01012019
This portfolio is a palimpsest to the urban design framework of Drosscape, Alan Berger (2006): The residual condition derived from a post-industrial or degrading sites within cities. A product of perpetual destruction bringing temporary relief to the thriving urban landscape; Of which sudden void allows opportunities for creation, and reinvented place-driven phenomena. I believe this curiously nostalgic condition becomes increasingly relevant, and yields emergent possibilities of a new space within cities... This version is also a reification of my thoughts and techniques for urban design and architecture through personal, academic, and professional architectural works.
Sheldon Lee Roberts Masters of Architecture (M. Arch) Kansas State University sheldon.lee.roberts@gmail.com +1-630-335-3223
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AMSTERDAM PLAYHOUSE
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WEST BOTTOMS REBORN
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INNOVATION DISTRICT KC
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CITY ++
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SHINOHARA & THE MACHINE
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Proposal for the “left-over” space
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Proposition for regenerative public space
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Master plan Redevelopment
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Workplace of the future
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Japanese Architecture Graduate Essay Introduction
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CONTENTS
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AMSTERDAM PLAYHOUSE Amsterdam, Netherlands (Solo) competition ARCHmedium During M. Arch Fall 2016
“Better a broken arm than a broken spirit� -Aldo Van Eyck
Amsterdam today is a consolidated European city in which population increase and land consumption threaten its ability to provide effective collective public spaces. The schoolyards are the first public spaces that humans come to know and educational spaces are essential for the education and civic development of the population, and for the allowance of change and innovation. This competition submission takes the initial strategy of Aldo Van Eyck, architectural protagonist of the Netherlands of the 1940s, by transforming empty sites into open, jungle gym like atmospheres, and inverts it generating a positive and prideful force, in the tightly consolidated city of Amsterdam. With the preservation of open spaces, the physical formation is just as important as the intellectual, and one could enjoy maximum exposure to sunlight and more historically important - a close relationship with water. The proposal will transform into a cultural, educational, and innovative epicenter for all ages of the people of Amsterdam.
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STONE HEAD 18,750 Sq m
STONE HEAD 18,750 Sq m
VAN BEUNINGSTRAAT 18,750 Sq m
SPEELTUIN HEREMARKT 525 Sq m
JONAS DANIEL MAIJERPLEIN 525 Sq m
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STONE HEAD HET STENEN HOOFD
“Nederland” is a fundamental ingredient of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Derived from low (neder) and (land), this inferior place has always lived and thrived despite being one quarter below sea level. Ultimately throughout Amsterdam’s history is a continuing narrative of the bold, and the always overcoming; draining territories, building of large dams, land gain from polders. It is this sort of “urban regeneration” that is possible through intervention in the recovery of destroyed or neglected sites today
Brede School (BS) Zeeheldenbuurt
Barentszplein Recreational Park
Artist Galleries & Studios Co-Working spaces
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IM
MU
TABILITY AND R ES
FO
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MAN AN D
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tog
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ext en
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ctive behavior colle s of n o ti
MEN eth er o ppo site qual ities a nd soluti ons?
cep
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... the c . ame d. enter he s new d buil t n a g t h o r e n e t t s h n i i e f c t ing er o ntly meth fere utse ing so g dif to discover anew implies discover lves n i t c ever , rea ywhe ently re - in differ e m a all pla s g the ces and ay, feelin ages - doing t he same things in a different w
Aldo Van Eyck Following the vast destruction of much of Amsterdam from WWII, Aldo Van Eyck raised a series of interventions of urban regeneration of destroyed sites from 1948 to 1978. He has since transformed more than 700 sites in children’s playgrounds. Van Eyck is part of the tradition of Dutch architects and such thinking is crucial to urban regeneration today.
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Laagte Kadijk 1959
Van Boetzelaerstraat 1957
Dijkstraat 1954
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The Amsterdam Port // 1902-1968
Het Stenen Hoofd - Piers for Amsterdam are a symbol of its trade history, once heavily active in the export and import of goods. An inevitable checkpoint; from ship, to storage (pier), to train, and eventually new infrastructures. In a way this place, with its sudden influx and efflux of temporary functions, lives its days similar to that of the traditional port. Therefore the proposed design solution will preserve this level of functionality, while embracing a concept of place “keeping” and not place “making”, so that the pier and its inherent qualities, symbolism, and historical significance is always cherished here.
