Design Thinking Fall 2011 Degree Candidate: Kyle Fant Instructor: Gia Daskalakis Teaching Assistant: Lauren Field
fluctuating equilibriums
Contents Preface
Premise / Introduction
001
Chapter 1
2D + 3D Conceptual Work (sketches, models, diagramming)
005
Chapter 2
Site Documentation
047
Chapter 3
Program Proposal
079
Chapter 4
Precedent Analysis
099
Bibliography
103
Source Citations
107
premise
fluctuating equilibriums
Premise The original prairies of Missouri are conditioned to survive drought, flooding, climate change and outside physical factors. The premise seeks to metaphorically relate the community of the prairie system to the urban context of St. Louis. In a prairie, the species composition remains the same, but different species excel under different types of stresses, growths and reductions. The key is diversity among perennial polycultures, allowing four common plant types (warm-season grasses, cool-season grasses, legumes, and composites) to play different roles under different seasonal and environmental factors to protect and sustain the community. how can the analogy of the prairie make its way into the urban fabric by applying its principals to the built environment? How can a native system of Missouri relate to the urban realm? How can the analogy of the prairie system inform urban production / consumption / shaping of a city? Why do we want a city / building program to function like a prairie?
001
preface
002
introduction
fluctuating equilibriums
Introduction From, Landscape Ecology in Theory and Practice : Disturbance Regime – The disturbance regime of a landscape refers to the spatial and temporal dynamics of disturbances over a longer time period. It includes characteristics such as spatial distribution of the disturbances; disturbance frequency, return interval, and rotation period, as well as disturbance size, intensity, and severity. This relates to the different species of a prairie excelling or receding under different stresses, growths and reductions. Landscape Equilibrium – 1. To be essentially closed, 2. To be self regulating, 3. To possess stable point or stable cycle equilibria, 4. To have deterministic dynamics, 5. To be essentially free of disturbance, and 6. To be independent of human influence. In a prairie, the diversity among perennial polycultures allows the community to sustain itself. From, The Metapolis Dictionary of Advanced Architecture : Cohabitation – Cohabitation is to inhabit together. It represents a contract of non-adherent coexistence: a contingent complicity of interests that implies sharing of (real or metaphorical) spaces of influence. Cohabitation is a plural and heterogeneous architecture based upon diversity and simultaneity and alluding to constant arrangements and negotiations of cohabitation between its par ts: Spatial cohabitation, Urban cohabitation. All of the various elements of the prairie live together for the benefit of the whole, relating to each other without necessarily being directly in contact with one another.
003
chapter 1
004
fluctuating equilibriums
2D+3D Conceptual Work
sketches, models, diagramming
1
005
006 compass plant
asters
goldenrod
leadplant
sensitive briar
cat’s claw
cluster fescue
big bluestem
chapter 1
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Polyculture Cool season grasses such as cluster fescue come up early and spread their seeds. The fescue then recedes, allowing warm season grasses like big bluestem to thrive the rest of the season. Legumes consisting of cat’s-claw, sensitive brier, and leadplant fix their own nitrogen and fer tilize the prairie when they fall. Composites like asters, goldenrod, and compass plants flower at various times throughout the season. Image left: a sketch resembling the different species of a prairie relating to each other. The growth and reduction of the whole is directly related to how these plants relate directly and indirectly to each other through each season.
007
chapter 1
008
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
A prairie has a number of components that allow for multiple outcomes for varying situations. It is through this diversity that the prairie achieves its success in confusing insects from targeting specific plants, containing the spread of diseases, and adjusting to dynamic climate changes. Image left: Diversity allows for pest and disease resistance / Legumes fer tilize the prairie with their bodies / Timing of growth and reduction protects weaker plants.
009
chapter 1
010
research / publication
residential
skilled labor / craft
education
agricultural relations
service / civic
enter tainment
infrastructure
tourism
industry
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating
equilibriums
community
011
chapter 1
rotation period
time temporal dynamics
disturbance
012
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Disturbance Regime: The different aspects of the city are related to each other. These want to work as a unit, but often the growth and reduction are seen in extremes. Image left: The disturbances over time of a landscape in relation to its temporal and spatial dynamics.
