Place making

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Place Making

The Elements of Landmarks



Place Making

The Elements of Landmarks

Timothy M. Beecken University of Florida Graduate School of Architecture Master in Architecture, 2014 Thesis Advisors: Lisa Huang + Lee-Su Huang


Under the advisement of: Lisa Huang, Assistant Professor UF | SoA Lee-Su Huang, Assistant Professor UF | SoA Special thanks: Nina Hofer, Associate Professor UF | SoA Nancy Clark, Assistant Director UF | SoA Mark McGlothlin, Assistant Professor UF | SoA Martha Kohen, Professor UF | SoA Guy Peterson, Adjunct Professor UF | SoA Bradley Walters, Assistant Professor UF | SoA Donna Cohen, Associate Professor UF | SoA Haley Van Wagenen, Skidmore Owings & Merrill, NY William Antozzi III, Renzo Piano Building Workshop, NY Giovanni Traverso, Architect, Traverso Vighy, Italy University of Florida Graduate School of Design 2014


Table of Contents 8

Thesis Abstract

10

1. Experiences

22

2. City Identifiers

34

3. Occupational Studies

46

4. Contextual Properties

62

5. The Proposal

96

References



A sincere thank you to all my friends, family, and faculty members for all their feedback and words of advice. Without your friendships, I would not be in the place I am today. Together, we have all grown stronger and I greatly look forward to a future where we all will be working to make the world an even better place. Thank you.


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Thesis Abstract Cities are often identified by the buildings that leave an impression in the skyline, provide a cultural scene, create a landmark, or for some, leave an emotional response to the spaces encountered. These typologies can be broken down to the verticality of Towers, the forms of Objects, the environments of Districts and the entertainment of Cultural places. In all of these conditions, the integration of the public is a crucial and necessary design component; it is a missed opportunity to not incorporate public elements to such landmark places. The moment when the structure meets the ground, is the moment the structure meets the public. It must be engaging and draw the public within; the structure must shake the hand of the community and develop a mutual respect. Too commonly, structures confront the urban street with a barrier or harsh edge, limiting access and deterring and public exploration. To break that barrier the proposal involves inverting the common logic of a lobby. What would happen if we inverted the concept of a lobby, transforming it into a plaza, where it may join the street; that it how a structure should greet its context. A structure that must label its entrance with a sign is a structure that has failed to present itself to the public in an engaging way. The connection to the urban fabric is critical, and it will be a major design element in this study. Programs must be as diverse as the spaces themselves if one wishes for a place to truly become a city identifier. The concept of merging two contrasting functions such as a City Hall and a Library introduce an interesting complexity of occupation to a place. City Halls are meant to be a community entity, where decisions are made that shape the future of a community. However, they are incredibly intimidating to the public and all too private. Libraries on the other hand are absolutely public entities, a place for learning and strengthening of the mind. Through combining these programs, sharing a public space, and the transparency of spaces, the goal is to open the door to places that should be truly public. As a result, the spaces will become a remembered place and have the ability to present the city with an identity. The goal of this project is to identify the key elements of existing successful city landmarks and use them to inform an intervention that may grow to give an identity to cities that are lacking one; in this case Tampa, Florida. The elements will inform the development of contrasting programs, ground conditions, and their vertical counter parts. Different cities will require different scales of elements however; the scale of the human is never changing and ultimately, it should be a place to be human.

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1. Experiences

“We live in a time of renaissance… cities are coming back to life, after a long neglect.” -Daniel Libeskind


Piazza San /Marco, Venice, Italy

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European and American Places European public space is very different from places in America. In Europe most cities will have a form of a main square, most multiple squares; this is partly due to the way in which these cities were constructed. They are all “old” cities dating back hundreds of years, foot traffic is the common means of travel in many of these places and with that, comes life in the square. Many of the larger cities such as Barcelona, Paris, and London all have extensive public transportation infrastructure as well which allows the people to remain on foot. This is where American cities struggle, keeping people on foot and walking through the cities versus driving past. The American culture is extremely car centric; people often commute from miles away in the sub-urban area to the city. This is simply due to the way American culture has established itself, many European cities did not have cars when they were established; many American cities did. This allowed people to leave the city center into the sub-urban areas where they may further spread themselves, all because the automobile allows them to quickly get to any destination. In response to the loss of foot traffic, American squares often struggle to be occupied at even the basic level. Often what we see is the “lunch rush” occupying these places, this links directly back to foot traffic levels, people will walk to their lunch destination if it is within the vicinity. It is not that Americans prefer to drive everywhere they need to go, it is the direct result of the migration away from city centers, and it is to the point that they must drive to go anywhere. However, there are a few cities that have become dense enough to support systems the Europeans use. New York City, Washington DC, Boston, and Chicago all encourage the use of their subways, partially eliminating the need for cars. New York City is very successful at this; it is often more expensive and time consuming to own a car in the city. The transportation system including subways, buses, and ferries eliminate the need almost completely. This allows people to go back to their feet and enjoy the city at the slower pace of walking and occupying the public realm. However, there is another way to gather people. When enough public programs are provided, these public squares may become occupied simply due to the amount of entertainment that is provided in a condensed area. The traditional mall is a good example of this, a simple and enclosed street with many storefronts. Malls will always be populated as they are a destination for entertainment, they are a direct reflection of the streets of Venice, endless shops and streets to explore and trade. A trend to reverse the enclosed mall to its original form is appearing, allowing the corridor to return to an exterior pedestrian street with store fronts lining it. As a result, while this series of programs is still a place Americans drive to, they do explore the space and programs on foot. A nearby square may be the perfect place to relax and meet with family and friends. 13


Piazza San Marco, Venice A Place to Go St. Mark’s Square, is very much a place to go and experience the space. The reason it is a place to go rather than a place to be is there is not many moments of pause within the square. Attempting to sit on the steps will have you being asked not to by security. It is relatively void and similar, there are no changes in the edge conditions and the space can become overwhelmingly large if unoccupied.

