M U
W
O M
11
15
INFLU ENCE The state of Wisconsin has a significant number of social, economic, political, and geographic factors that impact its resident’s quality of life, some more positively than others. Some of these include: •The incarceration of 12.8% of the state’s black male population – twice the national average •Of those black males not incarcerated 22% have been at some point •A 38% higher poverty rate for black residents than white residents – 15% higher than the national average •A 96% high school graduation rate for white children and a 60% rate for their black peers •Wisconsin’s black population has scored the worst in the nation for females who wait until adulthood to have children, young adults who are in school or working, kids in two-parent families and adults aged 25 to 29 who have an associate’s degree or better Wisconsin’s population is 84.6% white, 6.2% black, 5.3% Hispanic/Latino, 2.2% Asian, 1.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, and 0.7% other. Of the black population; 76% live in Milwaukee County and 87% live in the city of Milwaukee. Many of the state’s disparities are concentrated within Milwaukee, the 4th most impoverished and 2nd most segregated major city in the nation. Many of these factors, which have been overlooked for decades as the quality of life within the city only further declined, helped to contribute to the city’s 22% unemployment rate for blacks – more than double the national average, black infants being 3 times more likely to die than whites, and one of the worst public education systems in the nation. Growing up in Milwaukee I have been exposed to and found myself affected by many of the factors that make the city and Wisconsin the detrimental place it can be for socially marginalized individuals. Experiencing the growing decline of inner-city neighborhoods and seeing its impact on residents has encouraged me to work towards using architecture as a tool to raise the voice of overlooked communities. Doing such work begins with acknowledging existing discrepancies and investigating what factors creates such disparities and divides within cities, but most importantly taking into consideration the needs, visions, desires, and goals of residents in a sensitive manner. This sensitive approach is what I have taken within my architectural designs. As a designer and advocate for communities this tactic is what I value in my work.
Milan Outlaw 2579 N. Richards St. Milwaukee, WI 53212 (347)552-4154 moutlaw@uwm.edu
CONTENTS PICTURING MILWAUKEE
01
RECLAIMING THE VOID
03
HUMBOLDT AVE. ELEMENTARY
09
UNIVERSITY AUDITORIUM
13
DOWNER WOODS DORMITORY
15
BRADY PUBLIC MARKET
19
Percentage of Milwaukee residents below poverty line 1-10% 10.1-25% 25.1-% >40%
01PICTURING MILWAUKEE
01
01. LOCATE Washington Park, located on Milwaukee’s North Side, often has outside attention placed on its shortcomings. The area has many valuable assets – community groups, landmarks, commercial ventures, facilities, and residents. These forces come together to effect the neighborhood. It is our goal to tell their stories and bring further awareness on their pursuits of changing the community.
02
03
04
05
02. ARCHITECTURAL DOCUMENTATION We began by producing field measurements and drawings of homes in order to better understand buildiings as cultural artifacts. This allowed us to examine how people shape their spaces and cultures shape people. Examining spatial layouts and interior organizations of homes allowed us to explore how internal layouts reflect inhabitant’s everyday domestic practices. 03. ORAL HISTORY After analyzing spaces we interviewed residents asking them questions about their homes and communities. What are the places that matter? How do you care for them? Why do you care for them? 04. INTERPRETATION After collecting measurements and interviews we came evaluated how to put everything we learned together in. Figuring out how create coherent neighborhood stories with measured drawings, spatial analysis, community voices, and everything else we collected to create stories of Washington Park. 05. SPATIAL ETHNOGRAPHY We interpreted the collected information and conducted archival research, to better understand the history of the area, and disseminated our findings to a larger audience via exhibits, roundtable discussions, and a website. WWW.THEFIELDSCHOOL.WEEBLY.COM
02
03RECLAIMING THE VOID
The objective of this project is to use space in a manner that positively impacts residents of the Washington Park community. This neighborhood features many vacant lots. These lots, when not claimed for the community’s greater good, become empty voids. In working to close the gaps and fill the fallow voids, this project seeks to encourage the community to reclaim and cultivate the empty lots and become better stewards of their neighborhood. The project is catalytic and the proposed interventions are planned to transform areas surrounding Washington Park over the next twenty years.