013
chapter 1
cycle equilibria
deterministic dynamics closed, self regulating
014
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Landscape Equilibrium: A self regulating, enclosed landscape possessing a stable cycle equilibria. Image left: Overlapping aspects of a city can be seen as a landscape of program, functions, and occurrences. The most successful par ts of this equation are the niches of a city. In St. Louis these niches are seen in their extremes with vacant land consuming the gaps between niches such as Downtown and the Central West End, Soulard, Dogtown, Clayton, etc.
015
chapter 1
space of influence
heterogeneous architecture
urban cohabitation
016
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Cohabitation: Heterogeneous architecture shares spaces of interests through varying types of influence. Image left: The urban grid contains many contracts of non-adherent coexistence. Programs may function completely different from each other and not interact, yet they still need to share the same community to succeed in sustaining as a whole. The small, non-adherent relationships found in each community have the same ties to neighboring communities, and these neighboring communities relate to the city as a whole.
017
chapter 1
018
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
What are the elements in a city that bring change / stability?
019
chapter 1
in flux
stable
020
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Tetris, with its grid like input-deletion-filling system can be used as a graphic metaphor to the prairie. In an ideal sense, the prairie resembles all of the aspects that the city encounters, while Tetris is relates to how an architectural intervention should function within this environment. Image left: Analysis of Tetris: fluctuating space formed by a series of disturbances, while a stable base allows for decision making.
021
adjustment based on existing
chapter 1
input, slightly predictable
deletion
gaps
voids, space combinations 022
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Relationships and predictability are found in a Tetris system that can bring about dynamic changes. These changes are accounted for, but not specified or dependent on cer tain stimuli. Image left: Analysis of Tetris: gaps and deletions are related to the urban grid. The unpredictable aspects of economic change / population, etc. are adjusted and applied to the stable base.
023
chapter 1
intake, suppor ting program
stable, architectural intervention
output, flexible program
024
fluctuating
2d + 3d conceptual work
equilibriums
cycle happening within a context
potential site
some components may already exist
025
chapter 1
deletion
deletion
addition
addition stability
026
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Actions and their results are dependent upon what interventions have been inser ted into the current layout of program and function. Their reactions are accounted for and cycled back into the reforming of the architectural intervention. Image left: Architecture (building) : action vs. Program : result of action
027
chapter 1
028
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Destruction leads to diversity, and diversity leads to rebuilding. This metaphor is taken from the burning of the prairie to regenerate its fer tility and growth. Image left: The burning of the prairie allows for its regeneration and regrowth with multiple species emerging from fer tilized soil.
029
chapter 1
prairie
Rome
Chicago 030
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
This relationship of rebuilding after destruction or abandonment has architectural precedent in many cities throughout the world. Image left: The burning of the prairie in relation to The Burning of Rome in 64 CE followed by its reconstruction, and The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 CE followed with its reconstruction.
031
chapter 1
Access
032
Industry
Flexibility
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
The most impor tant characteristics in the prairie related to the components of Tetris could potentially relate to building program. These ideas would be used as a backdrop for finding and analyzing successful, unsuccessful, and transitional sites. Image left: Prairie and Tetris - components do not work without each other, pieces fit together to function as a whole.
033
chapter 1
components
lay out component to come, flexible industry river railroad highway business agricultural relations
education research publications community service history
skilled labor craft trade ar ts
residential housing zoning industry suppor t neighborhood live
tourism revenue publicity public relations
together, they work
034
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Components of the urban structure and program must relate to each other, but they also must allow flexibility for change, or an unpredictable disturbance. Patchwork, can be filled in and replaced, as this method is applied to the Tetris metaphor. Image left: A patchwork of components and underlying programs that suppor t each other. A Tetris grid formation helps to diagram how these components are connected, while not necessarily being related.
035
chapter 1
036
fluctuating
2d + 3d conceptual work
equilibriums
Where are these components found coexisting in St. Louis?
037
chapter 1
deterministic dynamics
038
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Communal stability has cyclical aspects. The order and relation from one fluctuating equilibrium to another is tied together through stable / adaptable spaces. Image left: Conceptual sketch of site / program forming process: city relationships.
039
chapter 1
040
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
Concepts of fluctuations in spacial density in relation to time and external factors such as density, dispersal, and diversification are mapped through model form. The shadow that an industry or major architectural intervention casts on neighboring programs can greatly change the environment, linking unrelated city components. Image left: Physical model beginning to form space based on cyclical aspects against a standard linear form.
041
chapter 1
042
fluctuating
premise
equilibriums
Physical model beginning to form space based on cyclical aspects against a standard, linear form.