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Piazza San Pietro, Vatican A Place to Gather St. Peter’s Square is one of the largest gathering spaces in the world, people flock here to witness the Pope and be embraced by the architectural arms that wrap the space. The scale of the colonnade to the human is enormous making the space feel safe and protected. The square is almost always occupied as the surrounding areas are a huge tourist attraction. This is the perfect space for large amounts of people to gather and witness events; it is contained and yet open.

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Spanish Steps, Rome A Place to Transverse It is through traversing this space that one experiences the unique conditions of the place. Climbing, resting, and looking are all part of the itinerary of these stairs. The continuous movement of the people within the space creates a very dynamic atmosphere that will never be the same from one moment to the next. There is a great moment of triumph, relief, and ecstasy when one reaches the top, turns around, and realizes the view over the city they now have.

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Piazza dei Signori, Vicenza A Place to Be Vicenza’s main square has many faces throughout the day. In the morning, it may be the site of the weekly market that promptly disappears mid-day revealing an impressively clean stone-scape. Come dinner time, many cafes have their tables set up in the space offering various drinks and meals to the public. Music often echoes the facades in the evenings, followed by the laughter of children as families and friends exchange their stories of the day. This is the place to be if one is in Vicenza.

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Times Square, New York A Place to Transverse If the congestion and noise is not enough to make Times Square a place to be moved through, the lack of seating and moments of pause will be. While the city is working to make the square more publicly friendly by closing streets, the shear amount of people still make it a place hard to relax in. There is an incredible spatial itinerary as one moves through the few blocks that define the square. However, where at the Spanish Steps one is exposed to historic buildings and incredible views, in Times Square one is blasted with media and advertisement as every facade is covered with colors and lights.

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Bryant Park, New York A Place to Be Much like Vicenza’s Square, Bryant Park has many faces throughout the day. It is the perfect space to escape the busy streets and have lunch, or to meet after a long day of work and have some drinks with friends. One could go to the New York Public Library that is one of the edges of the space and read a book on the lawn. That is the only exemption in the comparability to Vicenza’s Square; the main space is a grass field. American spaces have a heavy influence of green-scape within almost all public spaces.

Sources: Google Images

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Millenium Park, Chicago A Place to Go Located on the edge of downtown, the Millennium Park serves as a retreat from the city to the public. It offers a large variety of spaces for one to occupy and experience with many moments of pause and rest. It is a great place to go and see and spend some time there; however, it is lacking the aspects separating a place to go versus a place to be. If there was a greater variety of programs provided throughout the day that would engage the moment immensely, it would be considered a place to be.

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Sources: Google Images


Lincoln Memorial, DC A Place to Gather Many historically important speaches and events have taken place along the reflection pond at Lincoln Memorial. It is very similar to St. Peter’s Square in the regard that it is a place for gathering and events, the downside to the American version is that the place is realivily void when there is no event. There are no programs within it’s direct vacinity and the few that are on site are not enough to draw the amount of people for the space to remain truly active.

Sources: Google Images

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2. City Identifiers

“A concrete-and-steel building can be temporary. It can be taken down or destroyed by an earthquake. But paper can last. It’s a question of love. If a building is loved, it becomes permanent.” -Shigeru Ban, Pritzker Architecture Prize 2014


Place Makers What is a Place? What makes a Place? Is it the structure, material, form? Or is it the people? When one thinks of Paris what comes to mind? The “Eiffel Tower”? How about London, would the answer be “The Eye” or “Big Ben?” In most cases the answer would name one of the famous structures that are prominent in the city. These structures have become famous through their popularity with the public and often engage the public in unique ways and all create a place of their own within the greater context. The structures often do so well at serving the context that they have become the symbol of the city; when one thinks of a city, often there will be a particular moment within that city that comes to mind. Not all of these moments are the same scale however, there are many categories that may be established to group the different concepts. In the case of this study, they were split via their experiential and scalar differences in the way they create a place into four divisions: The Object, The District, Towers, and Cultural. The Eiffel Tower is a prime example of the Tower category, not only is it a historic centerpiece to Paris but it also serves as an anchor point to many parks. The space below the structure is completely a public zone, even within the tower there are areas of public space with incredible views of the city. In this regard, the structure is not only acting as a landmark in the skyline but also as a dominant public node within the urban fabric. The same can be said for many identifying structures, but they need not be a tower all the time. There are also much smaller, installation sized moments within the city fabric that have become symbols of a city. The Chicago “Bean,” the St. Louis “Arch,” Paris’ “Louvre,” all are great examples of small scale places that create a lasting impression. Their small scale interventions into the core of city fabrics provide a huge opportunity to drastically influence the public at the scale of the street realm. The Chicago “Bean” for example, has become a social media icon; if one goes to Chicago they absolutely must take a photo of their reflection and share it online immediately. The same can be said for the St. Louis “Arch” however in both cases; they are also making the landscape and creating a place. TheThe St. Louis “Arch” serves as the anchor to its waterside parks, the “Bean” softens the vertical edges of the surrounding skyscrapers, “The Louvre” portals the public into the adjacent neighborhood and creates it’s place within the courtyards of the surrounding structures. They all create their own sense of place no matter how small their scale may be due to their unique formal implications and key placement within their context. 24


