Transforming The Interstices Positive Alternatives to Promote Heterotopian Lives
Design Thinking Fall 2020 Jingwen He Washington University in St. Louis Professor: Zeuler Lima FA: Douglis Beck 1
2
CONTENTS PREMISE 16-25
SITE 26-35
PROGRAM 36-47
CASE STUDY 48-65
PROPOSAL 66-93
3
The Heterotopia
Original Source: Acrylic Paintings by surrealist artist Jacek Yerka
Brought about by philosopher Michel Foucault, heterotopia describes certain cultural, institutional and discursive spaces that are somehow different: disturbing, intense, incompatible, contradictory or transforming.
4
Las Meninas Artist: Diego Velรกzquez Year : 1656 Medium: Oil on canvas 5
Heterotopian Instances
Farmland is heterotopia in the desert
A public toilet in Amsterdam
6
“ships, cemeteries, bars, brothels, prisons, gardens of antiquity, fairs, Muslims baths and many more”
Attica Prison riot, New York, United States, 1971
Le Corbusier - Aménagement de Paquebot Ile de France, 1936
Panopticon by Jeremy Bentham
7
Typical Heterotopian Communities in St. Louis Cherokee Street
Latino-owned Business Prosperous; Diverse Infusion of Different Streetscape: Art spaces, Blank spaces, Storefronts, Parks,etc; Historic Development of Hispanic Community. 8
9
https://explorestlouis.com/st-louis-neighborhood-spotlight-cherokee-street/
http://stlouispatina.com/cherokee-street/
10
11
Manchester Avenue
Growing Commercial District Bringing Energy to Its Diverse Community; Home To Several LGBT Friendly Businesses; Diverse Range of Businesses Available: Bars, Nightclubs, Restaurants and Shops. 12
13
http://www.thegrovestl.com/
https://sailingstonetravel.com/street-art-st-louis/
14
15
PREMISE
16
Targeted Heterotopian Group: the LGBTQ Community
Human Rights Campaign, https://www.hrc.org/
Ronnie Lugo, http://www.google.com/maps/place/Rehab+Bar+And+Grill/
17
18
Heterotopia refers to spaces or phenomena that belong to “the other” or “the alien”. The heterotopian neighbourhoods where the minorities choose to live are currently undergoing gentrification. By making use of the local interstices within heterotopian communities, the proposed architectural intervention might help to accentuate the heterotopian identity as well as improving the lives of the entire community.
19
https://www.cultura.gob.ar/michel-foucault-un-critico-de-la-normalidad-9175/
“There are also, probably in every culture, in every civilization, real places—places that do exist and that are formed in the very founding of society— which are something like counter-sites, a kind of effectively enacted utopia in which the real sites, all the other real sites that can be found within the culture, are simultaneously represented, contested, and inverted. Places of this kind are outside of all places, even though it may be possible to indicate their location in reality. Because these places are absolutely different from all the sites that they reflect and speak about, I shall call them, by way of contrast to utopias, heterotopias.” -------------Michel Foucault, ‘Of Other Spaces: Utopias and
Heterotopias’ 20
http://www.gmcstl.org/complete-the-season.html
In a nutshell, heterotopias are worlds within worlds, mirroring and yet distinguishing themselves from what is outside. In physical social reality, the heterotopia primarily takes on as a set of phenomena, which involved subjects living outside of typical norms, such as minorities, marginalized groups.