043
chapter 1
044
2d + 3d conceptual work
fluctuating equilibriums
The concept of diversity, growth, and reduction are communally joined through the shadow of architectural implementation. Linear thought is broken systematically to allow for dispersal over less dense attributes during a negative disturbance.
Image left / above: Physical model and sketch laying out the principles of a systematic analysis of forming the prairie metaphor under grid-like restraints.
045
chapter 2
046
fluctuating equilibriums
Site Documentation mapping, locating, defining
2
047
chapter 2
Industry
048
Rail / River transpor t
Park access
Neighborhood
Highway access
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
The ideal site is located in a transitional urban environment, one that is on the border of critical population loss, or loss of development. The site would be a location of former economic and physical density that still has the potential to grow and attract a new wave of occupants to tap into its available infrastructure. Specific aspects obseved are: intact residence / neighborhood, former industry / new emerging business, greenery / park space access, close proximity / overlapping with a major transpor tation network (rail, highway), and close relation to the Mississippi or Missouri river for fur ther interaction and relationships. Image left: Selecting these components and allowing them to fall into place at the appropriate sites in St. Louis.
049
chapter 2
050
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Transitional zones occur on the edge of intact communities created from population decrease and retreating business / economic development. Image left: Mapping zones of programmatic overlap that meet multiple communal attributes.
051
chapter 2
residence, neighborhood
access to green space, communal aspects
former industry, new emerging business
railroad, highway, river
052
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Specific attributes of sites in St. Louis are targeted by using major components as guidelines. Specific sites can be targeted to narrow the fit for remaining components. The components needed will influence the program of the site. Image left: Sketches honing in on areas of the city and their characteristics that make them a desired community for study.
053
chapter 2
Granite City School District 19th Street (Rock Road)
Niedringhaus Ave 054
N
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Potential Site 1 _ Granite City, 1912 Adams Street. Granite City is in Illinois, but still in the St. Louis metropolitan area. WIth a history in manufacturing, it has seen multiple industries come and go. This has created a unique situation in which facilities such as housing, schools, etc. are still in tact and used, but the business that suppor ted them has left. Recently, there has been a push to activate the ar ts in the town because of the low rent and access to large flexible buildings. Image left: Site location in relation to the St. Louis metropolitan area, aerial view, and diagram of active components of site desirability.
055
chapter 2
056
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Potential Site 1 _ Granite City, 1912 Adams Street. Image left: Experiential aspect of the site and current conditions through photographic collage.
057
chapter 2
Manchester Ave
Universal Printing
Adams Park S Kingshighway Blvd
Foremen Fabricators N 058
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Potential Site 2 _ Forest Park Southeast, 1300 South Taylor Avenue. Forest Park Southeast is bordered by I-64 / US-40 on the nor th and I-44 on the south. The location is in an industrial niche between Forest Park and neighborhoods to the south. The site is next to an existing industry, small neighborhood, and has a rail line branching directly into the site, formerly used by an older industry. Image left: Site location in relation to the St. Louis metropolitan area, aerial view, and diagramming of active components of site desirability.
059
chapter 2
060
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Potential Site 2 _ Forest Park Southeast, 1300 South Taylor Avenue. Image left: Experiential aspect of the site and current conditions through photographic collage.
061
chapter 2
Bellerive Park Sister Marie Charles Park South Broadway Freight Rail
CARONDELET
Elwood Street Mississippi River Western Blow Pipe
JW Aluminum N 062
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Potential Site 3 _ Carondelet, 5900 South Broadway / 110 Elwood Street. Carondelet was formerly the headquar ters for processing lead and shipbuilding. Charles Eams established his shipbuilding company here to create the ironclads for the civil war. Since then, the town has seen many of these industries diminish, while the populations have grown in Soulard near the Anheuser-Busch Brewer to the nor th, and suburban Mehlville to the south. The site is unique because it is next to a surviving neighborhood, strung between abandoned and new star t up industry, a rail line, Sister Marie Charles Park, and the Mississippi River. It is embedded in a small bluff adding an interesting sectional aspect, enabling it to interact with rail lines, potential program, and views to the river. Image left: Showing site location in relation to the St. Louis metropolitan area, aerial view, and diagramming of active components of site desirability.