Contexts on their own in some cases act as a unified experience, so that one may categorize them as a whole, or a District. Examples of this concept range from “The Strip” in Las Vegas, to Miami’s “South Beach,” even to the “Red Light District” in Amsterdam. In all their cases, there are a collection of structures working together to create an atmosphere as a collective whole rather than individuals. The itineraries this concept forms are elaborate and highly experiential, the scales of alley ways contrasted to main roads, even intimate courtyards to grand plazas, offer a variety of spatial conditions for one to experience in a condensed area. Structures that serve the public specifically tend to make a place of their own within the city. Often these structures are limited to one major program with a few secondary occupancies; however, they are extremely successful on becoming landmark structures simply due to the amount of public attention and occupation they receive. Examples include Sydney Opera House, Oslo Opera House, the Seattle Central Library, and Boston City hall to name a few. The important aspect to these structures is not a formal or even presence based one, but one of pure programmatic and experiential occupation. There are many identifiable structures in the world that are clearly linked to their context, but there are some cities that are lacking such a structure, lacking a place. There are those skylines that are void of any dominating piece of architecture that fulfills the previously discussed categories. Thinking of places such as Atlanta, Jacksonville and Tampa to name a few, one is not able to specify a structure that can be easily identified to that particular city. The skylines and urban fabrics are missing that key piece of architecture that aids in bringing a community together. In contrast to a void skyline is an overpopulated one. In the case of high density cities such as Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Sheng-Hai, there is a clear struggle for attention among buildings. One is not able to simply build a taller tower and expect it to become a city identifier, there must be attention given to the public realm in order for it to become accepted and revered for its spatial qualities. The following study is a breakdown of these categories and the unique properties of each structure that has been classified as a City Identifier.

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I. Objects

Chicago

St. Louis

Objects play a more formal role in the making of place. Their forms are often intuitive of their function and while many appear to be purely sculptural, there is always an occupiable space within or around it.

Gateway Arch

Population 318,172 City Area 66.2 sq mi

- Public Memorial - Built in 1963 - 630 feet tall

Density 5,140.1/sq mi

- Occupation under and around structure - Clearly visible in city skyline

Population 2,714,856

Cloud Gate (The Bean) - Sculpture in Plaza - Built in 2006

City Area 234.0 sq mi

- Surface reflects and distorts the city’s skyline - People interact with distorted reflections - Occupation under and around structure - Isolated in a Plaza

Paris

London

Density 11,864.4/sq mi

The London Eye

Population 8,308,369

- Ferris Wheel - Built in 2000 - 443 feet tall

City Area 606.95 sq mi Density 13,690/sq mi

- Offers views of the city - Occupation under and around structure - Clearly visible in city skyline

Population 10,413,386

Louvre Pyramid - Museum Entrance - Built in 1989 - 70 feet tall

City Area 1,098.4 sq mi

- Steel and glass construction - Occupation above, below, and around - Isolated in a Plaza

Density 9,483/sq mi

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Sources: Google Images


II. Districts

Miami

With the distinct character of the city, districts are the accumulation of many smaller scale structures and itineraries that have become unified to create a greater whole. The experiential experience of spaces and atmospheres is the key to their success.

South Beach Area

Population 413,892

- District located next to the beach - Developed in 1910s

City Area 55.27 sq mi

- Ample day and night life - Popular tourist destination - Excellent commercial area

New York City

Population 8,336,697

Amsterdam

Population 443,775

Las Vegas

Density 12,139.5/sq mi

Population 596,424

The Highline - Re-purposed Railway Park - Created in 2009

City Area 302.6 sq mi

- Provides a unique linear park - Elevated removing itself from traffic - Has Urban Island qualities

Density 27,550/sq mi

De Wallen - Largest Red Light District - 70,000 sq. ft.

City Area 132.4 sq mi

- Hundreds of small 1 room venues - Purely commercial area - The allure of the forbidden draw people in

Density 3,188/sq mi

Vegas Strip - Casinos, Entertainments, Hotels - 4.2 miles in length

City Area 135.8 sq mi

- Some of the largest hotels in the world - Buildings generate a scenic environment - A world within a world - “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas�

Density 4,298.1/sq mi

Sources: Google Images

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III. Towers

Hong Kong

Dubai

Paris

Seattle

The shear vertical element a tower brings to a skyline is one of the purest forms of a landmark. If the context scale is great enough, no other form of architecture may compete in marking a place both in the skyline and within the urban fabric.

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Space Needle

Population 634,535

- Observation Tower - Built in 1961 - 605.0 feet tall

City Area 142.5 sq mi Density 7,402/sq mi

- Stands out in the city sky line - Offers an observation deck - There is no space to occupy below - Stand-alone tower

Population 10,413,386

Eiffel Tower - Observation Tower - Built in 1889 - 1,063 feet tall

City Area 1,098.4 sq mi Density 9,483/sq mi

- Prominent in city skyline - Offers an observation deck - Large space to occupy below - Directly linked with a park promenade

Population 2,106,177

Burj Khalifa - Mixed use development - Built in 2010 - 2,722 feet tall

City Area 1,588 sq mi Density 1,199.6/sq mi

- Extremely prominent in city skyline - Offers an observation deck - Ground connection to oasis

Population 7,184,000

HSBC Bank Tower - Commercial Offices - Built in 1985 - 586.6 feet tall

City Area 426 sq mi

- Structural elements are prominent - Ground level is very porous - Direct connection to city fabric

Density 17,024/sq mi

Sources: Google Images


Chicago London Shanghai Orlando

Sears Tower

Population 443,775

- Commercial Offices - Built in 1973 - 1,729 feet tall

City Area 132.4 sq mi Density 3,188/sq mi

- Prominent in city skyline - Massing form is memorable - Offers a unique observation deck - Enclosed ground floor