>>ANALYSIS FND
HI-MOUNT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FND FND
THIRTY-SEVENTH STREET ELEM SCHOOL
<<
1/4 MILE ONE YEAR
1/5 MILE FIVE YEARS
As I spoke to area residents and collected oral histories I began to get a glimpse into their perspectives. The residents told me that this area (around 30th Street and Lisbon Avenue) had an industrial character to it. This perception of place seemed important because it made them feel unsafe in this area. My local collaborators told me that they did not go out of their homes past a certain time because they did not feel comfortable in their own neighborhood at night. How could design transform this neighborhood so that residents could feel safe and take ownership of their surroundings at all times?
1 MILE TEN YEARS
2 MILES FIFTEEN YEARS
3 MILES TWENTY YEARS
04
I looked to the community to propose a series of programs that they could envision within these underutilized spaces. I asked them what they would like to see in these empty lots. I attempted to find out if they could list programs and activities that existed in other parts of Milwaukee but were not present in the Washington Park neighborhood. If new programs were introduced, how frequently would they use them? As the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stewards and caretakers, the voices of local residents such as Lamont Davis, Sarah, and Gabriel, Paoi Lor, and Baokou Lor began to inform my plans for reclaiming empty and void lots. I proposed my first series of design interventions in order to shape the landscape of the neighborhood and use the empty lots within this area by reclaiming them as gardens. These gardens focused on community healing, gathering, and contemplation. The design proposals responded to the desire and suggestions of local residents such as Muneer Benhauddeen, Charles Carmickle, and August Smith to have sites where residents could convene with their neighbors and discuss matters or importance, or places where they could simply relax.
Various community events where residents discussed design strategies and interventions
A B A - Before
A - After
B - Before
Site
B - After
A. Inspired by the Adinkra symbol Dwennimmen, which represents strength through humility, this space focuses on communal gathering and contemplation. This is a safe space for residents to come together to discuss issues and concerns pertinent to their community. B. Washington Park was once known for its many traditions that attracted residents from around the city and the nation. Now the area has rituals that are distinct to the community and a handful of outsiders. By providing a stage where residents are able to be active and display their talents this garden hopes to sustain such rituals. This stage will also serve as a recreational space, meeting hub, and a site for displaying local talents.
06
2910 W. Lisbon Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53208
Proposed Intervention
This building sports a multi-use program that features a store, community kitchen, and community lounge, all maintained by the residents of the complex, on the lower level and four residential apartments on the second and third floors. Herbs, vegetation, and flowers grown in the side garden can be sold in the store and used in the kitchen. Above are four two storied apartments with multiple bedrooms. These apartments will accommodate larger families that many Existing Site multi-family complexes in the area do not. It was my goal to incorporate places where the community members could come together and also where residents would not feel that they would have to lock themselves in for safety. I accomplished my objectives by proposing spaces that are easily visible and surveilled by the residents. The street and alley are both visibly accessible from the apartments. The garden on the side of the building helps to address safety concerns. Research shows that knowing that a garden is managed and nurtured by members of the community often deters any vandalism to the property.
6
5
3
1
4
4 3
2
7
4
5
4
5
2 2 7
3
5
2
4
6
1
3
5
6
6
7 3 6 6
5
3
4
3
1
2
4
7
2
5
2 2
1
1
7
3
1
2
4
4
3
6
5
1 6
5
1
1
2 First Floor
2 Second Floor
2 Third Floor
Section 1
Section 2
08
09HUMBOLDT AVE. ELEMENTARY
3614 North Humboldt Boulevard, Milwaukee, WI 53212 Humboldt Avenue Elementary intends to educate, serve, and nourish children from the diverse nearby neighborhoods of its East Side Milwaukee location. The site is currently a city owned park, Kern Park, which attracts youth and adults from its surrounding area. One mile to the east of the site is a suburb of Milwaukee, while one mile to the west is a neighborhood nearly 50% below the poverty line. A diverse array of residents live within one mile, and less, of the site, these residents are diverse in ethnicity, heritage, gender, ability, income level, age, among other qualities. A center for such a rich array of cultures to come together within the area is beneficial and necessary in helping to heal and educate the City of Milwaukee, which is the second most segregated city on the nation. Using school and education as a catalyst to bring diverse children, parents, and educators together in city where what makes people different keeps them apart is beneficial. Ending discrimination and segregation begins with educating the youth.