063
chapter 2
064
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Potential Site 3 _ Carondelet, 5900 South Broadway / 110 Elwood Street. Image left: Experiential aspect of the site and current conditions through photographic collage.
065
chapter 2
066
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Which site can best relate to the aspects of the Prairie and Tetris? Which one will allow the best use of these metaphors to influence a flexible / cyclical program?
067
N
068
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Site Selected Site _ 5900 South Broadway / 110 Elwood Street The site is layered from east to west: Mississippi River, Sister Marie Charles Park, rail line, industry, highway, residential. This site is the most promising to implement an architectural program the follows the same strategy. The town of Carondelet is located in the far thest southeast por tion of St. Louis. It was an independent city in 1851, and then annexed with the city of St. Louis in 1870. The current population is approximately 9900 people. The most prominent industries today are Israel Chemical Limited, producing phosphate and phosphoric acid products, and New World Pasta factory. Image left: The site in relation to the river and Illinois, parallel with the Cahokia Chute to the east. The site is uniquely layered from the river to the neighborhood. Experiential aspects of this are shown.
069
chapter 2
+28 +24 +20 +16 +12 +8 +4
450’
070
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Because the existing building (abandoned, crumbling) has a foundation in the bluff, it allows for the oppor tunity to layer program so that potential programs can shift in section. For example, the rail line can now interact directly with a storage component at ground level, while alternative or related program suppor t can access the street and oversee the rail line. Image left: Sectional diagram of components and layering from east to west with elevation change.
071
ig ne
072 hb or h o t od or ive r neighborhood
river
park / green space
rail line / transpor tation
industry
street frontage
chapter 2
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
Stratification of components give potential program a more effective ability to shift, adjust, and interchange over time. Image left: Physical model of the components on the site layering from east to west.
073
chapter 2
48
3’
29
3’
24
23
potential site expansion
074
8’
1’
site documentation
fluctuating equilibriums
The size of the actual construction site can vary depending on how many of the layers are incorporated. The site has the potential to stretch from Broadway street, across the park and into the Mississippi. Image left: Dimensions of the site in plan.
075
chapter 2
1860
076
1900
fluctuating
site documentation
equilibriums
1930
2012
077
chapter 3
078
fluctuating equilibriums
Program Proposal
outline, size, document
3
079
chapter 3
080
program proposal
fluctuating equilibriums
Program Program Proposal: Flexible Business Co-op Image left / below: Rendering depicting how the site would function with varying people and programs. The connection to the river is essential in combining the multiple businesses into a functioning ecosystem.
081
chapter 3
flexible industry
082
shared components
park / green space
program proposal
fluctuating equilibriums
A flexible business co-op is similar to the flexible space industry and ar tist co-op. In an ar tist co-op, a kiln, metal shop, and lighting studio would be shared among all of the ar tists, while the par ticular ar tist and their work would change over time around the functioning core. In the business co-op, utilities and major program functions are shared throughout the entire collective. Board rooms, kitchens, lab space, storage, shipping, park space, are all shared while the size and needs of each par ticular business can grow / expand to fit their needs. Retail industry may use vacant shipping industry for storage, while a growing fabricator could rent out small office space for coordinating with clients internationally. Park space could connect all of the programs to each other and attract new people to interact with the businesses. Image left: Flexible industry and shared media are combined. Green space traverses this combination.
083
retail
chapter 3
retail
restaurant
BUSINESS CO-OP
leisure space leisure space leisure space leisure space leisure space leisure
STORAGE
084
shipping
program proposal
fluctuating equilibriums
The strong ties between changing industries, shared components, and the public realm is what will maintain the use of the building and the site over a long period of time. Image left: Depictions of potential interactions and program outlines for the co-op and their shared components are connected by leisure (park).
085
chapter 3
Flexible Business Co-op
Shared / Public
- Board Rooms / Conference Rooms
2,000 sf
- Park / Throughway
30,000 sf
- Technology Center
2,000 sf
- Commercial / Retail
6,000 sf
- Business Atrium
1,500 sf
- Cafe / Kitchen
1,000 sf
- Restaurant
2,000 sf
- Flexible Office Space
20,000 sf
- Core (utilities, bathrooms, storage, HVAC)
2,600 sf
- Lobby for Business Co-op
- Kitchenette / Cafeteria
1,000 sf
- Flexible Venue Space
- Rooftop Venue
600 sf 3200 sf
10,000 sf 42,800 sf 39,100 sf
Shipping / Storage - Shipping / Storage Space
20,000 sf
- Office Space
1000 sf
- Mississippi Bicycle Trail Bike Storage and service station
2000 sf
23,000 sf
086
program proposal
fluctuating equilibriums
Square footage for the overall building and its constant components are documented and show the potential scale and variation of options in square footage for shifting industries. Image left: Proposed sizing of programmed space.
