the third place public library in coney island, new york — shruti gupta commitee glen mills (chair) michael o’brien (co-chair) michael neuman (commitee)
contents acknowledgements the third place project goals the site site analysis design response urban plan design evolution site features site plan massing plans elevations sections flooring plans views
2 3 4 5 6 8 10 11 13 14 16 17 22 23 24 25
1
acknowledgements
acknowledgements my family for their unrelenting support and encouragement my commitee for questioning every design aspect and driving me forward. my friends Nupur, Prerana, Rajshree, Komal, Rahul, Samkit, Swapnil, Punit for keeping me sane and lifting my spirits. my colleagues Caleb, Purvashree, Namita, Dyutima, Kaushik, Nandita, Chinmay, and Charul for their continuous help and constructive criticism. I thank Hala and Maria for their continuous support throughout my project.
2
the third place
the third place Third place is a location outside of home and work and open to general public where people informally gather on a regular basis. Third places serve as community spaces where chance encounters take place, thus fostering interaction. These are easily accessible for everyone. Coffee shops, bus stops, libraries and churches all form good examples of such places. These places are a must-have for a complete neighborhood and a key component of sustainable urbanism. The library will serve as a third place and provide contemplative and interactive spaces at different levels considering the whole community.
3
project goals
project goals Study and identify the urban fabric of Coney Island by studying the movement patterns, land use, enrgy flow and spatial typology. Develop a design that identifies and satisifies community needs, by providing a social gathering space that facilitates interaction among people and generation of ideas. The project is aimed to serve as a third place for the residents of Coney island, where the people find refuge from their daily work and domestic life. Explore the qualities of experiential space and its perception and derive conclusions to be manifested in the design project. Develop a sustainable design through prolonged relevance to the community and response to the context.
4
the site
the site Coney Island has been the center of amusement for decades, but over the years the state of the area has deteriorated. It has shrunk to a small part of the land leaving the rest of the area underutilized and neglected. The New York Planning Department developed a rezoning plan will identify the underutilized land and develop it to facilitate the overall economic, social and cultural development through creation of new opportunities for housing and community development. The plan incorporates defined residential, retail, commercial and amusement areas, grouped together in a compact development, thus enhancing walkability between the various functions. The revitalization of the community will activate the main street - Surf Avenue, providing for positive interaction and generate a lively mixed use community.
5
site analysis
site analysis edges
There are three levels of edges with varying degrees of significance. The two main paths of vehicular transportation form very strong edges. The subway track forms a fairly significant edge along with the edge formed by boardwalk that separates man-made constructionfrom the natural features. The third one is the water edge.
oo OOO OOOO o oo ooo OOOOOOOO OooO OO OOOO VEHICULA
R TRAFF
IC
paths
O OOO OOOOOOO
E
LIN
AY BW ooooo SU ED oo VAT ELE oo ooo ooooooooo OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOO OOO OO O OO FFIC O A R T O O LAR U O IC O VEH O OO OO OO
oo
There are two main paths that serve as the major axes for transportation. These paths form an important intersection. The movement along these paths converges all energy into the intersection.
landmarks
Subway station
Ballpark
Cyclone
There are three landmarks around the site- The subway station on the north, the ballpark on the west and the cyclone ride on the east. These landmarks tend to dissipate the energy of the node. The proposed building should form a landmark that harvests the energy of the node to reinforce its power.
6
site analysis isovist from site
It is seen that the north-west corner of the site is part of an important node. This isovist illustrates the line of view and the angle from that vantage point.
isovists towards site
These isovists show how much of the site will be visible from the three landmarks around. The major view is afforded by the subway station on the north.
nodes
The most significant node is located on the northwest corner of the site. It forms the spot where a person halts to decide the direction he wants to take ahead. It is an extroverted node.
7
design response
design response pedestrian flow Major flow is shown by purple arrows . People tend to cut through the site to reach the metro station.
pedestrian flow Facilitate the pedestrian flow and use it to drive the design
neighborhood Bring green into the site to define open spaces. Extend the vibrance of street into the site in the form of a plaza. Screen the views of the service alley on the south
trees Tree line emphasises the street and acts a sound buffer from high traffic noise. Potential tree line on east edge of stilwell avenue to create a uniform road section.
8
model study
urbann co c nnecction i
9
urban plan
urban plan
10
design evolution
design evolution This diagram defines the two open spaces. There is a sharp contrast between the two. The more extroverted space is full of energy and vibrance . It serves for community interaction. It is a space for the body. This space is balanced bythe introverted space which is calm and static. It serves for contemplation and concentration. It is a space for the mind. The layer between the two is what separates so as to serve a filter and barrier at the same time.
11
design evolution
The layer of separation has to act as a barrier as well as a filter.
The separation is formed by the galleria. It would serve to filter the activity and vibrance. Generally a galleria is a corridor with activities on both sides. For this project, the galleria has activites on one side that form the required barrier and the other side provides for infiltration.
12
site features
site features The site forms an urban center of activities that provide for functions that satisfy community needs. The raw material produced on site in orchards is used by the food stalls and rest is sold in the farmers’ market. The produce from bamboo garden provides for bamboo workshops and sale, thus generating jobs for lower strata of the community. Local artists get a platform to display thier talent, which would otherwise go unnoticed. Rainwater harvesting techniques saves water and uses the same for irrigation of orchards. The outdoor library and game tables build a community place fostering interaction among people.
13
site plan
site plan
14
block layout
plaza (active space)
galleria(connection | filter)
bamboo garden (contemplative space)
library
museum galleria
museum
library
plaza
15
massing
library massing
This diagram illustrates the available volumes and how the massing facilitates the incoming light. In the diagrams the density of lines illustrate the comparative levels of light on each floor.;l such that there is clear volume of light that addresses the plaza in front of it.
16
plans
plan - level 1
-10
0
10
20 17
plan - basement
-10
0
10
20 18
plan - level 2
-10
0
10
20 19
plan - level 3
-10
0
10
20 20
plan - level 4
-10
0
10
20 21
elevations
elevations west elevation
south elevation
east elevation
22
sections
A
B
c
d
C
sections
D
E
e
b
a
section along north-south axis
section along east-west axis 23
flooring plans
flooring plans level 1
level 2 The red carpeted area emphasises the circulation on all subsequent floors
level 3
level 4
24
views
views-exterior
birds eye view from northwest
dinner theatre
galleria
25
views-interior southwest side of atrium
atrium
galleria seating on level 3
main reading room along west wall
view of atrium from entrance
26