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Port Existing // Het Stenen Hoofd 1968-2019
For over 40 years, this pier and many others along the Amsterdam port, remain an unprogrammed territory. This unclaimed nature is essentially what is embraced by its regular visitors. A place to set up, play, and tear down; a perpetual sort of usage. Today this pier remains a continually reinvented temporarily territorialized space. It currently is host to a number of recreational programs, and seasonal festivals for the public. The proposed design is to build upon this unclaimed nature, rather than reinvent its current programs which are organized through its official association.
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Skeleton of Historic Pier //
This particular pier, as it was originally programmed, was for the storage of goods for eventual exporting and importing of those goods. Its architecture and form was purely a representation of such function - a large open container, consuming nearly 90% of the entire pier area. Its purpose usually determined by the days shipment schedule and the organization or fitting of goods into this warehouse like space. Such ambiguous function is only allowed through its wide evenly spaced columns, of which goods were placed between. This structural grid is to be kept and remembered in the proposed design interventions.
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Underlined Footprint //
“Toy Bin� service Core of Program served
Commons
In order to remain disclosed and susceptible to the avenue and surrounding neighborhood, the site and the core of its program is only to demarcate the farthest most areas closest to the water. This way it does not act so much as a boundary to that of the rest of the city. One is not met with a wall upon entering this space rather an inviting gate-less commons. Adding to a cradle and protection of this commons is a large serviceable space to the northwest of the site, to serve a hopefully diverse variety of unexpected activities. The open space also visually connects itself to that of an Barentszplein park directly adjacent to the site.
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Pier Amsterdam Resurrected //
Amsterdam is a city in which is built on-top of water. A city continually overcoming itself and the geographical pressures it faces. Rather than building on top of its lasting foundation, the site is resurrected up, and held high with pride. Extruded from the same structural grid that holds this pier together historically and in present day. The rise of the underlined site proper is a gesture from a mighty and opulent mindset, and is ultimately symbolic to Amsterdam, and its way of life. The rise of the site proper allows for the raw exposure of its strong structural columns beneath, in which ambiguous program is plugged in between, similar to that of its warehousing past.
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Grow //
max height tree-line
A lightly forested area is grown in between the physical structure and the avenue in order to separate itself to a degree, but also to keep a level of transparency and curiosity as the passerby gets glimpses of the structure in the voids between branches. The full emergence of the structure is only visible from a certain distance from the gradient of the tree-line. It gives the appearance that the structure is emerging from the forest, and into the distance beyond. At a certain point while traveling on-top of the structure one breaches the height of the tree-line. It is only at this point and beyond, where behind ones shoulder, is the entire city of Amsterdam revealing itself.
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& Prosper //
A bleacher like carving into the top mass is made for the allowance of multiple platforms of viewing and activity for its inhabitants. Whether for gazing into the horizon of Amsterdam, the staging of public activity & events, or a platform to view certain events below.
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Programmable Elements //
The program is to function with impermanence and reinterpretation, in the way it has functioned as unclaimed territory historically. The plug like formulation of this programing allows for the staging of uncertainty and emergence of new activity. However between it’s three division of floors is a gradient from more public to privately held functions. The chaotic nature of the “playhouse�, is essential to the imagination and the learning of new possibilities (education). Such possibilities are shared, debated, communicated, and built upon (workshare). Yet most importantly they are ultimately the foundation for change and innovation (innovate).
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Child-Centered Education Classrooms Educate
Public/Private Lockers Storage
Work-Share
Co-working & Office Playhouse Community Space
Innovate
Library & Archives Amsterdam Innovation space & Port Observatory
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F1. Educate
Wide concrete voids separate a classroom like setting from the main corridor and circulation. Spaces can be adapted to other uses through acoustic movable partitions, of which can retract into these voids.