Population 8,308,369

The Shard - Commercial Offices - Built in 2012 - 1,004 feet tall

City Area 606.95 sq mi Density 13,690/sq mi

- Prominent in city skyline - Form and materials are memorable - Enclosed ground floor - Connection to Mass Transportation

Population 23,710,000

Shanghai World Financial Center - Office, Hotel, Museum, Observation, Commercial - Built in 2008 - 1,621.7 feet tall

City Area 2,448.1 sq mi Density 9,700/sq mi

- Prominent in city skyline - Form is memorable - Offers an observation deck - Enclosed ground floor

Population 249,562

Cinderella’s Castle - Theme Park - Built in 1971 - 189 Feet tall

City Area 110.7 sq mi

- A symbol of Florida - Fantasy brought to reality - Circulation in and around

Density 2,327.3/sq mi

Sources: Google Images

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IV. Cultural

St. Petersburg

Population 244,997

Seattle

Identifiers need not always be formal or tall to be a prominent element to the urban fabric, there are many structures with intense public program that make them extremely successful in the public eye.

Population 634,535

St. Petersburg Pier - Retail, Boat rentals, Festivals, Aquarium - Built in 1973

City Area 137.6 sq mi

- Has been a pier since 1889 - Resisted demolition for a new pier in 2013 - Located in the bay - Direct connection to the city - Form is memorable

Density 3,967/sq mi

Seattle Central Library - Public Library - Built in 2004

City Area 142.5 sq mi

- Form and materials are memorable - Activates street corner - Rather porous ground floor - Atrium spaces within

Density 7,402/sq mi

Barcelona

Density 3,188/sq mi

- Occupies a full block - Scale stands out in context - Form and program are memorable - Completely porous

Oslo

Santa Caterina Market

Population 443,775

Population 629,313

Oslo Opera House

- Market - Founded in 1848 - Renovated in 2005

City Area 132.4 sq mi

- Opera House - Built in 2007

City Area 175.30 sq mi

- Located in the bay - Scale maintains city skyline - Completely occupiable roof - Occupation is memorable

Density 3,600/sq mi

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Sources: Google Images


Orlando Boston

Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts

Population 2,134,411

- Performing Arts - Under Construction - Expected 2014

City Area 110.7 sq mi Density 2,327/sq mi

- Form and materials are memorable - Activates urban context - Large canopy shelters public space - Atrium spaces within

Population 636,479

Boston City Hall - City Hall - Built in 1968

City Area 89.63 sq mi

- Occupies a full block - Scale stands out in context - Form and program are memorable - Brutalist style makes for a very harsh appearance

Sydney

Paris

Density 12,900/sq mi

Louvre Pyramid

Population 10,413,386

- Museum Entrance - Built in 1989 - 70 feet tall

City Area 1,098.4 sq mi Density 9,483/sq mi

- Steel and glass construction - Occupation above, below, and around - Isolated in a Plaza

Population 4,627,345

Sydney Opera House - Opera House - Built 1973

City Area 4,689.1 sq mi

- Located in the bay - Scale maintains city skyline - Form is memorable

Density 984.2/sq mi

Sources: Google Images

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V. Absent

Tampa

The cities that are void of a true identity, whether it be the lack of one altogether or in contrast, the competition of so many different identifiers that there remains little opportunity for one to even emerge.

Skyline

Population 347,645

The Downtown area is missing an landmark feature.

City Area 170.6 sq mi

Jacksonville

Population 836,507

Atlanta

Density 2,969.6/sq mi

Population 443,775

Skyline The Downtown area is missing an landmark feature.

City Area 747.0 sq mi Density 1,100.1/sq mi

Skyline The Downtown area is missing an landmark feature.

City Area 132.4 sq mi Density 3,188/sq mi

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Sources: Google Images


Hong Kong

Population 7,184,000

ShengHai

Population 24,150,000

Skyline The city is overwhelmed and lacks a landmark.

City Area 426 sq mi Density 17,024/sq mi

Skyline The city is overwhelmed and lacks a landmark.

City Area 2,448 sq mi

Tokyo

Density 9,900/sq mi

Skyline

Population 13,185,502

The city is overwhelmed and lacks a landmark.

City Area 844.66 sq mi Density 16,000/sq mi

Sources: Google Images

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3. Occupational Studies “ Good design is not about form following function. It is function with cultural content. By adding “cultural content” to the concept of “form follows function,” objects cease to be finite or predictable...” -Carl Magnussen


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Occupational Studies It is important in architecture that structures first and foremost offer something to the public for taking up part of its space. It is rather selfish for a building to utilize a public block and offer nothing back for it. Some zoning policies even encourage behavior and reward a building that provides parks and courtyards to the public by allowing it to build taller, such is the case in New York City. However, all structures should aim to improve its surrounds, not degrade them. The following studies show usage of public space both within and around the structure, many allow the public to occupy parts and move through the spaces offering a large variety of spatial itineraries. A few even go as far as allowing the public to view into its program, providing insight and intrigue to the people that would otherwise have no part of the business occurring behind closed doors. The structures also mark a place out of their direct context. In contrast to the concept of public places explored previously, buildings also create places around and within themselves. That be through the filling of an edge condition to create a square, becoming an object in the landscape, or vertically marking the place in the skyline, each have a way in which they mark a place. They all have their perks and each have many interesting aspects that make them successful buildings to the public. There is one aspect that each building must address still, Light. Light is the most important element to encouraging public occupation. With light comes safety, and with safety comes people. A building that casts a large shadow over the public spaces below is an uninviting one; there must be some effort into allowing the maximum amount of light to reach the ground and thus the public realm.

