Thesis Book Spring 2017

Social Infiller A New Ground For Play

Syracuse Architecture Thesis Spring 2017 Advisor: Greg Corso

by Krista Wong

“it was a regeneration of urban voids, filling them with life as a redeeming, therapeutic act of weaving together the fabric of a devastated city. “ -Aldo Van Eyck, Amsterdam

We decipher spaces through our growth and development of the things around us by playing. This action is brought to a different form as we grow older. A space that constitutes play is not the same to an adult as it is to a child. This disconnect prompted the exploration of what play and playground really entail.

Play is universally known as a verb to describe how one is engaging in activity. To add to this definition, play is used to describe how one engages in activity but it takes different ways to enable it. How each of us plays differs by space. Playgrounds foster a social engagement of children congregating in a designated space to enjoy interactions between people and the elements (equipment) with play as a unifying factor.

Moreover, playgrounds cater to a specific user type, typically families that have children, and anyone outside that demographic have no use or desire to use it; it remains as an arena for play to be solely activated by people. Ultimately, rendering a playground useless until filled with people. [Play] grounds are residual infill spaces.

Upon that conclusion, the need to inhabit the uninhabited spaces in Amsterdam is prioritized. The urban fabric of Amsterdam is as dense as stone, but upon closer analysis, the noli plan of canal houses located in the historic district contains pockets - underutilized alleys that are currently blocked at street level.

By re-activating these “pockets” within the city, a new ground for play is imagined. By expanding the idea that closeness is but a loose boundary to create intimate yet socially fluid and open experiences by moving through human scaled tubes, meant to sustain activities despite the obvious constraint of space.

The intent of this thesis is to provide a social network of accessible nodes, to invigorate the alleyways of the city of Amsterdam; a city that thrives on the growing empire of consumerism, but lacks the initiative to develop “in-between” or wasted spaces. This thesis then takes three alleyways that enable nonactive, semi-active, active and hyper-active play by allowing the user to experience a closeness that is direct and social with program nested along and within what formally are infill objects connecting as a network. Tourists are traveling through tubes because it is another form of experiencing the city.

Contention

infill configurations

Infill Configurations

1]

What is [play]ground ?

> residual infill space

2]

> relationship with body, object & ground > playground as arena for play > tourism enforces the idea of leisurely play

What is small ?

> constraints/ boundaries

> direct relationship with amt. of space to amt. of activities > human scale

3]

What is formal movement ?

> alleys vs. playgrounds (formal distinctions)

> fluid vs. rigid > closed vs. open

4]

Site Intervention: Amsterdam, Netherlands

> Aldo Van Eyck influence

5]

> tourist effect on movement of people > density of urban fabric (canal houses)

Design as New ground for Play

> �nodal� network of tubes

> experiencing closeness > ties to [play}ground ~programless to programmed

~no circulation path to a circulation path

~no constraints of movement to constraints

> catering to the growing empire of consumerism/tourism

Table of Content

Levels of Movement

a network of nodal points that operate within these slots of the city, while catering to the commercialization of the city of Amsterdam. .

Playground as arena for Play

on a playground there are non-active, active and hyper-active levels of movement, these conditions are extracted and manifested into the infill spaces --utilizing wasted space & integrating fluid and open experiences within the constraints of its built environment.

spi nn ing sw slid ing ing ing thr ru nn ing owin g

Site Plan

play enables movement in which a relationship between ground, body and object is present.

infill object 1 infill object 2

non-active (stationary)

semi active (inconsistent movement)

active

hyper active (constant movement)

Herengracht Canal

wa lki ng sit tin g clim bin g

read as a gradient to decipher the amount of movement users experience.

a sense of hierarchy is apparant.

these infills are represented as objects of infill but are treated as extensions from the street wall further contextualizing them.

Scale 1/200" = 1'

infill object 3

Exterior perspective of core & gallery space

Vertical Circulation

one way

non- active

active

hyper active

5’

> dining + bar > mini golf > gallery space

100’

Program

10’

Site Map Scale 1’ = 1/500”

Herengracht Canal

Levels of Engagement on a Playground

Infill Configurations

Herengracht Canal

Herengracht Canal Modes of Traffic Movement

when an overlap in circulation occurs a visual threshold is present through the floor plate

moderate car speed bike pathway

Circulation

coffee lounge

Vertical Circulation

Vertical Circulation

bakery shop + lounge one way

one way

one way

7’

27’

5’

Vertical Circulation

5’

coffee shop

ice cream parlor > dining + bar > mini golf > gallery space

100’

> coffee shop + lounge > ice cream parlor > bakery shop + lounge

Program

Program 135’

> juice bar > cocoa shop > beauty salon

Program 10’

Beuningenplein Playground, Amsterdam

by Carve Landscape Architecture

230’

How do the users engage with the objects?