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Classroom & Partition Storage
Top Hung Track System
Movable Acoustically Sound Wall Partition
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F2. Share Hovering over the first floor quarters is an additional area for public study and community engagement. Work-Share spaces provide a more transparent transition to its own circulation corridor which also overlooks the water and the Amsterdam Port
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Community Pantry/ Reception
Classroom & Partition Storage
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Bookshelves (Fully accessible)
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2
Bookshelves (Stored Position)
1
Bookshelf Tracking System
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F3. Innovate Third floor is the more private of quarters, and accessible by staircase or perhaps more enjoyably, by latter. It is house to a small library of a historic Amsterdam archive and ample space for study. Mobile bookshelves can be fully displayed or moved in storage via electronic tracking system
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1st fl
2nd fl
3rd fl
Educate
Share
Innovate
Restricted Program Closed
Amorphous Program Open
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Amsterdam Play 36
Amsterdam,
Sheldon Roberts
yhouse Proposal Netherlands
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N
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Polyethylene vapor retarder 6x4” steel channel 1/4” silicone joint TYP 1/2” gypsum board ceiling 1/2” gypsum board (white)
Suspended acoustical ceiling WOODWORKS Linear Veneered Planks
double glazed tempered curtain wall w/ 4 1/2” cavity
MONTEL High-Density electric mobile shelving system
1’ concrete bubble deck floor slab
Level 2 20' - 0" 1/2” gypsum board (white) suspended ceiling
2” rigid insulation
Level 1 11' - 0"
High gloss polis hed concrete sealant 1’ concrete floor slab 6” rigid foam insulation 1/4” silicone joint treated still plate
Ground 0' - 0"
flashing
2” sand bed 4” crushed gravel drainage layer concrete foundation wall
6” continuous perforated drain geo-fabric wrap
reinforced concrete footing 2” perimeter drain system
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WEST BOTTOMS REBORN West Bottoms, Kansas City Kansas City Design Center Fall 2017 - Spring 2018
1st Place Competition - Kremer Prize
Located and born at the confluence of the Missouri River and Kansas River, the West Bottoms is a historical treasure following its significance to the industrialization of Kansas City. It remains today as phenomenally unique urban condition, with a powerful residual quality left from its wild industrial past. This found quality is truly an emergence of place, where it was previously never thought. It is this untapped potential that led our team at the Kansas City Design Center to apply for, and later fortunately granted, funding from the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) to understanding this urban condition and the possibilities. It was our mission to conduct a West Bottoms Vision Study for a System of Public “Places�. The West Bottoms Reborn initiative is a creative place-keeping project that aims to use the medium of public space and public art to capture these essential qualities. The ultimate question that lie before us is to find a way to qualitatively analyze and understand such condition, to capture, apprehend, and realize the possibilities within these found spaces.
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KANSAS
SS
OU
RI RI V ER
LIBERTY COURTYARD
1000 SQ FT.
W KA
ER RIV
1000 SQ FT.
12TH STREET ALLEY
MISSOURI
KAW RIV ER
CR OS SR OA DS
DI ST RIC T
1000 SQ FT.
DOW NTO WN
JAMES STREET VIADUCT
KA NS AS
CI TY
MI
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IS YS L NA
1. Right-of-Way A critical aspect of potential sites for the integration public space in cities is to identify every measurable “public� rightof-way
2. Brownfeild Sites
VIE WS HE D
A
REGIONAL ANALYSIS // CONTEXT MAPPING
Along with public right of way, should be the inclusion of Brownfeild sites; previously developed land not currently in use.
3. Flood Plain
250 ft
500 ft
600 ft
1150 steps (.53 miles)
Lying significantly below the rest of KC by elevation. Flooding is an important part of the West Bottoms historical development & a crucial design problem for its lasting future
4. Building Density 823 steps (.39 miles)
The most preserved historical buildings area continually threatened by continually threatened by new development and industry
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HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE WEST BOTTOMS 1878
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1895
1909
1950
1963
1977
THE UNCLAIMED TERRITORY 1991
Witnessed activity includes, but not limited to...