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HSBC Bank Tower | Hong Kong Architect: Foster and Partners Program: Commercial Offices - Structural elements are prominent feature. - Ground level is very porous allowing the public to pass through the space. - Glass roof atrium allows visual connection to vertical space within the core. - Direct connection to city fabric and adjacent parks. - Open plan allows multiple uses of space including weekend gathering. - Sunlight is captured and reflected within the atrium to the ground floor creating an inviting atmosphere.

Site Plan Urban Condition

Direct connection to Parks

Sources: Google Images

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Sectional Urban Condition

Ground level is open to public allowing one to transverse block


TOWER

Sunlight is reected within to illuminate ground level

Vertical visual connection to atrium Access is limited to ground oor

Plan Axonometric North to South Section

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Boston City Hall | Boston Architects: Gerhard Kallmann + Michael McKinnell Program: Civic - Brutalist form and construction are the prominent features. - Ground level is very porous allowing the public to pass through the space . - Atrium space allows some visual connections vertically - Direct connection to city fabric and adjacent plaza. - Large open plaza is great but, is often unoccupied leaving the structure as an object. - Sunlight is lacking in the core, creating a dark, uninviting atmosphere. - Concept could easily work with a different choice of materials that portray a lighting construction, and allowing more light to reach the ground in the core.

Site Plan Urban Condition

Central atrium provides some light to enter the core

Sources: Google Images

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Sectional Urban Condition

The core is public however the atmosphere is not inviting


CULTURAL

Sun does not reach ground

Plaza Connection

Plaza Connection

Open Atrium

North to South Section

Disconnection

East to West Section

open atrium

Dead Canyon Plan Axonometric

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Seattle Central Library | Seattle Architects: OMA Program: Library - Form and Material are the prominent features. - Ground level is enclosed but inviting. - Large atrium spaces allow visual connections vertically - Programs are stacked to offer different atmospheres throughout the building. - Northern Sunlight penetrates the skin, illuminating reading areas. - Stands as a dominate feature in the context. - Intensly public program. - Relies on the plazas from other blocks to serve as relief

Site Plan Urban Condition

Sources: Google Images

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Sectional Urban Condition

Relies on the plazas from other blocks to serve as relief

Highway


CULTURAL

Northern Light Penetrates Skin

Direct light is blocked from book stacks

Direct light enters Living Room

East to West Section

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Reichstag German Parliament | Berlin Architects: Foster and Partners Program: Parliament

- Old vs. New - The form and material in the context are the prominent feature. - Large atrium space in parliament, allows for the public to view into the chambers. - Sunlight penetrates the Dome, illuminating the chambers below. - The intervention is an attempt to make public the inner workings of a government. - The renovation keeps unique parts of old construction.

Site Plan Urban Condition

Isolated in the Context Sectional Urban Condition Sources: Google Images

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CULTURAL

Public is able to view down into the Chambers

Direct light Penetrates to Chambers

Parliament becomes a fish bowl

Direct Connection to Plaza

East to West Section

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4. Contextual Properties “Architects can’t force people to connect, it can only plan the crossing points, remove barriers, and make the meeting places useful and attractive. ” -Denise Scott Brown


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Contextual Integration “I started out trying to create buildings that would sparkle like isolated jewels; now I want them to connect, to form a new kind of landscape, to flow together with contemporary cities and the lives of their peoples.” -Zaha Hadid. Zaha is famous for her extravagant forms and boldness in design for always standing out. Even so, this statement is a clear indication that she realizes that buildings cannot stand on their own, that they fully rely not only on the built environment surrounding them, but also the people that occupy them, the people that they were designed and built for in the first place. As stated before, it is critically important that structures give something back to the public for using what would otherwise have been their space. In return, the context will provide the structure with benefits it could never provide alone, occupancy, financial, and public opinion are all crucial to the success of a structure and providing it with a long life. Context gives the building occupancy, every project studied thus far has a hard-link to its urban fabric, many would fail to exist without this connection. The most obvious being any of the piazzas or parks mentioned in the experiences chapter, almost all of these are only able to exist because of the structures that surround and contain them. In the case of any Roman piazza, there is always a form of structure that straddles at least three of its edges; this provides a feeling of safety and security to occupants. At St. Mark’s Square, the fourth edge is actually a waterfront, offering an endless visual to the sea and the islands in the distance. The buildings not only serve as an edge though, they house people, retail, and commercial programs, these are all people that will occupy the place they create. It is impossible to create a Roman piazza in a suburban American landscape because of this, there are just not enough people in a dense enough area to do so. Districts are a unique case as they themselves are the context; however, the fact still remains the same and even more so in this case: context is critical to their success. They rely on each other’s success to bring even more people to the area which allows them to grow, its cycle that if unbroken would allow for continuous growth. The same can be said in the inverse scenario however, if the area were to suffer, they all would. 49


