties etc.) and applied these. Existing characteristics are duplicated and extented. Earlier planning decisions, such as the removal of spatial barriers or opening-up facades to increase transparencies, are conclusions from the urban fabric study and are added to the “space recipes�. 101
07 urban planning methodology
stairs
seating. (street furniture)
topography
In order to deal with the entire range of information not losing the ground view attitude I started catagolizing (prev. page) and using my toolbox as a filter for the spaces.
102
indicators & urban catalyst
08 103
open windows re-activate seating area
labeling exhibits
“the hidden museum’s plaza”
breakk through waterfront
demolish fences museum
design promenade add/open up sidewalk less massive railings
design museum’s court
create visible entry-situations verify residential use car connection
clean l up
extend promenade through court demolish garage
museum
museum
label exhibits
104
fences
“used to be packed with people”
residential use and workspace
narrow alleyways informal exhibiton of Holyoke
low rise storage buildings
mill building with very residential historic water pavillion character unarticulated waterfront
sidewalk missing
The northern block in between the canals is characterized by a very intimate perception of the space. Tall mill buildings sourround an enclosed courtyard. The chimney is located in the courtyard and only peeking out being visible from the street. A retired Irishman has been collecting historic tools, machineries, trucks and water pavilions etc. from Holyoke’s time of prosperity in a building called “Holyoke Wherehouse”. Although parts of his collection are kept in front of the building this institution seems to be relatively unnoticed. Only the large Irish community in Holyoke is using the banquett room in the building and the large courtyard behind to celebrate their weddings; mostly unnoticed by the public. Most of the courtyard is blocked by fences and demolition waste. A train track is running through the site but only in use once in a while. One building is inhabited by a masonry worker who converted the small building into his home. According to the urban planning method to strengthen and extend what has been found on site I was able to develop a stepby-step proposal for a self-growing redesign; reverting to the urban fabric and utopia catalogue.
blocks vista
SITE CHARACTER
museum
footbridge footbridge
connection to river side park
to Riverside Park
area with residential (secluded) character
secluded semiprivate space
area with public character
waterspaces inside enclosure? (dividing the space
museum
create “waterspace” in between the bridges
connection to river site park
105
08 INDICATORS & urban catylists
THE HIDDEN MUSEUM railway tracks still in use (2x/day)
removed vista-blockade
open up sidewalk seating railing
removing crush barrier
INFORMAL MUSEUM
open up passage
let a bridge be a seating area
connection to river side park
REUSING OLD BRIDGE CONNECTIONS create living spaces
open air exhibits
make water edge
RESIDENTIAL CONVERsION transparent add-on
seclusive court situation
MUSEuM’S ANNEX
Courtyard SItuation (Hidden Plaza) 106
fences
railway tracks still in use (2x/day)
“used to be packed with people�
residential use and workspace
narrow alleyways informal exhibiton of Holyoke mill building with blocks vista very residential historic water pavillion character unarticulated waterfront
low rise storage buildings
sidewalk missing
SITE CHARACTER
transparent first storey
107
First stages would be the removal of spatial barriers, the cleaning of the site and the conversion into an official Museum of Holyoke open to the entire public. The residential use is to extend to the more seclusive part of the site. Existing water features are to be maintained or duplicated.
08 INDICATORS & urban catylists
open up to canals provide extension for canal walk
community center
community center
connection to high st
connection to high st
holyoke girls
use topography for open space
use topography for open space
mini canals in open space
mini canals in open space
accent existing topography
OPEN SQUARE 2nd fl. studio spaces planned: retail + offices HOLYOKE TEEN CENTER
recently build annex
“childplace� children do their own spatial intervention creating space
vacant land
seating black sheep cafe
king no car parking on waterfront ront
do not even think of parking here!
level differences
wall
pipe(s) little wall + trench
parking cars
canal
warning: no trespassing
canal
parking
demolish wall and terminate straightness of lyman st.
topography
seperate pedestrian walk from street (i.e. different pavement)
intensify effect of mini canals by accentuating the bridges
repair old bridge and reconnect
old iron bridge verify residential use residential and offices
VACANT
parking restaurant (planned)
residential area
SITE CHARACTER
parking building
PUBLIC KNOT (1)
108
holyoke girls and boys club
OPEN SQUARE The second site is the only site providing former mill building which have been converted into a commercial building with projected office spaces, studio spaces and large retail spaces (most of them not realized yet) and an institutional building of the Holyoke Girls Club. However, the redesign of both, the Open Square Building and the Girls Club, appears to be very barren and does not seem to aim arrousing public interest. But the existence of these public buildings give the impetus, according to the method of duplicating, to extend this public use. A second noticable feature of this site are several open canals showing the water circulating from the upper to the lower canal running underneath the buildings. The proposal for this site envisions these creeks being integral part of the design of the public spaces. From a larger view point this site is supposed to act as a public knot between the four different neighborhoods in Holyoke’s downtown also providing community spaces. As a result the empty lot on Dwright Street could host a new community center for Holyoke.
institutional character
mixed use/ commercial character
water in open space
seating
barbeque
residential use at the waterfront
PUBLIC KNOT (2)
109
08 INDICATORS & urban catylists
s and boys club
heritage park - south holyoke passage
“la passages”
open up windows
HERITAGE PARK
studio spaces canal gallery
old railway bridge (overgrown)
gate situations fountain
arts & crafts
transparent gallery
canal gallery entrance is not visible
office use possible?