22’

attention to scale and how the actual object functions makes the interaction successful

40’ Modes of Traffic Movement moderate car speed

Circulation

bike pathway

Modes of Traffic Movement

Modes of Traffic Movement

how do you play?

Relationships: object + user

moderate car speed

moderate car speed

Infill Object 1

bike pathway

Circulation

bike pathway

Circulation

Exterior perspective of dining & bar (infill object 2)

Singelgracht

Herengracht

Keizergracht

Prinsengracht focus Herengracht Canal

The city is divided by waterways and along these are beautiful canal houses that bring character to the waterways. Formal characteristics include: cramped, thin, tall to save on taxes, but that aside, although the housing blocks are packed in rows, occasionally there would be cracks, crevasses in the reading of the street wall. Giving way to an alley - a small space.

Amsterdam Up Close

Interior perspective walking towards the cocoa shop (infill object 3)

Verti

one way

7’

old city

liveable land

135’

canals

informal

world heritage site 22’

Site: Amsterdam

-6-

40’

Modes of Traffic Movement moderate car speed bike pathway

C

1]

What is a [play]ground?

> residual infill space

> relationship with body, object & ground

> playground as arena for play

> tourism enforces the idea of leisurely play

playgrounds have boundaries. There is always a clear separation between vehicle traffic and pedestrian foot traffic.

public amenities that fill residual space and are often activated by children.

play is the program for a playground. It facilitates actions and is dependent on the user.

users would travel from one component to the other forming a web of circulation paths with an undetermined spatial sequence.

playgrounds are programless.

playgrounds are a designated safe spaces for play, static, active, hyper-active, often activated by children.

on a playground, the circulation and use of equipment is repetitive.

generic playground plans that have clearly marked primary and secondary boundaries.

through play, the familiarity of space is learned by repetition.

-7-

-8-

movement. play. activity. playground. infill. tourism. sequence of spaces. intersections. overlaps. congregation. core. circulation paths.

non-active

active

hyper active

active

ground

+

user

+

object

=

play (needs no context)

hyper-active active

non-active -9-

the circulation of a playground is spuratic consisting of static, semi-active, active and hyper-active movements throughout space.

- a designated safe space for interactive pl human activity - non-linear sequence of space dependen -the circulation is random; there is no spec

movement. play. activity. playground. infill. tourism. sequence of spaces. intersections. overlaps. congregation. core. circulation paths.

non-active

ground

+

active

hyper active

semi-active non-active

user

+

object

=

non-active

play (needs no context)

- a designated safe space for interactive play, non-active, active and hyper active, often activated by human activity - non-linear sequence of space dependent on user; there is no program - socially activated -the circulation is random; there is no specific path

Aldo Van Eyck playgrounds

- 10 -

sspsllii nddninin inggg tsthhwrr ionowwg iningg t rwu a nnlk iningg

play enables movement in which a relationship between ground, body and object is present.

Playground as arena for Play

nship between between ect is present. present. between p between present. s present.

gg

gg

thsswrw russii ntntttii ainiwlnkgg o nngg ininigngg ccllimim rrusui n n t ntninin bbinin gg gg c splimi wa nbni lki ng ng

play enables movement in which a relationship between ground, body and object is present.

play enables movement in which a relationship between ground, body & object is present.

- 11 -

non-active (stationary)

semi active (inconsistent movement)

active a

r

t

i

f

a

c

t

hyper active (constant movement)

*these levels are then adopted into the design as new ground for play

read as a gradient to decipher the amount of movement users experience.

~at what degrees do people play ?

a sense of hierarchy is apparant.

by deciphering the different levels of movement, one can infer a sense of hierarchy within a given space by the use of color coding.

- 12 -

these infills are represented as objects of

s

3M tourists per year

31,000 hotel rooms number of tourists per hotel star class 15.5%

21.1%

37.8%

20% 5.6%

top attractions

1M bikes

Magere Brug

3M tourists per year

31,000 hotel rooms number of tourists per hotel star class

2500 houseboats

15.5%

21.1%

37.8%

20% 5.6%

1281 bridges

Dutch heritage

1M bikes

165 canals

coffee shops

2500 houseboats 1281 bridges 165 canals

top attractions

as the empire of consumerism is exponentially growing, attention to what brings tourists into the area or why one might inhabit the space was valued and taken into consideration for design.

