Cognition of Social Energy: Generating Place
Josh Dobken Justin Scherma Malia Kalahele Design Thinking Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts Washington University in Saint Louis Spring 2015
to my family, friends and all those who have supported me through this process... i couldn’t have made it this far without any of you and a special thanks to Derek Hoeferlin and the students of the MIZI-ZIIBI option studio for the information on brewing and beer
In order for cities to thrive, they require a connectedness at the pedestrian scale that allow space to become place. This thesis focuses on understanding issues Saint Louis faces as a city of disconnected clusters of place. How can architecture expand the psychological perceptions of place in an effort to expand our personal perceptions of boundary?
THE PROCESS OF PLACEMAKING
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IDENTIFYING ELEMENTS OF CITY 16 UNDERSTANDING SAINT LOUIS 28 EXAMINING SAINT LOUIS 46 FROM SPACE TO PLACE: WHERE?
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FROM SPACE TO PLACE: HOW? 82 FROM SPACE TO PLACE: WHAT? 90 DESIGN PROPOSAL (to be continued)
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THE PROCESS OF PLACEMAKING
People affect the environment, and are affected by it. In order for this to occur, it is ncessary to perceive the occupied spaces in some way. Perception involves the gathering, organizing, and making sense of information through the cognitive process. This section outlines the key psychological components that allow people to perceive space/place.
merriam-webster.com
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Carmona, Matthew. “The Perceptual Dimension.� Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design. Oxford: Architectural, 2003. 87-89. Print.
Personality (n) the set of qualities, ways of behaving, etc. that makes something different attractive qualities (such as energy, friendliness, and humor) that make a person interesting or pleasant to be with attractive qualities that make something unusual or interesting
Place (n) a specfic area or region of the world; a particular city, country, etc. a building or area that is used for a particular purpose, ex: occupied as a home a distinct condition, position, or state of mind
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psychology of identification In psychology, identification is a process whereby the subject assimilates an aspect, property, or attribute of the other and is transformed by the model the other provides. Sigmund Freud’s writings describe the most prominent concepts:
I. Primary II. Narcissistic (Secondary) III. Partial (Secondary)
As the most basic form of cognition, identification provides a platform all other emotional ties can be linked to. In terms of place, it sets the tone for levels of comfort within a space, and the subconscious bar to which we compare all other things to. Laplanche, J. & Pontalis, J-B. (1973). “The Language of Psychoanalysis”. The Hogarth Press. Answers.com/topic/identication.Viewed 2/24/15
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Hart, H.H, (1947). “Problems of Identification”. Psychiatric Quarterly, 21, 274-293.
primary identification original and primitive form of emotional attachment prior to any relations. provides a developable context. narcissistic identification type II idenfitication follows the loss of an object or abandonment
partial identification based on the perception of a special quality that promotes social life of persons who will be able to identify with one another through common bonds. type III identification plays an important role in the formation of groups. it plays into the development of character and ego is formed by identification with a group.
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cognitive process and architecture The cognitive process is a systematic way of looking at how humans understand their surroundings. It applies to all forms of learning and observation. It is the set of all mental processes related to knowledge, both conscious and unconscious, concrete and abstract. The reception of information marks the beginning of the process. In architecture, we are concerned primarily with the visual reception of information. Selection and categorization tie together because we select elements of a building in order to place it into a category of type of building. We distinguish what a building is to us through selecting specific components of the structure. For example, if we see a spire, we might be inclined to believe it is a church rather than a friend’s house. This also ties in the idea of symbolic interactionism, since the components of the buildings themselves would have very little meaning with out prior understanding of the symbols.
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Adams, Gerald R. and Sheila K. Marshall. “A Developmental Social Psychology of Identity: Understanding the Person-in-Context.” Journal of Adolescence (1996): 429-442.
TREE While each is quite different, cognition allows us to extract similarities from numerous examples to create a platform for higher thinking. The level of abstraction does not matter, as it boils down to the generalization of many. In this case, the concept of a tree deals with a trunk and canopy, which can be identified regardless of shape or color.
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cognitive attribution and identity / place making Perhaps the most important element to the cognitive process in the sense of building an identity is attribution. This ability to match architecture to a definitive identity comes from a sense of symbols, those of which are not necessarily physical objects, but rather the implied symbols of a place. Once structures are attributed cultural qualities, they become part of the identity of the place they inhabit. This begins the process of group association. The grouping process also creates an out-group which is not associated with the specific place. At different scales of place, this grouping process shifts to incorporate more specifically relevant attributes. Without the context of the rest of the ‘associative group’, a sense of place can become unsettling or otherwise lost.
Adams, Gerald R. and Sheila K. Marshall. “A Developmental Social Psychology of Identity: Understanding the Person-in-Context.” Journal of Adolescence (1996): 429-442.
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“Association (psychology).” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Nov. 2014. Web. 22 Mar. 2015.
psychological association and memory In psychology, association refers to the connection between two conceptual entities or mental states that results from the similarity between those states or their proximity in space or time. Tied to this concept, memory operates as a chain of associations from the information gathered by our senses. For example, we may associate a type of building with a way of acting, such as a library, or a gym. Or, we might associate an event with a space. This type of association creates place.
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IDENTIFYING ELEMENTS OF CITY
In order to transition from space to place, a mixture of activity, form and image must occur. Missing any of these conditions results in placelessness - either mentally, physically, or temporally. Without a place, there is no phenomenological presence of space, and the border between space and place can be defined. This mental edge helps define what we consider to be integral to our identity. A sense of place does not reside in these elements, but rather in the human interaction with each. This section describes the main components of placemaking from both a psychological and architectural perspective.
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Carmona, Matthew. “The Perceptual Dimension.� Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design. Oxford: Architectural, 2003. 98 -99. Print.