o n l y
make a very public plaza
p e d e s t ri a n
canal blocks vista
plants
level difference
consider topography
woodwork + factory store seating
artist’s workshop
silk screen printing + artificial flowers
investigate break-throughs
provide seating
SITE CHARACTER
provide seating reinstall fountains
HERITAGE PARK
HERITAGE PARK
GALLERY PASSAGES (2)
“la passages”
arts & crafts overgrown
office use possible?
footbridge
exibition space bigelow st
observation chimney + gallery
gates
footbridge
HERITAGE PARK
GALLERY PASSAGES (1)
GALLERY PASSAGES (3) 110
GALLERY PASSAGES & CANAL LIVING The site between Dwright and Appleton Street accommodates the Canal Gallery. An old mill building was bought by an artist and converted; now providing cheap studio spaces for rent and a large exhibition space. 25 artist are currently working in these spaces. However, this art-community seems to be quite unnoticed outside their own ranks. The building is overgrown by plants and the building complex features little alleys and underpasses confusingly leading through the site. This intense vegetation was the impetus for the reconfiguration of the site. In order to strengthen the character of the small alleyways and underpasses again by means of duplication and expansion the new design proposes trellises overgrown by plants accentuating the passage-character.
bus stop
empty lot / parking weeds block vista
empty lot
empty lot / parking
no bankside front garden entire waterfront is closed by fences no access
n roof garden
ant nt mill vacant
101 cabot converted for residential use
paper-brewery club
HERITAGE PARK railway railw way tracks w c perceived vacant storage building? empty lot BOYS AND GIRLS CLIB of Greater Holyoke
POLICE STATION
RESIDENTIAL AREA
SITE CHARACTER
administration building
mill building still in use interesting roof condition
break linearity
verify residential use
verify residential use
make tracks accessable
open up building
clean up lot
The site between Appleton and Cabot Street is characterized by extremely elongated mill buildings decimating the possibility to access the water front. While the buildings in between the canals are partly still in use, the mill towards High Street is abandoned. A six-storey tall tower was converted into Cabot 101, a purely residential building in direct neighborhood of the Holyoke Girls and Boys Club, a childcare institution. The design proposes to expand this residential use and break the linearity of the long buildings at one point in order to be able to access the waterfront publicly.
CANAL LIVING (1)
residential girls and boys holyoke
verify residential use gastronomy
HERITAGE PARK
extend bankside
???
???
???
rotated
CANAL LIVING (2) 111
08 INDICATORS & urban catylists
include boys and girls club in spatial planning
112
sewing the net
09 113
SEWING THE NET The converting of chimneys indicating concealed activities starts an organic, self-growing process of urban redevelopment and revitalization derived from the urban planning methodology (p.98101). The proposals for the four cells in between the two canals remain very abstract only illustrating the possible execution of proposed urban planning interventions. They do not claim to be understood as final products. Calling for a final product and a conclusion I returned to the starting point of these series of interferences: the chimney network. To create a framework and therefore come to a kind of completion, the last intervention envisions a new (reinterpretation of a) chimney by building an annex to the existing and mainly unnoticed Canal Gallery providing more transparent exhibition spaces open to the public. 114
115 09 sewing the net
116
117
09 sewing the net
This tall building is marking the growing art community in Holyoke and located right accross from the site on Dwright Street which is intended to accomodate public use. This building is supposed to be taller than the existing Canal Gallery allowing a little observation deck overlooking the other chimney in order to experience the entire region and sew the net.
consequences of the Urban Fabric and projected interventions in plan
2
downtown
churchhill
1
4
5
8
6
7
2
2
flats
south holyoke
main occupancy 2
residential
RESIDENTIAL AREAS churchhill
downtown
public
1
4
5
8
6
7
2
2
flats
south holyoke
RESIDENTIAL EXTENSION & PUBLIC RESIDENTIAL EXTENSION & PUBLIC KNOT KNOT (BEFORE AND AFTER)
main occupancy residential public
2
1
4
5
8
6
7
2
2
main occupancy
ZONING
residential public retail / offices /gastronomy arts & crafts
ZONING
unkonwn
2
1
4
5
8
6
7
2
2
main occupancy
CONNECTIVITY CONNECTIVITY
existing streets new connections canalwalk canalwalk extensions
118
FINAL
This project crystallized an approach in which the prevailing conditions are being reinforced and the inhabitants’ identification of place encouraged without trying to be an overall masterplan in the traditional sense. The methods and scenarios proposed aim to develop and bolster Holyoke’s urban identity. 119
09 sewing the net
Dealing with the American Urban Decay particularly in downtown areas require an intense examination of extisting structures. This project tries to find an alternative urban planning methodology in particular adjusted to the financially weak Holyoke, Massachusetts. The local residents become integral part of the urban development by being the narratives of their own city. The focus is on a series of small scale interventions instead of vast remodelling. These urban interventions must happen in continuous interchange of examination, testing and implementation to support the idea of urban catalysts.
120
C O N T A C T inga maria anger niederbarnimstr. 23 10247 berlin www.inga-anger.de
121