URBAN INTERVENTION: HEMLOCK STREET WEST

ROMY VARGAS - ARCH 103

ICE BREAKER

Our first assignment was an ice breaker assignment. The guide-lines we were instructed to follow states the following key instruc-tions:-Create an 18” cube that is inspired by a photograph of a man made or natural object-Must have noticeable repetitive geometry-Must be made from recycled materials-Metal, wood, plastic and paper are the four categories of materials to be used. The teacher decides which material each student will primarily use.-The cubes must be stable enough to stack on top of each other from bottom to top in the same order the materials are listed above.The first iteration of the icebreaker is a 6” cube based on the princi-ples above.

I volunteered for the metal group because of my love of metal and the challenge of making a cube from recycled metal. I chose a picture of one of Lebbeus woods’ drawings that was in a series named “Icebergs,” which consisted of industrial free-floating structures in the ocean, on the shore, and in the city of Long Beach, California. The reason I chose this photo was because of a drawing project I did last semester that was based on a drawing Lebbeus Woods created. I was inspired by the sci-fi fanatical aethetic his artwork possesses. The 6” implied cube I designed contains repeta-tive geometry in the form of metallic scales inspired by the the industrial curved layers depicted in “Icebergs.”

The main issue regarding this model is its inability to engage inside of the cube, it appears to be patrolling the exterior, which is something I need to take into consideration for the final 18” cube.

I embraced the critique regarding the engagement within the 6” cube, by creating a repetative, metal shell structure from recycled aluminum test tube caps. I used nuts and bolts to secure the shells together and create a network of industrial, metal lamella in an organized geometric pattern. The mirrored rectangular components that are secured to the base represent the monotonous rectangular buildings that engage with the urban “Iceberg” in the lebbeus Woods drawing.

CUBE

SITE STRATEGY

aasdsadaasdasdasdVObjective: Design a Community Center serving the Lower Polk Neighborhood based on the programmatic requirements.

Program: Reception/Gallery -------------------------------------------------------- 400 SFCommunity Meeting Room----------------------------------------------- 3,000 SFMeeting Rooms----------------------------------------------------------- 4 @ 400SF EachKitchenette---------------------------------------------------------------- 500 SFStorage--------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 @150 SF EachLower Polk Neighborhood Offices--------------------------------------- 2 @150 SF EachSecurity Office------------------------------------------------------------- 300 SFRestrooms----------------------------------------------------------------- 2 @ 600 SF EachCirculation---------------------------------------------------------------- 25% “Assumed”Outdoor Space------------------------------------------------------------ The Alley Itself

Total----------------------------------------------------------------------- 10,000 SF approximately plus the alley itself

Requirements:• The alley must be considered part of the project as well. The client requires that you redesign the space of the

alley to coordinate and enhance the community center project. Since no available open space exists in the area, the city has decided to request an inventive solution to using the alleys in a way that accomodates existing ac-tivities, yet allows transformation of the alley for specific events (night or day) for limited periods of time.

• The entrance and reception area should house some exhibit space serving as a flexible gallery.• The gathering space should be designed for a variety of uses with and without movable seating.• There should be a stage in the community gathering space with a projection screen behind it.• One storage room must directly connect to the gathering space for storing movable furniture.• One storage room will serve the kitchenette.• The kitchenette should be located with easy access to the gathering spaces, and if possible, meeting rooms.• The restrooms should be easily accessed from the public spaces, with reasonable access from administrative

functions.• The security office should be located close to the entrance.

Site:Your site is located in the alley that you have analyzed. The project can be designed to fit into an available open lot, or use air rights above the alley or adjacent buildings or any combination thereof. Any use of the alley must not interfere with existing and established functions unless you accommodate them elsewhere.

PROGRAM

SITE STRATEGYPROGRAM

MODEL 1

After completing the group site analysis, one of the main characteristics of Hemlock Street West is its industrial environment. The lack of vegetation and abundance of concrete and metal is the inspiration behind this gesture model. I embraced the use of glue-free connections by utilizing nut and bolt con-nections to creat a structurally sound piece. Inspi-ration also resonates from Lebbeus Woods’ urban interventions.