AMNESIC [did something occur?]
FORM
ACTIVITY EVENT | ACTION
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
PLACE
NOMADIC
IMAGE
UNPROLIFIC
[can occur anywhere]
EXPERIENCE | MEMORY
[deserted space]
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FORM
ACTIVITY EVENT | ACTION
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
PLACE
IMAGE EXPERIENCE | MEMORY
activity - a temporal & emotional activation of form “Whatever space and time mean, place and occasion mean more. For space in the image of man is place, and time in the image of man is occasion.” Aldo Van Eyck The first triad of place is activity. This can range from, a formal event, to a simple action. The stronger the bond to the identity of the activity, the greater ties it can form to place. However, activity does not necessarily have to be tied to a specific space. This implies that it is not necessarily a problem solved through architecture; it is up to the individuals to create event and populate a space with the vibrance of activity. This gives the end user the ability to interpret the space into personal place, and helps them identify with the space at a deeper level. The significance of the physicality of places is often overstated: activities and meanings may be as, or more, important in creating a sense of place. Architecture can, however, encourage the activity, meaning that at some level there is a significance to the way space is designed.
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Carmona, Matthew. “The Perceptual Dimension.” Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design. Oxford: Architectural, 2003. 98 -99. Print.
The reading of a space is completely different depending on time. When activted by people, the space becomes memorable; it becomes a place. As soon as the level of activity diminishes, the place returns to a state of space.... it has physical qualities and the image of experience, but no vibrance.
identifying elements of city
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FORM
ACTIVITY EVENT | ACTION
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
PLACE
IMAGE EXPERIENCE | MEMORY
form - lines, boundaries, and orientation Key to how an object/ person identifies within a space is how edges are defined. While who is defining the edge matters little, how that person/ place/ thing orients themself within their context will vary their perception of the space psychologically. Qualities of the boundary can also change the perception of the space. How permeable is the edge? Where and how does it break? How do the intersections subdivide a space further?
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Carmona, Matthew. “The Perceptual Dimension.” Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design. Oxford: Architectural, 2003. 89-90. Print.
How one orients themself has everything to do with their perception of space. Qualities of lines and edge conditions inform the relationship (or lack thereof) between two spaces. It also creates a grouping mentality, which leads to the tensions of conflict and cooperation.
identifying elements of city
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FORM
ACTIVITY EVENT | ACTION
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
PLACE
IMAGE EXPERIENCE | MEMORY
form - landmarks: icons of memory an object or structure on land that is easy to see and recognize a building or place that was important in history a very important event or achievement In Kevin Lynch’s The Image of The City, he refers to landmarks as points of reference that are external. As a physical object, he calls them out as physical objects of public space... a building, a sign, a store, a mountain, et cetera. These objects are typically seen from a distance, over the tops of smaller elements. Landmarks provide clues of identity and even of structure within their context. Landmarks become symbols of place; they become associated with the context of their surroundings. They provide the service of wayfinding and become further connected to more and more landmarks as the space becomes more familiar. merriam-webster.com
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Lynch, Kevin. The Image of The City. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1960. Print.
Tourist Local
As inhabitants become more familiar with an area, the significance and scale of landmarks increases the personal sense of ownership of the space. Intimacy with the place eventually becomes so specific that landmarks become personalized. The spacing between wayfaring points and the physical size of the landmarks is thus a strong indicator of ownership of place.
identifying elements of city
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FORM
ACTIVITY EVENT | ACTION
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
PLACE
IMAGE EXPERIENCE | MEMORY
image - the role of senses in experience The senses play a vital role in the interpretation of environmental stimuli. Sensation, thus, is part of the process leading toward memory and placemaking. The four most valuable senses are vision, hearing, smell, and touch. Together, they are appriciated as an interconnected whole. The more prominent each sense is, the stronger the memory becomes. While vision is the most heavily relied on component of our memory, other senses are often underdeveloped and under-exploited. Often times, positive sounds (like a waterfall) can mask negative sounds (like traffic noise), improving the quality of space experienced.
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Carmona, Matthew. “The Perceptual Dimension.� Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design. Oxford: Architectural, 2003. 87- 88. Print.
vision provides more information than the other senses combined active and searching - vision often carries the attention of the viewer hearing unlike vision, hearing is all-surrounding, has no obvious boundaries, and emphasizes space information poor, but emotionally rich smell not as well developed as vision or hearing, so even more information poor despite lacking strong information, it is arguably more emotionally powerful touch the least amount of influence compared to the previous three senses experience of texture comes through feet, through sitting in our environment, and temperature
identifying elements of city
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FORM
ACTIVITY EVENT | ACTION
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
PLACE
IMAGE EXPERIENCE | MEMORY
image - scale of movement experience of city and space Experience of a place is extremely related to the way one moves from point to point. The more reliant the individual can be on themself, the smaller the scale to create a similar network of connectivity. The faster the movement, the less localized the interaction can potentially be. Speed and scale of movement are thus connected to the experience and the perception of a place. Each mode of movement also isolates vision further and further from the other senses, providing more challenge to transitioning space into place.
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airplane train car (high speed) car (low speed) bike
foot
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I II 1 1 I I II II
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Speed dramatically affects the perception of space and the level of intimacy one can have with a space. When space cannot be perceived at the appropriate scale, place becomes impossible. The concentric rings of movement on the left demonstrate the difficulty of creating place the further away from the center. Assuming the typical speeds of each type of movement, the scale at which space is able to be connected physically varies.
identifying elements of city
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UNDERSTANDING SAINT LOUIS
The third element of placemaking, image, is the single most important element of place. It is how we define ourselves within the context we experience. Without memory of space, there is no personal tie to it. If this is the case, what can be said about a collective understanding of Saint Louis? This section examines several people’s perceptions of Saint Louis. Using the elements of city discussed in the previous section, common traits between maps show a more collective understanding of the city.