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The study on the left was done to illustrate the importance of context; it uses three distinct Place Makers to demonstrate their influence in different scenarios. The Eiffel Tower, Oslo Opera House, and NYC Highline were chosen specifically for their contextual or lack of contextual reliance. The three scales of scenarios chosen were the barren Payne’s Prairie, the quintessential American suburban area, and the downtown skyline of Tampa, Florida. Starting from the left, the Highline was previously identified as a District element. Its heavy reliance on the structures it weaves to leads it to be impossible to reproduce in a different context. Placing it within Payne’s Prairie leaves it simply as another boardwalk, there is nothing special or spatial about the structure. The same can be said when it is applied to the suburban scenario, it becomes some cross town path that serves no purpose other than a means from point A to B. When used in the Tampa skyline it reflects the previous comments as well, it is possible that if placed weaving through the buildings that it may retain some of the success it has in NYC; however, Tampa does not provide the density necessary for such an intervention. The Highline requires the context it currently resides in, it would be near impossible to reproduce such an experience elsewhere. The middle column explores the Oslo Opera house, in Oslo, Norway, it is located in the fjord near downtown, overlooks the sea and provides its surface as a platform for the public to enjoy. It also struggles within the first two scenarios having been designed for a specific environment of which, this is not. Placing it in the water front of Tampa does produce a limited amount of success; there is still an objectness to it in this context that is not native to the project however. It is possible with some adjustments it may be able to adapt to this scenario. The Eiffel Tower is able to break the constraints of contextual integration, the verticality of it in different scenarios serves different meanings. However, in each instance, it has great success. It acts as a landmark within the plains and as a distinct park in the suburban fabric. Within the Tampa Skyline, it leaves a substantial impact, clearly making its presence known and acting in its native characteristics of a tower. The results of this study clearly showed the reliance of many structures to their context with the exception of towers. The shear verticality of a tower is able to make a place of its own in many different scenarios, but this is a visual success. The Eiffel Tower is much more than a visual piece of architecture. It is successful with its integration of a park and the fabric of the city, supplying it with occupants and life, without this, the Eiffel Tower would simply become a sculpture.

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Sources: Google Maps


Tampa, Florida Located on the west coast of Florida along the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa stands with a population of 347,645, the 53rd largest city in the US. The greater Tampa Bay area has been showing growth rates approaching 15% since 2000, and was ranked as the 5th best outdoor city by Forbes in 2008. The city does have a lot to offer the public as much as it can, the amount of culture the city has far exceeds the norm. Its culture ranges from Arts, to Museums, Tourism, Events, major league sports, the city even has a seaport in which many cruise and industrial ships dock with daily. Downtown Tampa remains ripe for development; there are less than 20 buildings above 20 stories leaving plenty of room for one to make a mark. Many blocks within the core of downtown remain as flat parking lots which could easily be combined into one central parking garage allowing parks and other structures to occupy what is now a bed of asphalt. With so much culture and waterfront on hand, Tampa has the perfect opportunity to create an iconic building for itself and form an identity everyone will recognize. The site chosen to develop resides next to the water and is part of the city’s river walk, a move to form a continuous sidewalk along the edge of the water. It currently stands as a subterranean parking garage with a landscaping project as its roof: Kiley Gardens. The parking garage serves Rivergate Tower, the tower that has been commonly referred to as the “Beer Can” due to its proportions and form. Sources: https://www.tampagov.net/

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Culture + Site The Site resides next to the Hillsborough River and its edge is part of the city’s river walk, a move to form a continuous sidewalk along the edge of the water. The surrounding urban fabric is full of culture. To the north is the Tampa Museum of Art, just north of that the Tampa Public Library, and the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts, directly across the river is the University of Tampa campus, and a few blocks east is the current City Hall. The existing site condition currently stands as a subterranean parking garage with a landscaping project as its roof: Kiley Gardens. The parking garage serves Rivergate Tower, the tower that has been commonly referred to as the “Beer Can� due to its proportions and form. With the plaza of the museum and the flatness of what was once Kiley Gardens the site is left feeling relatively void of interest; however, it has all the desired elements in its direct context that the site becomes the perfect place to intervene and attempt to bring an identifiable place to Tampa. 55


Sources: Google Images

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Rivergate Tower ‘Beer Can’ “The bones of the building were already good,” property owner Udwin said. “What was really needed was some lipstick and rouge.” Udwin acquired the tower through foreclosure in 2011 for $22 million. At the time the building sat at 56% occupation, a rather depressing number for any structure. Since purchase Udwin has spent more than $1 million in renovations, bringing some of the historic beauty back to the building. The structure was designed by architect Harry Wolf and was completed in 1988. The building uses the Fibonacci sequence to order the structure, allowing each floor tile and window pane to increase in size progressively.

Sources: Google Images

Structurally the building relies on its round plan, moving most of the bearing support to its perimeter and maintaining a central core. Office spaces are distributed around the central core and provide views of the landscape all 360 degrees. The skinning is a limestone material with rather limited window sizes; the amount of glass in this tower is only a fraction of that compared to today’s modern glass cladded towers. As a result, from contemporary eyes the building is very harsh in the landscape, but does make its presence known.

Sources: “Tampa’s “beer can” building remodeled, ready for new chapter”. TampaBay.com “Rivergate Tower”. Skyscraperpage.com.

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Kiley Garden “Beyond the sign for Kiley Gardens, not much remains of landscape architect Dan Kiley’s original design for the 4-acre site at the base of downtown’s cylindrical Rivergate Tower. Gone is the canopy of crape myrtles. Gone is the sound of flowing water. Gone is the glass-topped canal that once ran parallel to Ashley Drive. Gone is the modern metal sculpture dubbed “the exploding chicken.” What remains is a sun-blasted plaza covered with a mix of grass and concrete. The fountains and water features sit idle.” -The Tampa Tribune Much different from when the park opened in 1988 as the Nations Bank Plaza, the park now stands as a barren landscape compared to what it once was. When the structural damage from the trees became an issue, the trees had to be removed and the roof repaired at the expense of the city. As a result, the trees were never replanted and most likely never will be returned to their former glory. The park now creates a void in the fabric, a figment of the past that will never become the same. However, this creates a great opportunity for intervention. The parks historical value and location are a prime ingredient in creating a Place in downtown Tampa.

Sources: Google Images

Sources: “Kiley Garden”. rsandh.com “Tampa council weighs fate of defunct Kiley Gardens”. tbo.com.