087
chapter 3
shared public flexible business co-op shipping / storage
088
program proposal
fluctuating equilibriums
How the programmatic space relates to the site is also key to its longevity. The location of cer tain sized spaces and their potential occupants should be oriented to infrastructure at the site. Image left: Overlay of programmatic space over the site.
089
chapter 3
shared public flexible business co-op shipping / storage
090
program proposal
fluctuating equilibriums
Because of the unique sectional qualities attributed to the site, how the components are oriented will allow for different type of interactions at various levels from South Broadway, to the rail line and to the river. Image left: Overlay of programmatic space in section across the site.
091
chapter 3
092
fluctuating
program proposal
equilibriums
How does the building and its components shift / change over time?
093
chapter 3
094
program proposal
fluctuating equilibriums
The program itself is flexible, shifting and changing its space to accommodate many different types of business and activities. Using the park as a connection through the site to draw people in, the program would change based on the desires and needs of the people who inhabit the site. Image left: Spaces filled and adjusted to meet the needs of a changing company or industry. The overall space, or building remains the same, while it functions with programmatic shifts in relation to the Tetris metaphor.
095
chapter 3
2015
096
2050
fluctuating
program proposal
equilibriums
2075
2100
097
chapter 4
098
fluctuating equilibriums
Precedent Analysis successful examples
4
099
chapter 4
100
fluctuating
successful examples
equilibriums
Metropolitan Exchange Building, Brooklyn, NY
Ar tists’ Cooperative Gallery, Omaha, NE
Proxy, San Fransisco, CA
101
chapter 5
102
fluctuating equilibriums
Bibliography concurrent research
5
103
chapter 5
104
concurrent research
fluctuating equilibriums
Bell, Bryan, and Katie Wakeford. Expanding Architecture: Design as Activism. New York: Metropolis, 2008. Print. Benyus, Janine M. Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. New York: Morrow, 1997. Print. Dreslin, Jimmy. Tetris Explosion: History, Tips and Tricks of Tetris. Print. Feireiss, Kristin, and Lukas Feireiss. Architecture of Change: Sustainability and Humanity in the Built
Environment. Berlin: Gestalten, 2008. Print.
Geddes, Patrick. Cities in Evolution; an Introduction to the Town Planning Movement and to the Study of Civics.
New York: H. Fer tig, 1968. Print.
Hadid, Zaha M. Ubiquitous Urbanism: Total Architecture : The Tokyo Experiment : A Studio in Global Master
Planning. Columbia: Columbia of Architecture, 1994. Print.
Hensel, Michael, Achim Menges, and Christopher Hight. Space Reader: Heterogeneous Space in Architecture.
Chichester, U.K.: Wiley, 2009. Print.
Krononberg, Rober t. Flexible: Architecture That Responds to Change. London: Laurence King, 2007. Print. Marshall, Dr. Stephen. “Urbanism in Evolution: New Urbanism and Beyond.” RUDI - Resource for Urban Design
Information. Print.
Soule, Judith D., and Jon K. Piper. Farming in Nature’s Image: An Ecological Approach to Agriculture.
Washington, D.C.: Island, 1992. Print.
Tomasko, Rober t M. Rethinking the Corporation: The Architecture of Change. New York: AMACOM, 1993. Print. 105
chapter 6
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Source Citations
referrals to borrowed work
6
107
chapter 6
108
referrals to borrowed work
fluctuating equilibriums
In order of appearance: p 10; The Eeb and Flow blogspot p 16; Geotagging St. Louis, ar t by Eric Fisher p 20, 25; Tetris image, by nuerocritic blogspot p 24; Rotating Tetromineos, Superficial Intellegence blogspot p 50; ArchGIS Desktop Education Edition 10 p 54, 58, 62, 68; Google Maps / Aerial View/ Street View p 54, 58, 62, 68; Bing Maps / Aerial View / Bird’s Eye View p 101, Benjamin Norman for the New York Times p 101, Ar tists’ Collective webpage p 101, SocketSite
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