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These gestural mental maps of Saint Louis act as a telling sign of how individuals perceive and identify with the city. Though drawn with different levels of intensity, each map is defined first by road and geographic boundaries, then by terrirories and landmarks. Where the edges of the map or a lack of information exists, it can be inferred that there is a lack of personal identification with that space.
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understanding saint louis
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Experience Map 1 - As a Tourist This series of mappings represents a personal path through understanding Saint Louis. The map grows as the spaces become more familiar through the years of experiencing the city. Marking points on a map of the region, the city has been drawn as a series of connected points. Where there is no connection between areas, there is no significant memory or understanding of connections.
This introductory experience of Saint Louis shows a disconnected view of the tourist/ visitor. At this point in the experience of Saint Louis, being driven around causes the spaces between key moments to be relatively undiscovered. Visiting the school helped to establish the most memorable points on the map, as well as exploring the Central West End in efforts to find a living space. In both cases, spending the most time in these areas resulted in setting the stage for connections between the school and the Central West End.
understanding saint louis
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Experience Map 2 - Initial Local Being the first year of experiencing Saint Louis as a resident, the map has already expanded into a [mostly] connected condition. Some conditions are beginning to be made outside of the areas of familiarity. They are mostly related to shopping and eating.
Having a car plays a pivotal role in the connection of this map to this point, however it should be noted that some of the most connected areas on the map have been created without the use of the car. The connections on campus have expanded beyond the confines of the school of architecture and have moved into the main campus area. A site visit to the central field at Forest Park has made that space extremely familiar almost right away. Connections to various eateries, shopping, and friend’s apartments has played a key role in expanding the connections outward from a central core space.
understanding saint louis
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Experience Map 3 - 2012/13 This year begins to explore new connections to places that have previously been explored using primary routes. The scale of landmarks has changed to much more local conditions.
Exploration of the areas south of the interstates has connected Tower Grove Park with the network of personal place. At this point, a level of comfort has been reached that allows for wandering between areas of familiarity.
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Experience Map 4 - 2013/14 Moving to a new area of the city forced connections to be made north of the area considered familiar.
This year marked a move from living in the Central West End to an area north of Delmar. Site conditions surrounding the space limited exploration to the north, which tightened the area of everyday use. Much of the new connections this year came from filling in the spaces around already familiar space as a pedestrian. This triggered a considerably stronger connection to areas that have already been explored by vehicle. Of particular note is the golf course in the northwest portion of Forest Park.
understanding saint louis
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Experience Map 5 - Mid 2014 Mid 2014 was significant in that it marked a period that broke with the normal ownership of place seen thus far. Having two separate ‘personally identifiable places’ within the city triggered increased connection between the two zones.
Working in the Soulard neighborhood, the space quickly became an area of focus and familiarity. Having increased time for other activity in the areas previously for work, the field continued to expand as leisure incorporated itself into the existing network.
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Experience Map 5 - Late 2014/15 The final experience map sees very little expansion of the now familiar conditions of Saint Louis. Where there is dramatic change is in the mode of movement within the city.
The final experience map demonstrates the richness that is created by becoming a pedestrian in the city. Nearly all of Forest Park has become a ‘place of ownership’ by using the trail systems and parks, however that expansion has been limited by the conditions of the streets that contain the park.
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car versus pedestrian experience It is clearly evident that the car places restrictions on how interconnected the perception of a space can be. In the car, movement at the local scale can only happen in a linear fashion. This creates large gaps disconnecting the space. As a pedestrian, the ability to move in an unrestricted, non-linear manor expands the field and allows for better ownership of space. Considering the senses, it comes as no surprise that the pedestrian’s experience is less isolated in terms of sound, smell, and touch. These exposures, while not necessarily creating place, set up the pedestrian experience as more conducive to placemaking conditions.
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EXAMINING SAINT LOUIS
Is Saint Louis a space for cars or a place for pedestrians? It can be gathered that a condition of ‘hot spots’ exist in Saint Louis, connected by a substantial amount of placeless voidspace. This can be credited to the history of development and the politics of the city. While the car physically connects spaces, it also creates problematic conditions for pedestrians. The car also dramatically changes the quality of the experience of a space in way that it becomes challenging to transition from space to place. This section explores the history and documents the conditions that trigger problems for pedestrian usage. In addition, it also examines several pedestrian ‘hot spot’ areas.
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the loop, delmar boulevard
central west end, euclid avenue
?
? ?
midtown, grand boulevard
?
?
downtown, washington avenue
? ?
the grove, manchester road
?
?
?
?
?
? soulard, south 9th street
south city, south grand boulevard south city, cherokee street
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stl development history Development in Saint Louis has revolved around the concept of westward expansion since its founding. Despite the final boundary of Saint Louis being created when the city unincorporated, large populations of people continued to move west outside of the city and into the county. With Saint Louis City’s population in decline, the tax base thinned and the city was spread too thin. This has had many negative implications for the city. In order for the city to maintain its economy, the city increasingly became reliant on the car to bring workers into and out of the city. Becoming car-centric, the pedestrian ‘hot spot’ centers of the city have become isolated in a generally placeless void.
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1780
1876
present
1837
1870
examining saint louis
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road speed and the effect on pedestrians The speed of roads poses a problem to pedestrians in Saint Louis. The faster the car movement, the greater the disconnect experienced by the pedestrian along the street. The field of experience is limited to the portion of public space that the car does not occupy. This also unbalances the density of people to the intersections where crossing is permitted. These points become more significant spaces for pedestrian ownership, as evidenced by how people gather and occupy corner conditions. When the road slows down, pedestrians are able to more freely take ownership of road space. This also has the effect of more evenly distrubuting the use of the sidewalk. The corner condition loses some of its significance, meaning the whole street can become activated.