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Sources: Google Images

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Existing Conditions Currently the edges of the site are deeply flawed in the way they engage the context. The rivers edge is meet with a twenty foot tall hard concrete wall with a ramp that scales the side of it. From the perspective of the University of Tampa it is a very unpleasent view. The way in which the entry to the parking garage bisects the two plazas leaves only a single eight foot wide path that bridges the gap, extermely limiting the appeal of accessibility. The street edge is raised eight feet, with the majority of what appear to be steps creating the boundary between street level and plaza; the steps are actually two feet tall seating areas, with intermitant breaks where actually stairs penetrate the edge.

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5. The Proposal

“How do you turn a park into a place people want to be? It’s up to you, not as a city planner, but as a human being. You don’t tap into your design expertise, you tap into your humanity.” - Amanda Burden Former Director of the NYC Department of City Planning


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City Identifiers as Elements The place makers explored previously play a crucial role in the design development of the proposal. The structures selected are extremely successful at place making and were chosen for doing so, they were also chosen because of their willingness to reveal their reasons for success. Their categories of Object, Tower, District and Cultural directly influenced specific characteristics of the design concept. These elements will be combined and distributed to various aspects of design and build upon the success of the existing projects to provide a means of success for this project. Ultimately, it is the public’s decision on whether a space may become a place. Objects were selected based on their success on standing alone in a void context and transforming it into a place to experience. They are often a structure the public engages with and become an attractor to humanity. This category inherently plays the role of shaping formal properties to become something memorable and unique. Towers serve as a vertical landmark within the city skyline acting as a beacon for the place from different districts of the city. Their facade is immensely customizable, only the structure remains a standard and even that is susceptible to design influence. The verticality of a tower serves its use and will influence the desire for such an element in the proposal. Districts are a means of parts to whole, in that many smaller structures work together in a dense area to become something more than anyone of them alone could have become. This leads to engaging spatial itineraries one may follow while exploring the district, whether that be following the main road to go directly to one’s destination, or exploring the alleyways and meandering through the architectural conditions to eventually emerge at a destination. Districts inform this experiential idea of exploration and multiple spaces to engage with. Cultural program is almost always there to provide the public with a means of entertainment or knowledge; they provide the city with amenities and can also make them tourist destinations. They have the power to draw people in and influence entire districts if successful. As a result, Cultural is used to inform the programs of the future proposal. Overall, this strategy of design is to reflect on the success of others. By using these specific elements to inform the concepts, one establishes a base to build upon and possibly become successful themselves. To repeat, ultimately it is the public’s decision on whether a space may become a place. 65


Influence of Elements The elements have a direct influence on the design of the project; each has a very specific aspect that tied itself to formal and rational design concepts. Cultural informed the program of Media Library and City Hall, Districts informed the spatial itinerary used to provide circulation between volumes, Object influenced the formal design to be something noticeable, and Tower was the vertical element used to mark the skyline.

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Contextual Edges The edges of the site are each very dynamic ranging from the fast paced street, to the vertical edge of a tower, the vast field of a plaza, and the ever illustrious edge of a river. To address each of these edges and explore their potential, a study was done to quickly design multiple possible renditions of edges. In the case of the street edge, attention was given to inviting people into the spaces. As it currently stands, the edge is very harsh with limited moments of permeability. The redesign addresses this by providing a much more subtle means of elevation change which is inherently more inviting. This is a fast paced edge but it is also the most publicly exposed edge therefore, any design that improves the access or welcoming feeling to the public to move away from the street and bring occupants into the space. The cylindrical towers edge provides a rather difficult condition to address but presents a unique opportunity. By connection to and reforming the edges of the tower it can be turned into the vertical element of the project. The goal is to allow the formal application used within the proposal to inform the potential conditions of the existing tower. Plaza edges may be the most difficult edge to address, they have a very strong presence and so will any structure one constructs on their edge. The goal is to maintain a friendly relationship between the spaces, the conditions explored are a direct result of this. Waterfront property is always the most desirable spaces for humanity. The property currently has a very poor edge condition on the water and provides no sense of connection between the people and the water. It is critically important that the project embrace the gift of water and integrates the edge to become more personal. The following studies are the experimentation and exploration of these four edges. The sections are drawn with knowledge that some are not in the best interest of the public but are there just as a possible edge. The preferred fragments are shown later in the proposal with a direct correlation to the spaces they influenced. 69


Sectional Fragments

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Catalyst The process of combining the sectional fragments into a whole was a process led by placing the sections in the basic locations they were designed for. After the shifting of sections and looking for relationships, the project led itself to discovering new relationships and sectional information. Each edge condition instinctively fit the context due to the process of elimination previously used, this allowed for an extreme about of flexibility in shaping the final form. The result is a series of isolated volumes shifting vertically that would allow light and visual connections to form between and through the structures. The initial volumes essentially constructed themselves using this method, and with the logic behind the sections the result is successful.

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Public Light A study of light and public infiltration, the drawing examines moments of intensity and movement throughout the structure. A large vertical moment emerged as an experiential space where ones attention is directed upwards and the light is brought downwards. Centrally located is the most intense moment, this node became heavily developed as a circulation hub for the public and acting as a light beacon within the heart of the plinth. The moment furthest to the right is a reflection of the central node just at a smaller scale, the operation of light and public penetration is the programming factor.