Magere Brug

top attractions

Dutch heritage

red light district

coffee shops

cheese products canal houses

red light district

cheese products

rent-a-bike Rijksmuseum

Hermitage

- 13 -

Van Gogh Museum

canal houses

rent-a-bike

Rijksmuseum

Hermitage

Van Gogh Museum

Site Map Scale 1’ = 1/500”

~where do adults like to play?

- 14 -

2]

What is small ? > constraints/ boundaries

> direct relationship with amt. of space to amt. of activities

> human scale

how one moves is dependent on the formal distinctions and implications of space.

in small spaces, levels of movement occur depending on user.

playgrounds and alleys have different givens (constraints).

when confronted with a small space, the amt. of activity is limited.

moving in a playground is fluid yet closed; there is a boundary unlike an alley.

moving through an alley is rigid yet open; there is no boundary like a playground has.

therefore, rethinking small spaces to make them fluid yet open is desired; extracting givens from a playground and alley to contest smallness.

- 15 -

- 16 -

User conscious - targetting specific user types by limiting the proportions of the component. Smallness is explicitly used to cater towards children.

smallness “Play cubes� by Richard Dattner, 1976

~size does matter smallness relates to how one interacts with an object.

- 17 -

proportions

Scale of Space in relation to Scale of Body

~different ways of interacting with an object

through

over - 18 -

depending on the user to object, the level of interactions are limited. a child crawls though while an adult would go over the same object.

-by playing, the familiarity of the space is learned through reduncancy -pedestrian- friendly, no vehicles allowed

Street

-

Sidewalk -

Playground

- Building

Aldo Van Eyck // Playgrounds in Amsterdam 1950s - 1960s

19 Extracting the attitude of a -playground’s circulation, concentration, repetition & redundancy, to manifest

boundaries set zones where people can and cannot go.

primary boundary secondary boundary

primary boundary secondary boundary

primary seconda

primary boundary secondary boundary primary boundary secondary boundary

formal

plans

of

formal boundaries.

formal

- 20 -

playgrounds

formal

3]

What is formal movement ? > alleys vs. playgrounds (formal distinctions)

> fluid vs. rigid

> closed vs. open

the movement of how one moves within a space is directly effected by its boundaries.

people are effected by the space they inhabit.

due to Aldo Van Eyck, the need to fill vacant, irregular spaces in the urban fabric of Amsterdam is idolized.

movement is directly influenced by its built, social environment.

- 21 -

- 22 -

Levels of Movement

on a playground there are non-active, active and hyper-active levels of movement, these conditions are extracted and manifested into the infill spaces --utilizing wasted space & integrating fluid and open experiences within the constraints of its built environment.

infill object 1 infill object 2

non-active (stationary)

semi active (inconsistent movement)

active

hyper active (constant movement)

read as a gradient to decipher the amount of movement users experience.

a sense of hierarchy is apparant.

these infills are represented as objects of infill but are treated as extensions from the street wall further contextualizing them.

infill object 3

to access the infill object, one must walk under it to the vertical circulation core and process accordingly from a start to finish manner. Traveling in tubes as circulation with program nested within as the bookend of the procession, much like how tourists travel with a destination in mind, it’s traveling from destination A to destination B.

- 23 -

movements are from one destination to another in no specific order.

Herengracht Canal

Herengracht Canal

Vertical Circulation

Vertical Circulation

one way

one way

7’

5’

> coffee shop + lounge > ice cream parlor > bakery shop + lounge

> dining + bar > mini golf > gallery space

100’

Program

Program

135’

10’

22’

40’

Modes of Traffic Movement

Modes of Traffic Movement

moderate car speed

moderate car speed

Circulation

bike pathway

Circulation

bike pathway

Herengracht Canal

when an overlap in circulation occurs a visual threshold is present through the floor plate

one way

5’

27’

Vertical Circulation

infill

> juice bar > cocoa shop > beauty salon

Program

230’

Modes of Traffic Movement moderate car speed bike pathway

- 24 -

Circulation

objects

1,

2

&

the urban fabric of Amsterdam has it so that even though the canal houses are side by side, dense like stone, the occasional pocket of space would open up for the potential to inhabit.

3

4]

Site Intervention: Amsterdam, Netherlands > Aldo Van Eyck influence > tourist effect on movement of people > density of urban fabric (canal houses)

Aldo Van Eyck played a major role in orchestrating the curation of over more than 700 playgrounds in Amsterdam.

it is easy to overlook these pockets in the city because thier existing states are masked by fake facades made to look like a continues street wall of canal houses.

his influence was pivotal in that he used bottom-up architecture to give space to the imagination.

contrary, these pockets should be filled to unlock the potentials to inhabit the uninhabited.

his need to design specifically to the location and street context came through as his designs worked to stitch together the disperate urban fabric of Amsterdam at the time.