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Carmona, Matthew. “The Morpholgical Dimension.� Public Places, Urban Spaces: The Dimensions of Urban Design. Oxford: Architectural, 2003. 76- 77. Print.
HIGH SPEED
LOW SPEED
MOVEMENT
DISTRUBUTION
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voidspace generators Saint Louis poses problems of disconnection for pedestrian usage at various locations throughout the city. High speed roads and their supporting access roads become overwhelming boundaries that oppose the success of Saint Louis as a conducive condition for personal placemaking. Parking areas increase the emphasis that Saint Louis is focused on being a car-centric place. Many of these problematic roads exist in the voidspaces, and perpetuate the disconnection due to their high speed. A common theme among many of the void spaces is the speed of the car. These roads are mostly through roads... wide, fast and loud. Further, spaces between these roads are highly dedicated to the parking of the car, rather than the use as pedestrian space.
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examining saint louis
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interstates 44 and 55, historic route 66
example voidspace generators
interstate 64 south of ballpark
interstate 70 north of downtown
cass avenue, north 14th street
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interstate 64 and clayton road
examining saint louis
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interstate 64 and compton, south of slu
example voidspace generators
manchester avenue over industrial infrastructure
interstate 64 and kingshighway
interstate 64 and hampton
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interstate 64 and 170
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observing streetlife: a promenade along cherokee street As an examplary condition of the effects of high speed transit and slower pedestrian-friendly speeds, a walk along Cherokee street and across Jefferson Avenue was informative to reinforcing the need for improved conditions in Saint Louis. Cherokee Street is located in the southern portion of Saint Louis, and is a major generator of public space as of very recent. Because of its separation from other more affluent areas of the city, it is currently thriving as a counterculture destination with grassroots restaurants, bars, and retail space. Straddling Jefferson Avenue, Cherokee Street has two definitive areas: to the east is antique row, a quiet and very locally driven community with several coffee shops and restaurants. On the west, a very latino and artist based community of strongly local restaurants and bars, with some mixed in retail shops. The area is currently undergoing a large transformation of development, particulary in the western section. A mixture of slow pedestrian traffic, low cost of rent, and moderate vacancy has helped the area gather developmental momentum.
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Entering the cafe, nearly every seat is taken. On this cool spring day, it seems the mild weather isn’t enough to draw people outside.
The journey begins here, at the corner where Mudhouse Coffee sits. The street is lined with cars and a few bicycles, but people are nowhere to be found. It was too nice out to stay inside. Taking the coffee to go, I went to discover what mid Sunday activity along Cherokee Street was like.
A few dog walkers have passed me by, but I’ve noticed that most of the scarce foot traffic consists of people moving from shop to shop.
Coming closer to the major bisecting intersection, pedestrian activity halts. A few people timidly cross the uncomfortable boundary of Jefferson Avenue. A car running a red light reinforces the chaotic atmosphere.
The contrast created by the divide of Jefferson is even more apparent after crossing over the ‘edge’. Grassroots bars, restaurants, and boutique shops develop the character of this side of Cherokee Street. Restaurants and bars encroach on public domain with outdoor interaction. The widened sidewalk spaces encourage pedestrian occupation outside, and it’s working.
Larger, more family oriented Mexican restaurants seem to battle for presence with the spaces I walked past just moments ago. There’s a tension between the communities that is hard to tangibly grasp. At this corner, the neighborhood seems to date itself to before the ‘new age’ grassroots development. Vacant spaces are quickly being snatched up and rebuilt into something new. The pedestrians are active community builders, dedicated to a future in this place.
examining saint louis
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FROM SPACE TO PLACE: WHERE? While the city as a whole remains fragmented and ‘placeless’, there are certain hot spots that have been generators of place. In these areas, each hot spot has developed a unique character and culture largely due to their ability to attract and continue attracting public interest. As a whole, they are more pedestrian friendly spaces compared to the ‘placeless’ areas that are not filled in on the map. Is it possible to tap into the attraction to these areas to begin reconnecting the city as pedestrian friendly? What is it about these areas that makes them noteworthy?
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What can architecture do to encourage the growth of these hot spots?
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criteria for a site: proximity between hot spots Slowing high speed corridors between two hot spots can help encourage the expansion of pedestrian place. There are many spaces where this void condition exists, but few (if any) can operate at a truly architectural scale, rendering any architectural design impossibly large. Any intervention would have to take into consideration the combination of urban design, landscape, and architectural moves. That being said, it can remain in the realm of architecture between several hot spots within Saint Louis. The void space between hot spots highlighted in red has been considered worthy of further examination for an architectural intervention. At these points, the scale, while large, could become much more walkable between hot spots, and thus begin to connect spaces.
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delmar
2.5 mi central west end 2.5 mi 1.75 mi 1 mi
midtown/ slu
2.5 mi
1 mi
downtown
3 mi 3 mi
the grove 3 mi 3.5 mi
3.5 mi
1.5 mi
1.75 mi
1 mi
1.5 mi
soulard
south grand cherokee
from space to place: where?
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site option - south grand and cherokee hot spots The first option for connection is to connect Cherokee and South Grand across Route 66. The length of connective corridor between the two spaces is roughly 5,000 feet. Between the two hot spots are a substantial amount of residential property. The area is mostly developed, with some vacancy along Route 66. While the road does not need to be slowed, it presents an opportunity for the focus of intervention at the most high speed point where crossing Route 66, which represents the high speed barrier.
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south grand
route 66
residential residential
cherokee street
schnucks
residential
from space to place: where?
