THE COGNITION OF SOCIAL ENERGY /// GENERATING PLACE ABOUT THE CLASS Design Thinking is a research based independent study. The objective is to explore an issue or concept, choose a site within Saint Louis, and then justify that concept in an architectural program at that site. Independently driven, the work takes on a personal interest in the final result of a book. This book becomes the basis for Degree Project, the final studio project before graduation.
Concept Collage of Places (and Voids) in Saint Louis People experience something beyond physical and sensory properties of space, and can feel an attachment to place.
AMNESIC [did something occur?]
ACTIVITY
FORM
EVENT | ACTION
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
To create place is to create a specific type of space... one which we associate certain emotions with. Place is the intersection of memory, emotion, and the physical environment.
PLACE
NOMADIC [can occur anywhere]
IMAGE EXPERIENCE | MEMORY
THE CONCEPT For urban conditions to thrive, they require a connectedness at the pedestrian scale. How can architecture help expand perceptions of place in an effort to expand personal concepts of boundary?
UNPROLIFIC [deserted space]
How can architecture facilitate the spirit of place in Saint Louis?
We transition from space to place most efficiently when we engage as many senses as possible, for as long as possible. Being a pedestrian helps to maximize the potential of perceiving space as place.
GENERATING PLACE IN STL Saint Louis is best described as a post-industrial fragmented network of car oriented spaces. Many roads are uncomfortably fast and wide for pedestrian use. Many areas considered place have become isolated. Between the isolation, pedestrian connection is vital to expanding the concept of place. SITE AND STRATEGY At the larger scale, creating place between two pedestrian areas requires slowing down vehicular movement, encouraging interest for pedestrians, and engaging multiple senses within the space. Fitting with physical, historical, and cultural context, brewery represents an identity of Saint Louis. It also connects social and industrial elements together, portraying a story that many in the city can identify with. Additionally, it is a process that engages many of the senses we use to tie event to space. The result of this research is to use the road as a narrative for the story of brewing, entwining public road and park space with private industrial space along a connective corridor.
the cognition of social energy
practically focused work ///
Place: Centers of meaning constructed out of a lived experience.
airplane
central west end
midtown
the cognition of social energy
practically focused work ///
Saint Louis Development: A struggle of priority between car and pedestrian movement. Below, are the city’s historical boundaries (left), and it’s eventual loss of urban place (center).
train car (high speed) car (low speed) bike the grove
foot
Site Selection: Slowing a corridor between two areas of urbanity encourages the expansion of pedestrian place.
Speed and Scale: The vehicle through which we experience a space has a dramatic effect on our ability to create meaningful connections.
d f b
a
c
d f
e
AY ILW
RA
a
c
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AY HW
HIG
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SIT
a b
b
to midtown/ central west end
H HIG
Saint Louis University
c
ED
SPE
AD RO
S WHY STREET? REA NA IA
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Freedom of Movement: Greater mobility equates to a greater chance of engaging all senses. Becoming a pedestrian encourages the cognition of place.
STR promotion of DaEshared experience E
P KEY
stl is car-reliant and will continue to be
Forest Park Parkway
roads can be an amenity, not a hinderance
IKEA Shopping Center Metrolink
North
Interstate 64
WHY BREWERY?
Freight Railways
WHY STREET? promotion of a shared experience
to the grovecity stl is a proud brewing
Vandeventer Avenue Manchester Avenue
brewing & stl - blue collar culture
Program Selection: While not easily quantifiable, the sense of spirit of a place is likened to a brand, in terms of stl is car-reliant and will continue to be connection to community quality, consistency, and reliability. roads can be an amenity, not a hinderance
a social and industrial process For Saint Louis, this brand can easily be linked to blue collar brewing and therepresents enjoyment of beer is accessible to many. Brewing, like the site chosen, neatly ties together industry with social, car with pedestrian, and creates a platform that allows many senses to be engaged.
WHY STREET?
WHY BREWERY?
WHY PARK?
promotion of a shared experience
stl is a proud brewing city
public pedestrian space
stl is car-reliant and will continue to be
brewing & stl - blue collar culture
ownership of exterior space conditions
roads can be an amenity, not a hinderance connection to community
Forest Park, Saint Louis: Comparing the experience from a car versus on foot or bike.
represents a social and industrial process
abundant opportunity for events increases pedestrian activity