“the objects were not specific by themselves but has open function and therefore stimulated a child’s imagination.�

-Aldo Van Eyck, 1962

- 25 -

Playgrounds contain elements for play, constructed of materials for close interations.

The circulation of a playground is spuractic building locked with consisting of static and nonstatic movements Chicago Park District throughout space. Users would travel from one one entry to the playground element to the other forming a web of circulation paths.

extended sidewalk parcel as a playground with four elements

Playgrounds are public amenities that fill residual space and are often activated by children.

They exist on abandoned lots, extended sidewalks, in-between buildings, the “left-behind� spaces that are separate from vehicle traffic.

Within the city, playgrounds are fenced off, safe guarded and distinguished through the use What is a playground? of its ground plane.

-a designated safe space for interactive Moreover, its relationship with parks does not play, both static and nonstatic mean that playgrounds are parks. Parks can be playgrounds but playgrounds cannot be parks.

- the circulation is concentrated yet unogranized Playgrounds contain elements for play, constructed of materials for close interations.

-use of the equipment is repetive The circulation of a playground is spuractic -by playing, familiarity the space is consisting of staticthe and nonstaticofmovements learned through reduncancy throughout space.

Users would travel from one element to the other forming a web of circula-pedestrian- friendly, no vehicles allowed tion paths.

- 16 -

- 17 -

distinct separation from the sidewalk and the street for safety; easily accessible

blocked by three sides, open on one; total sense of safety is prevalent

What is a playground?

-a designated safe space for interactive play, both static and nonstatic - the circulation is concentrated yet unogranized -use of the equipment is repetive -by playing, the familiarity of the space is learned through reduncancy Street

- 18 -

S

- 26 -

-

Sidewalk -

Playground

- Building

-pedestrian- friendly, no vehicles allowed

Aldo Van Eyck // Playgrounds in Amsterdam 1950s - 1960s - 19 -

Site Plan

a network of nodal points that operate within these slots of the city, while catering to the commercialization of the city of Amsterdam. .

Scale 1/200" = 1'

- 27 -

Amsterdam - 28 Up - Close

5]

Design as New Ground for Play > ”nodal” network of tubes

> experiencing closeness

> ties to [play]ground

~programless to programmed

~no circulation path to a circulation path

~no constraints of movement to constraints

> catering to the growing empire of consumerism/tourism

how to integrate vacant sites in urban developments?

the benefits of squeezing into alleys is that the space is optimized for efficient use.

wasted space is no space.

program is dependent on the space (ex. coffee shop, beuaty salon, gallery space, etc.)

what the “givens” can and cannot allow for a specific activity/movement to occur.

experiencing the space as its deliberate function with no “interpretation” as to what or how the space functions. (ex. coffee shop is a coffee shop, use it as such despite the constraints of space)

- 29 -

social infills that cater to adult play space.

coffee lounge

bakery shop + lounge

coffee shop

ice cream parlor

Infill Object 1

program > coffee shop + lounge > bakery shop + lounge > ice cream parlor

- 30 -

dining + bar

gallery space

mini golf

Infill Object 2

program > gallery space > mini golf > dining + bar

- 31 -

cocoa shop 1

beauty salon

juice bar 1

outer transparent glass wall

frosted glass shading direct sunlight 10ft

cocoa shop 2

inner transparent glass wall

insulation layer

juice bar 2

Infill Object 3

program > juice bar > cocoa shop > beauty salon

- 32 -

the real and the fantastical, as these infill objects give movement and imagination to these three pocket nodes, connecting as a network.

- 33 -

Exterior perspective of core & gallery space

Exterior perspective of dining & bar (infill object 2)

- 34 -

the transition zones are the tubes of circulation that connect the nodes; from vertical circulation core to another.

- 35 -

- 36 -

the transition zones are wild cards, meaning that the levels of movement range from non-active, semi-active, active, to hyper-active dependent on user. the space of circulation allows for the user to experience the city at their own pace.

the real and the fantastical, as these infill objects give movement and imagination to these three pocket nodes, connecting as a network.

- 37 -

Interior perspective walking towards the cocoa shop (infill object 3)

Exterior perspective of connectors (infill object 3)

- 38 -

Playgrounds invigorate the liveliness of it space and its surroundings. They attract the movement of people and by nature have boundaires. We can extract these concepts and insert them into alleys- the extreme polar opposite of what’s considered playground-ess.

wasted space is no space.

making alleys a more social, desired, interactive, intimate space - embracing the smallness and working with its given obstacles.

Conclusion - 39 -

infill

object

1

infill

object

2

infill

object

3

- 40 -

Thank you.