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site option - the grove and midtown/slu hot spots The second option is the connection between The Grove and Saint Louis University - Midtown. The length of the road between these two hot spots is roughly 3,500 feet, making it the closest possible connection between two pedestrian places in the city of Saint Louis. This area poses several challenges dealing with various levels of infrastructure, industrial space, and underutilized land, some of which is being developed. Various housing developments are being built near the SLU campus, as well as the Ikea Furniture supercenter.
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forest park parkway
slu - midtown commercial
interstate 64 and train lines
industrial the grove
manchester avenue
from space to place: where?
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final site choice - vandeventer avenue The major north south road connecting the two hot spots is Vandeventer Avenue. Desiging an intervention along this road can begin to slow the car and introduce pedestrian movement to connect the pedestrian areas of The Grove and SLU/ Midtown. These conditions create a near ideal test bed for a large scale architectural intervention, and was thus chosen for further exploration.
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AY HW
HIG
AY ILW
RA
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SIT
to midtown/ central west end Saint Louis University
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HIG
ED SPE
N RIA EST
AD RO
EAS
AR
ED
P KEY Forest Park Parkway IKEA Shopping Center Metrolink
North
Interstate 64
Freight Railways
to the grove
from space to place: where?
Vandeventer Avenue Manchester Avenue
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exploring the site Beginning at the north edge of the site, SLU is to the east. Residential development is happening across the street, some of which is new construction. A vacant lot still exists, however the area is being rapidly developed, thanks to the promise of sctivity that Saint Louis University can offer, in addition to the development of the IKEA center.
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SLU
renovated housing and vacant lot new construction
from space to place: where?
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exploring the site Continuing across Forest Park Parkway, the east has a fire station and industrial facility. To the west is a key development that will be certain to bring attention to Saint Louis at a large scale: the IKEA supercenter. Besides the economic implications of the IKEA, this level of development will further generate more construction around it, for better or worse. Exploiting this attention and development energy could theoretically be vital to the success of connecting Midtown and The Grove.
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IKEA fire station and industrial facility
from space to place: where?
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exploring the site Crossing under several lines of infrastructure, the site becomes defined by this barrier between the hot spots. While the spaces on either side are similar, the infrastructure represents a psychological boundary and point of reference in Saint Louis. The vehicular movment begins to pick up speed as one approaches the infrastructure. This position has the potential for a metrolink connection to the rest of the city, and could thus be designed into any potential intervention.
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train lines and high speed interstate industrial sites, possible metrolink access
from space to place: where?
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exploring the site At this point, the vehicular movement is particularly fast. It would be crucial in a design that the car is slowed down considerably along this portion of the road. On the east side of Vandeventer is one of the city’s cab services. On the west, several smaller businesses that appear to be junkyards and scrapping facilities. Some vacant spaces exist in between automotive businesses. There is very little of interest to the pedestrian in this portion of Vandeventer.
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vacant, industrial and commercial spaces
taxi maintenance and lots
from space to place: where?
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exploring the site Now along the southern third of the site, the west has some vacant industrial facilities. The road is still very fast and uncomfortable to walk along as a pedestrian. The stretch is still very car oriented, as can be indicated by the gas station and service centers lining the street. gas station and repair center
heavy industrial facilities
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from space to place: where?
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exploring the site In the final portion of the site, cars begin to slow down again, due to the major intersections with an onramp, and with Manchester Road. Despite being slower, constant traffic and high levels of noise do not necessarily equate to more pedestrians. The intersections now lead to The Grove, or to a crossing over freight train lines. At the entry of the grove lies a large vacant plot, some of which is being developed as a parking lot.
major interstate 64 onramp/offramp gas station
the grove entry, vacant plot
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freight train lines
from space to place: where?
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FROM SPACE TO PLACE: HOW? Given the scale of the proposed area of site, as well as the problem it intends to tackle, how exactly does this project operate at a scale within the responsibilities of architecture? By outlining the objectives of the design, examining several precedent interventions, and understanding the qualities required to create place. The intent is to to clarify architecture’s role within the 3,500 feet of road between the two hot spots, and understand how the space between the architecture is equally as significant in the performance of the design as the building is itself.
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key corridor considerations SLOW THE CAR DOWN!!!
key site area considerations BE SITUATIED ALONG (ON TOP OF?) THE ROAD CORRIDOR
LINK THE GROVE TO SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY - MIDTOWN ESTABLISH THE SIGNIFICANCE AS A PEDESTRIAN CORRIDOR USE CREATIVE DESIGN TO OFFER SOMETHING PEOPLE HAVEN’T EXPERIENCED
INVITE THE GENERATION OF PLACE USING THE TRIAD OF REQUIREMENTS FOR PLACE COGNITION
OFFER INTUITIVE WAYFINDING VIA SIGNAGE OR PHYSICAL CUES
LEVERAGE THE INDUSTRIAL CHARACTER OF THE CORRIDOR
MAKE MOVEMENT PART OF THE EVENT OF EXPERIENCE
SEEMLESS TRANSITIONS FROM BUILDING TO PUBLIC SPACE TO ROAD
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urban design at the architecture scale: urban accupuncture Using small scale interventions to transform the larger urban context, Urban Accupuncture is intended to produce socially catalytic projects that relieve stress in the built environment. It can operate at the arhictectural scale. Rather than taking on a large scale urban renewal type project, Urban Accupuncture promotes design more delicate and localized, with a community approach that allows a certain degree of freedom to the inhabitants. By focusing on small, subtle, bottom-up interventions that harness direct community energy, Urban Accupuncture appeals to both citizen-activists, and cash strapped communities.
Goodyear, Sarah. “Urban Acupuncture for a Healthier City.” Grist. N.p., 22 July 2011. Web. 04 May 2015. Comuna 13 Escalators. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Apr. 2015.