Proposed Building
Existing Site
Site Section
10
2 1
9 6 8 5 7
6
1 3 2
1 4 3 2
4
B
A
Site Plan
Section 1
First Floor
2 4
1
5
2
6
8 16
7 9
9
8 8
1
1 2 17 3 10
8 2 8
18
9
13
8
12 11
8
10
8
14 19 13 12
15
10
1
14
B
8
6 5
3
9 7
8 4
B 13
11 12 111
A
A
Second Floor
Section 2
Lower Level
12
Site Plan
Site Section
13UNIVERSITY AUDITORIUM
The intent behind this proposed college campus was to design a linear scheme that allowed easy connection and procession to buildings and the outside. The buildings that made up the campus were placed on the exterior and edges of the path to form a common space in the middle. This open central space serves as a hub for the campus community to connect and gather. To the southeast corner of the campus is an auditorium. The auditorium is focused on maintaining the campusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s art culture. This space will be used for university plays, local musicians, student open mic nights, comedy shows, and other art forms. The auditorium has a capacity to hold 300 people.
Auditorium Exterior
Auditorium Plan & Section Auditorium Interior
14
15 DOWNER WOODS DORMITORY The Downer Woods Dormitory is a proposed residence hall for the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee that intends to house 166 first year students. The existing site of the planned dormitory is a grass field. To the south of the field is the university’s gymnasium, to the northwest is a site known as Downer Woods, the campus’s 11.1 acre fenced in preserved forest, and surrounding the site as well as the entirety of the campus is residential housing. The side of campus that the dormitory is proposed to inhabit is not utilized by the majority of the campus body. The intent of the dorm is to connect more of the student body to this side of the campus as well as connect the nearby residents to the campus – with the meeting rooms and shops on the first floor and the green courtyard all of which can be used by the campus or the surrounding community. The Downer Woods Dormitory is the first UW-Milwaukee residence hall to be located within such close proximity to a residential neighborhood. The dormitory is directly across the street from housing rented and/or owned by students and families. This residence hall takes that into consideration by responding to this existing site condition by not allowing the building to dramatically surpass the height of the existing homes, but allowing it to fit in with the atmosphere of the neighborhood.
3411 N. Downer Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53211
East Elevation
16
First Floor
Section 1
Section 2
SECTION 1
Second Floor
Third Floor
Fourth Floor
18
19BRADY PUBLIC MARKET
714 East Brady Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 The objective of the Brady Public Market is to serve low income and diverse populations within Milwaukee local, fresh food. The site of the proposed public market is approximately 1.5 miles north of the existing Milwaukee Public Market. The current public market is popular amongst many residents due to its support of independent vendors, artisan products, and freshly prepared foods; however, this public market fails to support and meet the needs of the low income population of Milwaukee due to its location, in an upscale area, and its high food prices. The Brady Public Market intends to support local Wisconsin farmers, supply inexpensive, fresh, and healthy food to the city, and offer cooking, farming, and nutrition education to youth. The Brady Public Market will also serve as hub to connect the diverse populations that live within its one mile radius alone.
Proposed Market Site: 714 East Brady Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202
Existing Market Site: 400 North Water Street, Milwaukee, WI 53202 The Brady Public Market reaches four different income types within a 1 mide radius: The Milwaukee Public Market reaches three income types within a two mile radius. 1-10% 10.1-25% 25.1-% >40%
20
N
2
2
1
1
Second Floor
First Floor
Section 1
Section 2
2
2
22