21
The Grove’s Diverse Community
Flickr / Todd Dwyer
The Hipsters
The African-Americans https://sailingstonetravel.com/street-art-st-louis/
22
https://northarrowcreative.com/engagement-guide-what-to-wear/tips-suggestions/attachment/st-louis-missouri-gay-wedding-photography-the-grove-sweet-divine-engagement_0028/
PrideFest in Tower Grove last year. - ALEXIS HITT / RFT SLIDESHOW
The LGBTQ Culture
23
https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-texas-bathroom-bill.html
The LGBTQ members were protesting in the exterior rotunda at the Texas state capitol
The purpose of the memorial is to provide a space to mourn the loss of transgender people(which is one branch of the LGBTQ community)
LGBT people across the country continue to experience pervasive discrimination that negatively impacts all aspects of their lives. In response, LGBT people make subtle but profound changes to their everyday lives to minimize the risk of experiencing discrimination, often hiding their authentic selves. 24
25
SITE
https://explorestlouis.com/things-to
26
o-do/neighborhoods/the-grove/
MANCHESTER AVENUE
27
28
The Grove located between Tower Grove and Chouteau avenues is the epicenter for St. Louis’ LGBTQ minorities, whose lives are mostly hidden and marginalized by social norms. Interstitial space along Manchester Ave might provide architectural potentials to enhance their heterotopian identity for local residents as well as new comers and keep the entire neighbourhood continuously vibrant.
29
Murals as street art to express the diverse urban lives as well as th
30
he heterotopian existence
31
Site Analysis---The Grove
32
33
Existing Interstitial Space
The interstitial Space refers to urban conditions of void or vacant lots that exists outs case, those empty interstices of the Grove are mostly neglected by economic forces, o senting as negative factors of the thriving neighbourhood.
34
side of the city’s productive area. In this or in the process of transformation, pre-
35
PROGRAM
36
The Grove Fest: Iconic event to celebrate heterotopian features
https://explorestlouis.com/things-to-do/neighborhoods/the-grove/
37
38
The proposed architectural program is supposed to locally site the main architecture in the existing vacant lots to support the essential living patterns of the community, while utilizing the interstices to create some pop-up instances in order to create the corresponding cultural sensations of minority groups and promote the heterotopian distinctions to gain more public awareness as well as being more inclusive within social fabrics.
39
40
41
Potential Analysis The Grove Fest
-Fest occurs just annually; -Lack of permanent space for installations and to store props; -Lack of interactive platforms for local artists to express ideas; -Missing oriented accommodations for both art performers and visitors.
Programming Promotions
(deliver the heterotopian distinctions to the public while still maintaining the seminal roughness of culture) -Primary Theatre for art performance; -Pop-up theatrical installations; -Hostels.
42
https://explorestlouis.com/things-to-do/neighborhoods/the-grove/
43
Existing Programs
Restaurants
44
Barber Shops
Bars
Shops
Musics
Post Office /Architectural Firm
Residence and others
45
Siting Strategies
Option 1: The proposed art theatre and hotel buildings are situated in one place as a conglomerate; (Isolated Proposal)
46
Option 2: The proposed theatre and hotel as well as pop-up installations are disseminated in several interstices along Manchester Street. (Infills Proposal)
47
CASE STUDY
48
49
50
Theatre Projections
-Flexibility in the theatre -Temporary theatres -Theatres in found spaces -Theatres as community spaces
51
THE YARD AT CHICAGO SHAKESPEARE
Nine audience seating towers, each the size of a London double-decker bus on end, can be rearranged in 12 different configurations, with audience capacities ranging from 150 to 850. Compressed air skid technology used in the aeronautical industry lifts each of the 15.8 tonne towers marginally off the ground on a bed of air, allowing them to be moved by a three-person team.
Architect: Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture; James Steinkamp Photography https://www.charcoalblue.com/projects/the-yard-at-chicago-shakespeare-theater
52
St. Ann’s Warehouse
Program: - Main flexible presenting theater space - Control booth and seating rake - Small studio theater space - Public lobby and foyer - Public restrooms - Dressing rooms - Administrative offices
- To create an open and flexible a space as possible, all non-performance space program was concentrated into a plywood-clad bar of spaces on the long side of the existing building separating the main space from the triangular garden space leaving everything else open - Exposed structural steel catwalks were designed for the entire building to create a ceiling datum and provide the flexibility of being able to have a performance anywhere in the space Architect: Marvel Architects; Photographs https://www.archdaily.com/922616/st-anns-warehouse-marvel-architects
53
The Container Globe
-A moveable venue based on Shakespeare’s original Globe theater, built from repurposed shipping containers. -Designed as a theatre in the round, huge crowds could stand as close as possible to the action, with it not uncommon for spectators to leap on stage to join the scripted brawls, sword fights and moments of high drama. -The galleries, stage and backstage areas will all be created using stacked and fastened shipping containers, scaffolding and other readily-available building materials, and the theatre will have a demountable base.