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Quirk, Vanessa. “Urban Agriculture Part III: Towards an Urban “Agri-puncture”.” Urban Agriculture Part III: Towards an Urban “Agri-puncture”. Arch Daily, 1 June 2012. Web. 11 Apr. 2015.
These escalators, running through some of the highest crime areas of the city of Medellin, Colombia, help connect the neighborhood to the rest of the city. Crime has dramatically lowered with small urban acupuncture projects like this example.
from space to place: how?
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case study: pedibus - firenze This project demonstrates the ability for small scale urban design and architecture to regenerate public space, and slow down the car to pedestrian friendly speeds. Pedibus, located in the Oltrarno Quarter of Florence, was a problematic area of the city in terms of traffic movement. As a point for children to be picked up for school, there was a need for creating a more pedestrian friendly condition. The car needed to be more forcefull slowed, as speed limits were clearly not enough to make the area safen particularly for children. While not altering the road condition, the design takes advantage of road regulations, signage, parking, traffic limitations, widening sidewalks, and ramps.
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“INTERVENTION BY SPOT-PROJECTS: URBAN ACUPUNCTURE AS A PUBLIC SPACE REGENERATION STRATEGY.� Archello.com. Studiostudio Architettiurbanisti, 30 July 2013. Web. 08 Apr. 2015.
from space to place: how?
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case study: proxy - san francisco Where San Francisco’s Central Freeway once stood, two lots in Hayes Valley were assumed to remain undeveloped for the foreseeable future. Proxy creates a community asset in a space that would otherwise provide little of value. Seen as a ‘placeholder for a more permanent building’, Proxy is a project that was conceived to occupy these vacant sites with temporary habitiations of retail, restaurant, art gallery, garden, and other community-based uses that add to the richness and diversity of Hayes Valley. Local businesses and vendors will comprise the retail spaces in portable ‘pop-up’ style pods. At approximately 180 square feet, the spaces can be individually used or combined to create larger spaces for tenants. It is envisioned that several different businesses and community groups will inhabit the spaces over the course of the lifespan of Proxy. An interior courtyard exterior movie theatre creates and enclosed volume for covered eating and gathering areas. The space links with art installation curated by local curators, gallery owners, and collectors.
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“PROXY.” EnvelopeA+D, 2011. Web. 02 Apr. 2015.
from space to place: how?
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FROM SPACE TO PLACE: WHAT? Given a site and a strategy for designing, what space makes sense to tie everything together into an architecture that helps generate place? Coming back to the triad required for placemaking, activity/ event are crucial to complimenting the form to create a positive memory of place. While not easily quantifiable, the sense of spirit of a place is likened to a brand, in terms of quality, consistency, and reliability. With this in mind, what can accomplish all of these things, all while familiar to the cultural ties of the city?
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AMNESIC [did something occur?]
FORM
ACTIVITY EVENT | ACTION
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
PLACE
NOMADIC
IMAGE
UNPROLIFIC
[can occur anywhere]
EXPERIENCE | MEMORY
[deserted space]
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brewing and architecture - craft brewing and a sense of place Both architecture and beer are products of science and art. As a science, they both have physical challenges. There are ingredients and components, methods and restraints. Understanding how they become made is vital to the proper creation of their concepts. As an art, both require passion and dedication to achieve their respective goals. Craftsmanship and process are familiar and honored in both. Their respective final products become pieces of the creators; something worthy of pride... an expression of belief and of identity. Both represent symbols of culture, historically and socially. With the current craft brewing trend rising above the large scale, homogenized brew styles, it’s becoming apparent that there is a drive to create a sense of community and place through the process of brewing. This sort of energy is exactly what is needed to create a sense of place in the voidspaces of Saint Louis.
“Why Beer? Why Architecture?” Misi-Ziibi Beer. Comp. Derek Hoeferlin. Saint Louis: n.p., 2015. 3. Print.
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“Why Brew?” Misi-Ziibi Beer. Comp. Derek Hoeferlin. Saint Louis: n.p., 2015. 82 - 83. Print.
u.s. brewing industry picture
Largest Current Craft Breweries Craft Breweries Opened 2012 Fastest Growing Breweries 1900
1930
1960
1990 2403
2011 403 from 2012 - 2013
1179
CRAFT BREWERIES
703
89 prohibition
from space to place: what?
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saint louis - a history of brewing Lager (n)
(German: storage) a type of beer that is fermented and conditioned at low temperatures
the most commonly consumed and commercially available style of beer
In the early 1800’s, many Germans immigrated to mid-western America looking for new opportunities. As a key part of their heritage, they brought brewing Lager over with them. Requiring a specific cool environment for brewing, the Germans found the ideal brewing environment in the consistently cool cave system below Saint Louis. Brewing in Saint Louis began in the late 1830’s with the Lemp Brewery, which would be a catalyst for the identity of the city. Brewing would grow to become a large part of the Saint Louis economy. Some, like the Lemp Brewery, would fail to make it past prohibition, while others, like Anheiser-Busch, would continue the tradition of brewing in Saint Louis through to present day. “Lager.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 29 Apr. 2015. Web. 2 May 2015.
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“Why History?” Misi-Ziibi Beer. Comp. Derek Hoeferlin. Saint Louis: n.p., 2015. 28-38. Print.
Location of Caves
from space to place: what?
Pre-Prohibition and Post-Prohibition Brewery Locations
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brewing as a social generator Beyond brewing as part of the identity/brand of Saint Louis, brewing has a social aspect that allows it to function as a generator of social activity. In Saint Louis, beer festivals are particularly popular, especially in the Tower Grove neighborhood. As a generator of place, this sort of collective interest from the public is vital to the concept of creating memorable event. Given the long list of festivals, history of breweries, and culture of the city, it is justifiable to believe that brewery and brewing are a tangible brand of Saint Louis.