2010
Urban Exploring Viewing City Skyline Car Drifting Photo-Shoot Music videos Public Meeting Place Motorcycling Dirt biking Skateboarding Bon fires
PERMANENT I NTERV ENTIO N
UNCLAIMED TERRITORY [MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITY]
SITE
LIGHT POLES
NTS
EXTE
ACTIVE PARKING & TRUCK CIRCULATION
N
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THE BASICS
PARTITION + PLATFORM
REALIZING AN INTERACTIVE URBAN PARTITION
At an object, the urban partition is based off three concepts; partition, platform, and mobility. The partition, a physical separation from one space to the other, will be used as an amplifier to ones awareness of this separation. The platform is a method by which one could physically inhabit the partition, adding a second layer of function. Thirdly, this site, through our research, is an ever changing natural phenomenon, from the angle of the sun, to the changes in the direction of the wind. Therefore, it is important that the platform be mobile, in order to be adjusted and played within these certain conditions.
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Partition.
Platform.
Mobility.
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REFRACTION Sound
The surrounding area is host to a number of industrial activities and sounds, including trucking, commercial airplanes, and concrete factories. An intensive study was undergone in order to identify these sounds so that the proposed design would be able to intensify or reduce certain noises given the pushing or pulling of the mobile platform
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ACOUSTICAL STUDY // DAY 75 54
80
68 76
60
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70 73 64
60
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80+ 70
{Db}
60
10
50 40
{min}
20
30
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100
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100
0
ACOUSTICAL STUDY // NIGHT 80
72 54
65 70
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72 60
60
50 80+ 70 60 50
{Db} 10
{min}
20
30
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40 0
Plane
Birds/Insects
Distant Train Trucking
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3
Custom Molded Reflective High Density Glass Paver
Water Textured Mold
dE iel
iment xper
Solar P ave rF
2
EP || Warm Y-S Mo MA nt
Solar Z one
hs
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1
Solar Z one
Solar “Sweet Spot”
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APR || Cold M on t
hs
||
TOC
ABSORPTION Light & Energy Collection
Given the unique curvature and shape of the viaduct, a light and shadow study has shown dynamically optimal times of the day that the ground is touched by the suns light. Custom glass solar paver’s placed in the optical positions allow a mimicking of the suns reflection of the water to the ceiling above, while at the same time being able to absorb this sunlight for the collection of solar energy.
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REACTION Light Emission
The solar energy collected and stored during the day hours is transfered to a battery inside the platform for its emittance during nighttime hours. The platforms only emit this light upon detecting pressure on its surface. It is the sites way of curiously attracting and responding to the passerby
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ELECTRICAL PLAN
PRESSURE SENSITIVE AREA
A
The installation responds to the activity by emitting its solar stored energy upon simply stepping onto the platform. It is the sites way of letting the inhibitors make their presence known in this naturally mysterious place.
CONTROL BOX
HIGH CAPACITY LED STRIP
A
LOAD SENSOR
.25” FLAT HEAD METAL SCREW
.5” ACRYLIC-CAST-WHITE-SHEET ACME PLASTIC #2447
LED STRIP WHITE 5500K #WLF-CW30SMD
ARDUINO MICROCONTROLLER
SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER
.25” FLAT HEAD METAL SCREW LINEAR LED LIGHT BAR FIXTURE END-TO-END CONNECTION #WLF-CW30SMD STANDARD LEADACID BATTERY
BEND/MOLDED 1/16” METAL SHEET
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Prototype Construction Following design development phases and many community presentations, our design team was fortunately granted the opportunity to undergo full scale construction and implementation of a mobile platform
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Sheldon Roberts
Underside Viaduct
(Light filtering through permeable screen)
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“Urban Screen Unveiling” 06.08.2018
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First Friday Grand Unveiling After the full scale prototype was build, our team hosted a grand opening in cooperation with our lucky neighbors, Hickory Union Motorcycle club. Given a more than expected outcome and feedback, it was a successful night.