The Container Globe: www.patronicity.com/globe
54
Storyhouse, Chester, UK
Storyhouse is a large, mixed-use cultural building in Chester, England, which opened in May 2017. The complex includes a theatre, cinema, restaurant and the city library. The variety of uses is important, because it has to be open all day if the organisation that runs it is to make enough revenue, support ticket prices and create a lively public venue for the city.
Architect: Bennetts Associates, Photographs: Peter Cook https://www.archdaily.com/871151/storehouse-bennetts-associates-architects
55
Local Artists Participation
Stray Dog Theatre (SDT) - a not for profit organization that emphasis community service; -is committed to unleashing the art of theatre on Saint Louis and the surrounding community.
https://www.straydogtheatre.org/
56
Black Cat Theatre - Has a history of moves. Initially formed in 1984, the troupe moved to New York, then added a summer theater in South Carolina. In 1992 they moved to St. Louis, and brought their theater with them. -In St. Louis, they moved around, performing at the Sheldon, on the St. Louis University campus and at the West County YMCA before they went to Maplewood.
https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/culture-club/black-cat-closes-its-doors-butshows-will-still-open/article.html
57
Perrforming Space and Home for Specific LGBTQ Artists
http://www.gmcstl.org/
Gateway Men’s Chorus - St. Louis’ premier non-profit gay men’s chorus; -is committed to affirm and promote gay culture and acceptance through excellence in musical performance and education; -performing a breadth of work ranging from classical choral repertoire to Broadway classics, from holiday favorites to iconic LGBT choral anthems.
58
http://www.gmcstl.org/
59
Pop-up Improvising Theatres----Take place in local interstitial spaces Potential Users
https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/health/media/lets-move-st-louis-flash-mob/
Flash Mob Performance -expresses a way to reclaim public space
60
“Shake 38,� presented by Shakespeare Festival St. Louis
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/arts/2017-04-17/unlikely-stages-spotlight-38-different-takes-onshakespeare-throughout-st-louis-this-week
-Unlikely stages spotlight 38 different takes on Shakespeare -Location : Grand Market and Cellular on North Grand Boulevard just north of Grand Center. -Collaboration between artists and novice actors(neighbourhood residents)
61
Hostel Projections -Artist-in Housing For Members of Travelling Theatres
http://kidworkstheatre.com/
-Tiny Properties Closely Related to Interstitial Pop-ups For Vagabond Performers
Vagabond Opera, https://cotatifest.com/2019/01/30/vagabond-opera/
62
-Transient hotel in-between Events For visitors and travellers
Grove Fest STL, https://www.facebook.com/grovefeststl/photos/
-Airbnb Module short-term lodging and tourism-related activities
63
Touring Theater Precedents ----Potential users of proposed housing
https://nationalplayers.tripod.com/
http://theactingcompany.org/
https://www.aquilathe
National Players
The Acting Company
Aquila Theatre
-America’s longest running touring theater company; -have a permanent home at Olney Theatre Center in Maryland; -Its season’s tours enable artistic collaboration and national education outreach
-touring repertory company that has brought top-quality classical performances to over 3 million people nationally and internationally since 1972; -Promoting theater and arts education through rotating repertoires of classical and new works.
-New York-based c senting a sit-down classical plays in N national tour reach cities every year; -aims to bring “the atrical works to the ber”.