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“Beer Festivals in St. Louis� Misi-Ziibi Beer. Comp. Derek Hoeferlin. Saint Louis: n.p., 2015. 48 - 49. Print.
INDIHOP (and other brewery events)
M
M
4
P G G S
F
4 Hands 6 Row Ferguson Gustine Market Cathedral Square Morgan Street O’Fallon Perennial Schlafly
4 O
The Grove
U
Cherokee Street
S 4 O
F O
C
from space to place: what?
M G O
4
C
U
U
CS
P
6
F
M 6
6
6
6
S
U
FP C
S
S
S O
4
F
MU
C
S
january cabin fever burn night february cod & cask centennial beer march stout & oyster april repeal of prohibition may stl microfest indihop june stl brewers heritage july belgian beer & mussel september art outside hop in the city autumn green october fresh hop soulard oktoberfest december schlafly beer anniversary party black velvet and bluegrass
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the process of brewing - understanding the craft mashing - convert starch to sugar the process in which malted grains (ex: barley) are steeped in hot water for about one hour, which turns the grain’s starches into sugar, resulting in a sugary tea- like solution called wort brew - boil wort and add hops hops (along with other flavors) are added at various times throughout the brewing duration to provide different flavors (early hops for bitterness, middle hops for flavor, late hops for aroma) ferment - convert sugars to alcohol wort cools down as it travels from brew kettler to fermenting tank, where yeast is added and breaks down sugars into alcohol over a given period of time package - beer to bottle/can/keg the final stage, beer is filled into a vessel for distribution and consumption
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“Why Process?� Misi-Ziibi Beer. Comp. Derek Hoeferlin. Saint Louis: n.p., 2015. 56 - 63. Print.
mash tun
TIME REQUIRED
60 minutes
brew kettle fermenting tank bottle/can/keg
0.2 barrels (aprx 5 gallons)
MICROBREW
MACROBREW
30 barrels
3000 barrels
1’ x 2’ x 2’
60 minutes
from space to place: what?
HOMEBREW
0.2 barrels (aprx 5 gallons)
7’ x 7’ x 12’
30 barrels
1’ x 1’ x 2’
7 - 10 days (ale) 2 - 3 weeks (lager)
6 - 8 hours
640 barrels
7’ x 7’ x 12’
0.2 barrels (aprx 5 gallons)
30 barrels
6000 barrels
1’ x 1’ x 2’
8’ x 8’ x 18’
20’ x 20’ x 60’
manual bottling 5 per minute
semi-automatic 20 per minute
automated 1300 per minute
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typical brewery program From homebrewing to global corporation, breweries come in a wide range of scales. Of the 2,538 breweries in the United States today, the majority of those are microbreweries. Despite this, they only account for the production of about 7% of all beer. This implies more of a focus on the experience of beer and its connection to place rather than creating a large profit margin, or brewing something that is generic enough to permit its ubiquity. Beyond the factory and industrial program, many breweries also reinforce the sense of event through commercial social space. In many cases, this is where they profit enough to sustain the ability to brew. Listed here are several of the most frequently seen programs.
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0.63%
4.26%
10.2%
12.9%
13.9%
32.2%
43.1%
museum
gift shop
tap room
live music
tour
full bar
restaurant
“Why Culture?� Misi-Ziibi Beer. Comp. Derek Hoeferlin. Saint Louis: n.p., 2015. 50 - 53. Print.
of 2,538 breweries...
24
31
97
1,221
1,165
MACRO BREWERY
CONTRACT BREWERY
REGIONAL BREWERY
MICRO BREWERY
BREWPUBS
A large national or international brewery that produces and distributes a sizeable amount of beer
A brewery that hires another brewery to produce additional beer
A brewery with an annual beer production of between 15,000 and 6,000,000 barrels.
A brewery that produces a limited amount of beer. Less than 15,000 barrels of beer per year with 75% or more of its beer sold off-site
A restaurant-brewery that sells 25% or more of its beer on site
More than 15,000 barrels of beer year
restaurant
29.2%
no data
30.9%
11.6%
75.5%
full bar
no data
48.4%
80.4%
8.52%
52.9%
tour
29.2%
16.1%
62.9%
16.1%
7.38%
live music
no data
19.4%
12.4%
6.22%
20.4%
tap room
8.33%
9.68%
23.7%
15.2%
4.38%
gift shop
29.2%
9.68%
16.5%
2.62%
4.38%
museum
29.2%
9.68%
1.03%
0.16%
0.26%
from space to place: what?
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examining saint louis microbreweries The four breweries to the right represent some of the mid to large size microbrews in Saint Louis. Ranging from about 5,000 to 15,000 square feet, each one has on site brew facilities and restaurants. Programmatically, the main entrance is aligned with a patio space (if applicable), or into a tasting room/bar space. In each case, roughly half of the square footage is dedicated to the production of beer, and the other half split between restaurant and kitchen. Interestingly, Six Row’s production takes place in a building directly south of the social space. Whether by choice or not, this creates less of an integrated experience for the consumer.
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Main Entrance Patron Circulation Distribution Circulation Taste Rm, Bar, Kitchen & Restroom Brew House, Packaging & Distribution Biergarten, Patio Building Core / BOH Existing Building
“Why Scale?” Misi-Ziibi Beer. Comp. Derek Hoeferlin. Saint Louis: n.p., 2015. 113 - 135. Print.
Perennial Artisan Ales
4 Hands Brewing Co.
Location
Location
Square Footage Annual Production Program
8125 Michigan Ave St Louis, MO 63111 14,000 SF 2,500 Barrels Restaurant Bar Brew House Patio
Square Footage Annual Production Program
1220 S 8th St St Louis, MO 63104 15,000 SF 6,000 Barrels Restaurant Bar Brew House
The Civil Life Brewing Co.