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Sheldon Roberts
Eastern Plaza
(Looking at grand staircase)
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INNOVATION DISTRICT, KC Innovation District Proposal West Bottoms, Kansas City Professional Commission Summer 2018
Economic Development Corp. Partners Drew Solomon Jim Malle Alex Munyard
SVP Exec Dir. BDO Cons.
The downtown Kansas city proper is a rapidly growing mix of diverse districts. The purpose of this commission was to make a case for Kansas City’s (KC) political, civil, and business community to build or the feasibility of an Innovation District in downtown KC, MO. In an era of stagnating economic growth in many American metropolitan areas, it is essential to invest in an build an ecosystem that enables innovation to flourish, particularly given metros drive national economic growth. This proposal is one of a series of recommendations, which are based upon KC’s existing ecosystem and strategic opportunities. This project ultimately will make a case for how KC can best leverage its existing ecosystem and provide and blueprint for KC’s very own innovation center.
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Innovation Dis 60
Kansas C
Sheldon Roberts
strict Proposal
City, MO
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Sheldon Roberts
Main entrance to subway pedestrian tunnel underneath Broadview st. and exit into central park beyond
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CITY ++
TORONTO TRANSIT HUB Toronto, Canada Student Competition Urban Land Institute Spring 2018 Prof. Jason Brody
CITY++ aims to provide a transition between Toronto’s past and future through Toronto’s existing communities of intense mixed-use development on Toronto’s lake front. CITY++ is a transition area that provides a smooth integration between North and South Toronto while enhancing the growth of Toronto’s East End. By rethinking access to nature, transit, sustainability, and inclusive and active public spaces, City ++ will continue the healthy growth of Toronto to meet the rapidly evolving competition. Development around CITY ++ is rooted in the current social and economic structure of surrounding neighborhoods and the site is a catalyst for future expansion on the East side of Don River. The transition between the Varied housing options introduce choice and inclusivity for all Torontonians by providing affordability to all developed residential units. CITY ++ links existing neighborhoods and provides an evolution from Toronto’s past to future, contributing to the economic, social, and environmental vitality of the city.
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PHASE I
Immediate construction of 50+ floor residential towers to tend the southern most development, East harbor, and expected influx of 10,000 technology jobs. Proposed flood mitigation strategy along North bank Don River to begin.
EVERGREEN BRICK WORKS
1 2 3 4
PHASE II
Establishing a Corktown Commons between phase 1 and surrounding communities/neighborhoods per alleviated transition. Acquisition of north properties, diversion of Don Valley Parkway on ramp, and Bridge link renovation. 5 6 7 8 9
ROSEDALE RAVINE LANDS RIVERDALE PARK EAST
PHASE III
Final phase includes construction of Class-B live-work office space with extended stay hotel, community center designed to harbor a innovation and entrepreneurship center. The Meander- bike trails, walkable residential hub & city wide transit access improvements.
RIVERDALE FARM
CONTEXT MAPPING
RIVERDALE PARK WEST
TRANSPORTATION CONNECTIVITY
10 11 12 13
RIVERDALE
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
EAST CHINATOWN
CABBAGETOWN
LESLIEVILLE
REGENT PARK
RIVERSIDE SOUTH OF EASTERN
CITY ++ WEST DON LANDS DISTILLERY DISTRICT
SAINT LAWRENCE
KEATING CHANNEL
FILM STUDIO DISTRICT
CORKTOWN COMMON
QUAYSIDE UNION STA
TOMMY THOMPSON PARK
DON MOUTH NATURALIZATION PROJECT
CHERRY BEACH
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TORONTO TRANSIT HUB MASTER PLAN
N
1 2 3 4
Waterfront Towers Don Riverwalk / Overlook City ++ Hotel + Office Pedestrian Bridge
5 6 7 8 9
10 Riverfront co-op 11 The Oxbow Wetlands Riverfront Hotels+ Cafe’s The Delta Retail+ Subway Entrance 12 Riverfront Condos The Underground Retail+ Bar 13 Riverfront Twin Apartments The Meander
City ++ Grocery
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Public 2%
ToDon 9%
Other 4%
Infrastructure 5%
Land Aqusition 3% Projected Year 10 $1,909,406,304
Maple Leaf 26%
Indirect Costs 20%
Residential 27%
Retail 5%
Syndicated Loan 61%
Developer 3%
Parking 6%
Office 13% Education 5%
Hotel 12%
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Current Value $190,508,960
TORONTO TRANSIT HUB PARK SECTION
r Te ne
ce ra
alk rW ve Ri ok on o D verl O
yli Sk
/
Pedestrian Tunnel Underneath Broadview Ave.