64
eatre.com/
company pren season of New York, and a hing over 50 U.S.
e greatest thee greatest num-
https://www.reducedshakespeare.com/
Reduced Shakespeare Company -a touring American comedy troupe that performs fast-paced, seemingly improvisational condensations of huge topics; -has been performing its comedies in the States, in major regional houses, and all over the world for decades.
https://www.travelinglantern.com/
Traveling Lantern Theatre Company -touring lively kid-focused shows since 1985, and has a portfolio of almost two dozen plays in its current repertoire; -All of Lantern’s shows are educational and interactive, with built-in opportunities for young audience members to participate.
65
PROPOSAL
66
67
68
Intervention Strategies
-Isolated Pattern: All the proposed programs and architecture are concentrated on a single plot
-Infill: Proposed programs are distributed in several interstices associated with nearby existing potentials
69
One Primary Building as basis for pop-up activities (an isolated intervention)
Primary Performing Space: Theatre Primary Living Space: Hostel and Transient Housing
70
Frida Escobedo and Manuel, “The idea of architecture is in a state of constant relocation.� Architecture might function as the pause button in that constant migration.
71
Murals as Backdrops---Improvising pop-up instances
72
French poet Stephane Mallarme pointed out, “nothing will have taken place but the place.�
73
Interstices Analysis (Area Measurement)
74
75
Separated Intrastructures informing connections (Infill Strategies)
76
77
Iconic Features Associated with Diversity of Everyday Lives
Club
Musics
Barb
Existing Distinctive Storefronts Suggesting living patterns of the heterotopian and the rebellious youngsters, etc. 78
Bar
ber Salon
Tattoo Parlors
Restaurant
e other community members: African-Americans, Hipsters,
79
Maintaining Cultural Idiosyncrasy
Theatric Buildings incorporated with existing programs --Reconnection and Communication
80
Housing provides inherent lodgings for dynamic influx of people --Flexible facilities in diverse formats
81
Infill Programming
Existing Interstitial Space
82
83
Infill Programming
Indication of Existing Programs
84
85
Strategy 1: enhancing and stand-out: promote the existing cultural facilities to accentuate heterotopian identity
Shared Artistic Area( Public spaces)
86
Artist-in Housing an
nd hotel( Private Rooms)
87
Interior Programming
Gallery Space: 3* 1600 sqft; Capacity: 60 seat
Dancing Room: 1800 sqft*8; Capacity: 30
Classroom: 10* 600 sqft Refering Resource:Center of Creative Arts (COCA) https://www.cocastl.org, https://mbasic.facebook.com/COCAstl/
88
Hands-on Studio: 5*1600 sqft
Artist-in Housing: 1700 sqft* 10 Transient Hotel rooms: 300 sqft* 20
Incorperating Exterior Dynamic Activities
Improvising Stages
Flexible spaces for connecting artistic process to temporary residence
89
Strategy 2: proposing new programs as basic ingredient of cultural catalyst
Stages and Performing Labs
90
Relevant supporting theat
trical rooms
Outdoor Mobile Theater Space
91
Interior Programming
Main Stage: 9300 sqft; Capacity: 500 seats
Performing Lab: 4200 sqft; Capacity: 200 seat
Concert Hall: 3000 sqft: Capacity: 150 seats Refering Resource:Center of Creative Arts (COCA) https://www.cocastl.org, https://mbasic.facebook.com/COCAstl/
92
Video Room: 4*1100 sqft
Musical Studio: 3* 400 sqft
Exterior facilities and Provisions
Cultural Performing venue associating with existing taverns, cabarets, restaurants, sidewalk cafes, and antique shops
93
