alexander froehlich_thesis proposal 2013_prof. howard davis

portland build agency

“the metropolis as a factory for the production of the common”hardt, negri

“the sleeping creator must be awakened...better the more consumers it is able to turn into producers,

that is, readers or spectators into collaborators.” asger jorn

an urban interventionfor the production

of cultural infrastructure

alexander froehlichthesis proposalay. 2012-2013prof. howard davis

alexander froehlich_thesis proposal 2013_prof. howard davis

it is the intention of this project to imagine a new typologyof production in the urban environment, one which enablescitizens to reclaim the city for their benefit. this new agencywill combine successful models of design-build constructionand community design process to become a new model forproduction of the commons. the creation of cultural infrastructure,and new systems of resource flows will result in the restitchingof the city into a resilient, locally-focused community.

portland build agency

politicians

free market

movementsand activists

social services

healthcare

environemenalscience

agriculture

grassroots

life systems

sustainability

surplus

equality

access

health

individual

community

global

holistic metric fragmented domains

racism

xenophobia

injustice

nvironmental injustice

gmos

gmos

global warming

habitat destruction

fishery depletion

income inequality

militarism fiscal consolodation

fossil fuel

inflation

purchasing power

individual

community

global

x x

x

xsocial safety net

vertical exclusion crises

stage

empowerconnectequip, encourage, initiatecombination, dialogue, understandingthere are many barriers to project delivery under current model of production. whether it is lack of research, design, collaboration, construction or financing knowledge, many resources exist and people need to be enabled to use them. empower will provide the stage and resources necessary for people to turn project resources into useful infrastructure. this will be a place focused on learning, rather than teaching [alexander, 100], with the primary objective of inspiring action. it will produce agents of change, community champions, leaders and makers.

connect is the meeting place for ideas, people and resources, mining the collec-tive imagination, and synergizing exist-ing assets towards the production of common infrastructure. this is space for sophisticated pooling of problems, needs, dreams and visions in pursuit of common understanding of differences and collec-tive action. connect will serve as a clear-ing house for all extraneous and unpur-posed wealth and issues, compiling and collaborating. objectives are set in phases. it will produce dialogue, recom-mendations, and action strategies.

sustainmakepartnership, reflect, grow,collaborate, materialize, manifestwithout careful attention to continued investment in infrastructure, community investment will wane, and the original improvement rendered ineffectual. sustain will focus on the maintenance of projects over time, establishing networks of stakeholders to observe and analyze outcomes, and plan for infrastructure improvement. this facility will maintain connection with community networks, providing administrative support, resources and maintenance services.

dialogue and reflection is trivial if not accompanied by action. this will be a space for accomplishing goals defined by community vision through the manufacture of common infrastructure. flexible workspace will accommodate collaborators of various numbers and qualifications in processes of production. space will be made for neighborhood groups, staff members and individual entrepreneurs. project success will gauged on alternative metrics, focused on how new infrastructure benefits the health and equality of the system it is made for.

process

Initial Cycle

establishment of independant networks for project sustainablity

support role of facility

Initial Cycle

growth of project in 4th dimension

growth

dialogue with larger citizenry

reuse of vacant infrastructure

forum for ongoing community discussion

community identity

partnership with local construction guild

in-kind donation from major construction company

tax-exemption for new infrastructure

establisment of neighborhood non-profit

“work-from-home” workshops

construction training for residents

reuse of vacant infrastructure

rising neighborhood “champions”

involvement of emerging demographics

engagement with neighborhood “old guard”

neighborhood action events

pro-bono design services from landscae firm

use of recycled materials

conditional use permit

student construction experience

establishment of neighborhood dialogue

parents at day care

local skilled craftspeople

neighborhood elders

neighborhood elders

networks of action

section through structure facing burnside

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through structure facing burnside

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyardsection through structure facing burnside

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

life systems

sustainability

surplus

equality

access

health

individual

community

global

individual

office

citizen - madeurban greenways

product processes:

portland build agency will provide many of the design and action components of ecological initiatives, paired with research agencies and local/state governments. ideas may be solicited from designers of all types for the realization of public ammenities like parks, playgrounds, rainwater remediation, and habitat corridors. services can be used for creating urban farms.

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through structure facing burnside

section through structure facing burnside

section through structure facing burnsidelife systems

sustainability

surplus

equality

access

health

individual

community

global

individual

life systems

sustainability

surplus

equality

access

health

individual

community

global

individual

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyardneighborhoodmicro-infrastructures

informal andmicro - enterprise

similar to [see click fix], and similar programs, web-based crowd-sourcing by pba will be able to moniter the needs and desires of portland resdents to identify critical masses of resources. projects for small business owners will include building rennovation, business counseling, buy-local campaigns, food carts, and new infill structures.

portland build agency as nervous system - identifies social needs of neighborhoods though connections with community groups. projects include sidewalk furniture, public art, bike transit and walkability initiatives, community events around food and music, and eventually housing and community structures.

action

_clearing house

_deployable

_subsidiary

section through structure facing burnside

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through structure facing burnside

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyardsection through structure facing burnside

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

_satellite

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through structure facing burnside

section through structure facing burnside

section through structure facing burnside

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

clearing house deployable satellite

mobility

phone booth book share pop-up city park[ing] day

the uni see click fixproxy sfbat cloud

fresh movesday labor station

covington farmers market

social

objective

economic

ecological

clearing house

deploy

satellite

reprogram

remodel

build new

self - initiated

delivery constructionproducer

community

micro - enterprise

product

public workshop

gallery

commercial

food incubator

educational design studio

open office

shared conference room

officeconference room

plotting, laser cutting, cnc routing shop

kitchen break space

large collaboration space

artist live-work

community project space

community project space

design office

artist live space

materials storagestructural steel

business development office

cold-formed steel framing

painting contractor

furniture shop

office

structural steel

landscape contractor

art car shop

mason

financial office

office

community project space

community project space

shared steel tools

nursery space

project workspace

design office

graphic design office

office

project storage

ceramics studioclean

dirty

public staff

connect

empowermake

sustain

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyardprogram

reprogrammingexisting infrastructure

site addition of services

dispersal of programinto city

expansion of program

repurposing of site and foundation

expansion

section through structure facing burnside

section through burnside, production yard and design courtyard

scheme

horizontal expansiongrid planned

vertical expansion accomodation

scaffold

large shop small shop

baltimorebeijing

container workspace

flexibility

santiagonew orleans

diffusion

alexander froehlichthesis proposalay. 2012-2013

prof. howard davis