it
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t ke ar M
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g in ist Ex ed pp ay Ca ighw H
&
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Innovation Dis 68
Capped Highway Toronto,
Sheldon Roberts
strict Proposal
y Park Perspective , Canada
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SHINOHARA AND THE MACHINE Sheldon Lee Roberts The technologically expanding cities of Japan are generating increasing dissonance from traditional Japanese architectural methods. This is no new narrative, but Japanese architect Kazuo Shinohara had envisioned this scenario before the movement of modernism in Japan had even ended. Japanese modernism through the 1950s and 1960s was centered on an optimistic technological spirit, dealing with what Shinohara describes as the “Space of Technology” (Shinohara, 1986 pp. 5). Shinohara however did not consider himself affiliated with the Japanese modernist movement, architect and critique Thomas Daniell has described him as “A key figure who explicitly rejected Western influences yet appears on almost every branch of the family tree of contemporary Japanese architecture...”. Which is true considering he is widely known for challenging the concepts of modernism through what he proposed as the “zero-degree machine”. He had discovered this phenomenon through a re-interpretation of early western modernism after observing the awkward design of recent technological inventions at that time, such as the Apollo 11 spacecraft, and the F-35 fighter jet. He also claims that the design of such machines takes on new meaning of form and function, by representing what he calls “spaces of non-meaning”. It is this found concept of meaningless space that poses challenging questions to both Shinohara and myself in understanding architectures relationship to that of the chaotic contemporary Japanese city. Especially in the context of the technology driven expansion of Japanese cities today, I believe that Japanese architect Kazuo Shinohara, and his re-interpretation of early modernist concept, “form and function” to continue to address new meanings of architecture in the growing chaotic cities of Japan, as well as other cities that may undergo similar transformations in the future. However, what Shinohara does not provide in his writings, aside from providing numerous examples of this phenomenon present in his own work, is a simple diagrammatic graphic illustrating the most basic structure of what he considers “space of meaning”, and “space of non-meaning”, or ultimately other additional meanings of space derived therefrom. Shinohara’s long sought interest in the rehabilitation of meaning in a contemporary era, can be seen through his progression from his early days in traditional Japanese architecture to his latest interests in conceiving a new relationship between form and function by a new “beauty”, expressed by the random condition and juxtaposition of objects – leading to the “zero-degree machine”. This phenomenon can best be understood through what Shinohara, in his image, represents as the “space of meaning” as opposed to the “space of non-meaning”. These concepts are derived from the overlapping of his traditional style, and latest fourth style of architecture. My interest in elaborating off Shinohara’s work, comes not from his identification of the many types of spaces he has termed - Fissure, Naked Space, Frontality, F-Space, The Cube etc. - But from the original conceptual images of from which they came to realization - the “Space of meaning” and “Space of non-meaning”. I believe the two concepts of space are in fact, for him and I, most essential to theory and methodology of design. To further understand the two concepts, the power of diagramming is used as a method that can operate between the two conceptual ideas. This is an effort, to create a simple inventory of diagrams as an applicable tool for understanding the two concepts that can be seen beyond a plan view, sparking new relationships between form and function that challenge the archaic city Shinohara had so aspired to create...
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SPACE OF MEANING
e ag m
ima ge
tota li
st lo
SPACE OF NON-MEANING
tota li
e ag m
inv isi bl e
m
ne hi c a
ADDITIONAL JUXTAPOSITIONS
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Sheldon Lee Roberts Masters of Architecture (M. Arch) Kansas State University sheldon.lee.roberts@gmail.com +1-630-335-3223
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