Bibilography IMAGES https://wizzley.com/surrealist-artist-jacek-yerka/ Diego Velázquez, “Las Meninas,”1656, https://www.dailyartmagazine.com/ things-you-must-know-about-velazquez-las-meninas/ Amsterdam Municipal Department for the Preservation and Restoration of Historic Buildings and Sites (bMA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heterotopia_ (space) Le Corbusier, “Aménagement de Paquebot Ile de France,” 1936 https:// archidose.tumblr.com/post/149874810743/le-corbusier-am%C3%A9nagement-de-paquebot-ile-de Jeremy Bentham, Panopticon, https://news.ycombinator.com/from?site=firstmonday.org https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attica_Prison_riot https://explorestlouis.com/st-louis-neighborhood-spotlight-cherokee-street/ Chris Naffziger, photograph, http://stlouispatina.com/cherokee-street/ https://sailingstonetravel.com/street-art-st-louis/ http://www.thegrovestl.com/ Ronnie Lugo, http://www.google.com/maps/place/Rehab+Bar+And+Grill/ Human Rights Campaign, https://www.hrc.org/ https://www.cultura.gob.ar/michel-foucault-un-critico-de-la-normalidad-9175/ “Michel Foucault, A Critic Of Normality,” https://www.cultura.gob.ar/michel-foucault-un-critico-de-la-normalidad-9175/ http://www.gmcstl.org/complete-the-season.html https://northarrowcreative.com/engagement-guide-what-to-wear/tips-suggestions/attachment/st-louis-missouri-gay-wedding-photography-the-grovesweet-divine-engagement_0028/ Alexis Hitt / Rft Slideshow, PrideFest in Tower Grove, https://www.riverfronttimes.com/newsblog/2013/05/30/st-louis-one-of-most-gay-friendly-cities-inthe-country-another-report-finds https://www.chicagotribune.com/nation-world/ct-texas-bathroom-bill.html Sejal Singh and Laura E. Durso, “Widespread Discrimination Continues to Shape LGBT People’s Lives in Both Subtle and Significant Ways,” May 2, 2017, https:// www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbtqrights/news/2017/05/02/429529/ widespread-discrimination-continues-shape-lgbt-peoples-lives-subtle-significant-ways/ https://explorestlouis.com/things-to-do/neighborhoods/the-grove/ https://www.riverfronttimes.com/stlouis/atomic-cowboy/Location?oid=2694633 Grove Fest STL, https://www.facebook.com/grovefeststl/photos/ James Steinkamp Photography, https://www.charcoalblue.com/projects/theyard-at-chicago-shakespeare-theater 94
St. Ann’s Warehouse / Marvel Architects, https://www.archdaily.com/922616/ st-anns-warehouse-marvel-architects The Container Globe: www.patronicity.com/globe Storyhouse: Architect: Bennetts Associates, Photographs: Peter Cook, https:// www.archdaily.com/871151/storehouse-bennetts-associates-architects https://www.straydogtheatre.org/ https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/culture-club/blackcat-closes-its-doors-but-shows-will-still-open/article.html https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/departments/health/media/letsmove-st-louis-flash-mob/ Nancy Fowler, “Unlikely stages spotlight 38 different takes on Shakespeare throughout St. Louis this week,” St. Louis Public Radio, https://news.stlpublicradio.org/arts/2017-04-17/unlikely-stages-spotlight-38-different-takes-onshakespeare-throughout-st-louis-this-week Vagabond Opera, https://cotatifest.com/2019/01/30/vagabond-opera/ http://kidworkstheatre.com/ https://nationalplayers.tripod.com/ http://theactingcompany.org/ https://www.aquilatheatre.com/ https://www.reducedshakespeare.com/ https://www.travelinglantern.com/ Center of Creative Arts (COCA), https://www.cocastl.org, https://mbasic.facebook.com/COCAstl/ ARTICLES/BOOKS Indhu Rajagopal and Nis Bojin, “Cons In The Panopticon: Anti–Globalization And Cyber–Piracy,” http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/1174 Michel Foucault, “Of Other Spaces: Utopias and Heterotopias”, 1966 Michel Foucault, “The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences,” 1966 Saskia Sassen, “Making Public Interventions in Today’s Massive Cities,” http:// static.londonconsortium.com/issue04/sassen_publicinterventions.html Patrick Barron And Manuela Mariani, “Terrain Vague: Interstices at the Edge of the Pale,” ISBN 9780415827683, Published September 4, 2013 by Routledge
95