Six Row Brewing Co.
Location
Location
Square Footage Annual Production Program
3714 Holt Ave St. Louis, MO 631 16 7,000 SF 6,000 Barrels Restaurant & Bar Brew House
from space to place: what?
Square Footage Annual Production Program
3690 Forest Park Ave St. Louis, MO 63108 4,500 SF 1, 200 Barrels Restaurant Bar Brew House
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examining saint louis regional breweries Operating at more of a regional scale, the two breweries to the right both have multiple sites in the city in order to meet the demands as both a local and regional asset. In these cases, the entrances are off of public spaces, with tasting rooms and biergartens located ajacent to them. Because these facilities are more focused on production, the space that is dedicated to brewing is around 75% of the square footage. Both of these companies have plants for production and more social public gathering points, with Schlafly leaning more towards the production of brewing rather than as a pure social amenity to the community.
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Main Entrance Patron Circulation Distribution Circulation Taste Rm, Bar, Kitchen & Restroom Brew House, Packaging & Distribution Biergarten, Patio Building Core / BOH Existing Building
“Why Scale?� Misi-Ziibi Beer. Comp. Derek Hoeferlin. Saint Louis: n.p., 2015. 113 - 135. Print.
Urban Chestnut Brewery and Bierhall Location Square Footage Annual Production Program
4465 Manchester Ave St Louis, MO 63110 75,000 SF 6,500 Barrels Bar Brew House Bier Hall Kitchen
Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.
Schlafly Bottleworks
Location
Location
Square Footage Annual Production Program
3229 Washington Ave St Louis, MO 63103 10,000 SF 6,500 Barrels Restaurant Bar Brew House Biergarten
from space to place: what?
Square Footage Annual Production Program
7260 Southwest Ave St. Louis, MO 63143 23,000 SF 60,000 Barrels Restaurant Bar Brew House Tasting Room
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examining saint louis macrobrewery One of the most famous breweries in the world, Anheiser Busch is a lager beer macrobrewery that has been a pivotal player in the industrial picture of Saint Louis.
Main Entrance Patron Circulation
It is both a tourist destination and an industrial economic generator for the region. However, it lacks the sort of place generating power that a more local microbrewery possesses due to its corporate campus feel, and factory line methodology. Given the sheer scale of production at the facility, it is clear that the focus is on beer production rather than the social aspects of beer drinking. Any social component to the facility can be viewed as an afterthought.
Distribution Circulation Taste Rm, Bar, Kitchen & Restroom Brew House, Packaging & Distribution Biergarten, Patio Building Core / BOH Existing Building
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“Why Scale?� Misi-Ziibi Beer. Comp. Derek Hoeferlin. Saint Louis: n.p., 2015. 113 - 135. Print.
Anheiser Busch, Inc Location Square Footage Annual Production Program
1200 Lynch St St Louis, MO 63118 6,185,520 SF (142 Acres) 15.8 Million Barrels Restaurant Biergarten Museum Gift Shop Brew Houses Bottling Facility Horse Stable Credit Union Offices Fitness Center BERS
from space to place: what?
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DESIGN PROPOSAL As a social generator, the idea of utilizing this site with an interactive brew-road-path becomes memorable as a place for gathering to drink, to interact with the process of brewing, and to work (and see those who work) in the process of brewing. The intention of any design will be to take advantage of the corridor connecting SLU and The Grove by elongating and blurring the conventional conditions of road-park-building. Engaging the road is vital to removing the overpowering effects of the speed of automobiles, and provides an opportunity to engage car movement as part of the experience of brewing. With the car slowed down, pedestrians can begin to take ownership of the ground space. Creating a walkable path between points of building should loosely follow the road condition and expand and contract to provide areas for the varios types of social interaction that might be found in a brewery program.
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WHY STREET? promotion of a shared experience stl is car-reliant and will continue to be roads can be an amenity, not a hinderance
WHY BREWERY? stl is a proud brewing city brewing & stl - blue collar culture connection to community represents a social and industrial process
WHY PARK? public pedestrian space ownership of exterior space conditions abundant opportunity for events increases pedestrian activity
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proposed program and square footage reqirements The proposed design will be of a regional scale brewery. At this scale, the capacity for production can still tie directly into the community, while providing an amenity that can be understood by the city and region. Urban Chestnut and Schlafly are both regional breweries in Saint Louis. Looking at their ratios, a rough estimate of spatial requirements can be proposed. Because the two breweries differ in their objectives, a bias has been given toward Urban Chestnut. They represent a better model for combining the social and industrial aspects of brewing, thus approximating their ratios gives a closer estimate to what will actually be necessary for the design.
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T
uce
97
1,221
1,165
REGIONAL BREWERY
MICRO BREWERY
BREWPUBS
A brewery with an annual beer production of between 15,000 and 6,000,000 barrels.
A brewery that produces a limited amount of beer. Less than 15,000 barrels of beer per year with 75% or more of its beer sold off-site
A restaurant-brewery that sells 25% or more of its beer on site
urban chestnut
schlafly
design proposal (target 15,000 barrels)
85,000 sf
35,000 sf
100,000 sf
barrels produced
6,500 barrels
60,000 barrels
15,000 barrels
production per sf
0.076 barrels per sf
1.714 barrels per sf
0.15 barrels per sf
28,000 sf
9,000 sf
30,000 sf
33%
26%
30%
51,000 sf
24,500 sf
65,000 sf
60%
70%
65%
misc.**
6,000 sf
1,500 sf
5,000 sf
misc. %
7%
4%
5%
sf (combined )
public* public % brew house brew house %
design proposal
* includes taste room, bar, kitchen, patios ** includes bathrooms, offices, etc.
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to be continued...
design proposal
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