Due to the lack of vegetation within the alley, I experimented with combining or-ganic curves and industrial connections to create a harmonious juxtaposition between earthen and machine-manipulated metallic elements.

MODEL 2

MODEL 3

Sunlight or lack thereof, is another important factor of Hemlock St. The industrial nature of the site and lack of daylight makes the alley an intimi-dating street for pedestrians as well as the women and children who enter the alley to attend prayer meetings at the Al Tawheed Mosque. I created a gesture model that reflects warm light in hope of creating a kaleidoscopic aesthetic within the alley. This proposal is meant to garner attention that leads to greater pedestrial traffic flow, which will hope-fully lessen the intimidating nature of the alley.

In this model I added the Hemlock Street Alley which is NTS to give a better un-derstanding of my building location. The first photo shows the light reflecting off of the gesture model and bringing the warm light into the alley. The building that is catching the light is actually a parking structure with windows that are blacked out. By reflecting the natural sunlight I hope to bring emotional warmth to the alley making it less intimidating for anyone who wishes to engage within it.

MODEL 4

MODEL 5

This iteration was inspired by the idea of urban succession, the growth of a single organism in an eco-barren environment like moss or a sprout in the cracks of cement. Since the site lacks vegetation my goal is to creat an organic structure that sprouts from the alley. I chose the curvilinear bent wood because I was hoping to convey a series of roots reaching for sunlight. The response was positive but there needs to be a better understanding of my approach and a better connection between organic and curvilinear. A questions that arosewas “why curvilinear for organic?” If you look at other organic structures they can be angular as well, what is that connection? It may be too vague.

Industrial buildings and streets can appear to be cold and uninviting due to the abundance of concrete, cracked cement, metal, broken glass, piping and lack of vegeta-tion. The qualities that people don’t initialy embrace is the strength, efficiency and saftey that it upholds. There is a level of transparency that isn’t covered up with beautifica-tion, which sometimes shows the structural engineering within the building or street. I want to embrace those qual-ities and make them less intimidating, by bending the mal-leable metal into less angular and more curvilinear forms to take away the threating appeal of industrial architecture.

MODEL 6

MODEL 7

The design of this model is inspired by a sprouting plant in an eco barren site that is growing, reaching and thriving through botonological ramification, which is the divergance of stems and branches in order for a plant to be successful. The single sprout in an unnurtured environment symbolizes the strength and hope that the Lower Polk Gulch represents due to the density of diversity and the struggle each group of people has endured.

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The phenotypic qualities of this structure still possesses the qualities of botonological ramification. The divergence of bass wood makes the organic connection. The origin of the organic structure is meant to sprout from the alley and rest in the sun. This is a neighborhood that wants to thrive and representing that hope and struggle while maintaining complexity is necessary in my design. The major problem that I am facing thus far is how to really engage the alley. Roots are much more complex than one single point planted within the alley, it is not enough to change the tone of Hemlock St.

MODEL 8

MODEL 9

My first goal was to incorporate the alley into the design which was something I wasn’t fully engaging. I redesigned the bollards that run halfway up the north side of the alley from Polk to Van Ness. My hesitation to obstruct the alley comes from wanting to embrace its qualities by adding architecture that doesn’t displace the traffic flow coming from necessary deliveries to the back entrances of various businesses, includ-ing a restaurant. I started to root within the alley to create a non-threatening gesture that maintains the original principles I expressed regarding urban succession and the organic quali-ties it emulates.

My design strategy still insists on building above the mosque, the mattress company, and within the alley. The main concern with building on top of the mosque is building a secular space above a religious institution. The mosque may want nothing to do with an approach like this especially creating the main community space (3,000 square foot room) directly above it. Im hoping to convince my audience with further research into other community centers that share this relationship like GLIDE Memorial Church. This iteration resem-bles the 9th model, but is meant to show an under-standing of where I may incorporate the community space, which is in the circulating area shown in the bottom left photograph. I also need to reassess my alley approach since I am only engaging the north sidewalk.

MODEL 10