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The Proposal The proposal utilizes all aspects of the process to gain the complexity and design concepts that have emerged as a result. The ground level is left porous having the programmatic volumes raised at minimum 20 feet above grade. This allows for the public to feel welcome and not as a trespasser as they move through and experience the spaces. It also enables the city to continue a visual connection through the block as opposed to being met with another hard edge. The introduction of the formal objects provides a means of providing light and public occupancy directly into the programmatic volumes. They are also the result of the previous drawing of “Public Light,� the formal objects have been placed in key moments of interest to provide the most benefit and lighting conditions to the surrounding spaces. The vertical formal object is programmed as a Reading Tower and inserts itself into the existing Rivergate Tower; this insertion serves as a window into the two worlds. Occupants of the Reading Tower are able to observe the inner workings of the City Hall offices and the personnel of City Hall are able to look out and observe not only the spaces of the Reading Tower but also a much improved view of Tampa. 79


Connections In plan the volumes have a direct push pull relationship on one another, the separation between them not only allow for light penetration to the ground level but also provide opportunity for visually connections across and vertically between all spaces. The implementation of the formal objects serves as nodes of circulation and is indicated clearly to the public by their function as light wells; where there is light the people will go. The ground level operates at multiple scales allowing the public to hold large events and gatherings, or to lounge and enjoy lunch, or simply pass through the space. By providing the multiple scales the structure takes full advantage of its concept of raised program and provides the public with the most amenities possible. 80


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Media Library The Media Library acts as a continuous itinerary for the public to explore and experience. While doing so, one is introduced to various moments of the city hall’s inner workings. The formal insertions act as light wells and moments of public circulation, they signify entrances and movement throughout the structure and enable visual connections between levels.

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The fast paced movement of the street led to the breakdown of the facade and the continuation of geometric volumes in reference to the adjacent museum. The entry is redesigned to be more inviting and the lifted volumes serve as a symbol of entry. The street level remains very porous allowing for uninterrupted views through the space to the University of Tampa located on the other side of the river. 84


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City Hall + Reading Room The relationship between City Hall and the public realm is one of visual connections and interaction. Throughout the ground level and public circulation spaces, one experiences numerous connections that engage ones interest at various degrees of intensity. The vertical Reading Room inserts itself in the existing office tower and alters its spaces to contain interior atriums, breaking the relentless floor plates.

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The Rivergate Tower has been carved into using the formal properties of the other objects intersecting the volumes to provide an atrium and disrupt the repetitive existing facade. The improved lighting conditions aid to working environments and overall appeal. The vertical Reading Room inserts itself into the tower physically; however, the circulation paths never mix. This serves as simply as a viewing window into the world of the city hall offices and vice versa. 89


City Hall + Exhibition Space The public exhibition space links directly to the shell of the City Hall at the moment of the conference room. This allows the public that are simply traversing the space to be engaged visually with the ongoing events in their city. The hearing room also exposes it’s events to the public on the ground level, outside of the structure. The water’s edge has been redefined to allow intimate interaction with the public.

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The smaller courtyard formed by the volumes above offers a more intimate space for one to gather, the sectional fragments informed the relationship between programs and visual connections one is able to make from the exterior space. The design of Kiley Gardens is reapplied as a pattern as well as the original green spaces throughout the public ground. 93



“If there is any single lesson I’ve learned, it is that public spaces have power. It’s not just the people using them, it’s the even greater number of people who feel better about their city just knowing that they’re there… A successful city is like a fabulous party, people stay because they are having a great time.” - Amanda Burden Former Director of the NYC Department of City Planning


References Behrman, Elizabeth. “Tampa’s.” Tampa Bay Times. http://www.tampabay.com/news/tampas-beer-canbuilding-remodeled-ready-for-new-chapter/1215799 (accessed April 30, 2014). “Famous Architecture Quotes - I Like Architecture.” I Like Architecture. http://www.ilikearchitecture.net/ category/more-cool-stuff/quotes/ (accessed April 30, 2014). “Foster + Partners.” Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Headquarters. http://www.fosterandpartners.com/ projects/hongkong-and-shanghai-bank-headquarters/ (accessed April 30, 2014). “Foster + Partners.” Reichstag, New German Parliament. http://www.fosterandpartners.com/projects/ reichstag-new-german-parliament/ (accessed April 30, 2014). “Foster + Partners.” Hongkong and Shanghai Bank Headquarters. http://www.fosterandpartners.com/ projects/hongkong-and-shanghai-bank-headquarters/ (accessed April 30, 2014). “Kiley Garden - RS&H.” RS&H. http://www.rsandh.com/what-we-do/urban-design-and-public-spaces/ open-space/kiley-garden (accessed April 30, 2014). Kimmelman, Michael. “With Paper Tubes, Building Social Change.” The New York Times. http://www. nytimes.com/2014/03/25/arts/design/shigeru-ban-an-architect-of-social-change.html?_r=1 (accessed April 30, 2014). Krull, Andrew. “AD Classics: Boston City Hall / Kallmann, McKinnell, & Knowles.” ArchDaily. http:// www.archdaily.com/117442/ad-classics-boston-city-hall-kallmann-mckinnell-knowles/ (accessed April 30, 2014). Lillie, Ben. “TED Blog.” TED Blog Public spaces have power Amanda Burden atTED2014 Comments. http://blog.ted.com/2014/03/18/public-spaces-have-power-amanda-burden-at-ted2014/ (accessed April 30, 2014). “Rivergate Tower, Tampa - SkyscraperPage.com.” Rivergate Tower, Tampa - SkyscraperPage.com. http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=677 (accessed April 30, 2014). “Seattle Central Library / OMA + LMN.” ArchDaily. http://www.archdaily.com/11651/seattle-centrallibrary-oma-lmn/ (accessed April 30, 2014). Wiatrowski , Kevin. “Tampa council weighs fate of defunct Kiley Gardens.” TBO.com. http://tbo.com/ local/communitynewstampa-council-weighs-fate-of-defunct-kiley-gardens-419087 (accessed April 30, 2014). 96


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