Design Report

MEDIATED PACE

Design Studio Spring 2010 I MaHS-MaUSP-EMU 2009-2010 I KULeuven Belgium

Adapting to the Rhythm of Upstate New York

2 3Design Studio Spring 2010 I MaHS-MaUSP-EMU 2009-2010 I KULeuven Belgium

MEDIATED PACE I Adapting to the rhythm of upstate NYINTRODUCTION

New Amsterdam

17001700

1790

st.louis

new orleans

st.Louis transect 900 miles

new o

rlens t

ranse

ct 1200 m

iles

New Amsterdam

santa fe

st.louis

new orleans

1700

New york

erie canal

erie canal

sandiago

fort calstop

sandiago transect 2500miles

foet calstop transect 2500miles

santa fe transect 1750 miles st.Louis transect 900 miles

new o

rlens t

ranse

ct 1200 m

iles

1790

1800

1810-40

1850

2600miles

santa fe st.louis

new orleans

santa fe transect 1750 miles


new o

rlens t

ranse

ct 1200 m

iles New york

17001790

1800

1810-40

Looking at the Erie Canal today, the remnant infrastructures of a fast developing industrial corridor are still apparent. This particu-lar piece of infrastructure made it possible to comfortably cross the barrier of the Appalachians and continue the colonizing march to the West. Thereby facilitating the growth of the young colony pre-dominantly on the eastern coast. The Erie Canal connected New York City to the trade centres in the interior, leading indirectly to the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the colony and 10 years later the nation extended from east to west coast.

The location of the Canal was determined by the presence of a corridor, known as the Mohawk Valley, created by the slow geological processes and glacial transformation that shaped the region and left particular traces on the landscape like the Mohawk Valley and the Fingerlakes.

accelarted advancement to the west facilitated by the introduction of the canal. slow geological processes and glacial transformation leading to a peculiar geomorphology of the upstate NY region



Historical populationsYear Pop. %±1790 3,498 —1800 5,289 51.2%1810 10,762 103.5%1820 12,630 17.4%1830 24,209 91.7%1840 33,721 39.3%1850 50,763 50.5%1860 62,367 22.9%1870 69,422 11.3%1880 90,758 30.7%1890 94,923 4.6%1900 94,151 −0.8%1910 100,253 6.5%1920 113,344 13.1%1930 127,412 12.4%1940 130,577 2.5%1950 134,995 3.4%1960 129,726 −3.9%1970 115,781 −10.7%1980 101,727 −12.1%1990 101,082 −0.6%2000 95,658 −5.4%2007* 94,172 −1.6%

Historical populationsYear Pop. %±1698 4,937 —1712 5,840 18.3%1723 7,248 24.1%1737 10,664 47.1%1746 11,717 9.9%1756 13,046 11.3%1771 21,863 67.6%1790 33,131 51.5%1800 60,515 82.7%1810 96,373 59.3%1820 123,706 28.4%1830 202,589 63.8%1840 312,710 54.4%1850 515,547 64.9%1860 813,669 57.8%1870 942,292 15.8%1880 1,206,299 28.0%1890 1,515,301 25.6%1900 3,437,202 126.8%1910 4,766,883 38.7%1920 5,620,048 17.9%1930 6,930,446 23.3%1940 7,454,995 7.6%1950 7,891,957 5.9%1960 7,781,984 −1.4%1970 7,894,862 1.5%1980 7,071,639 −10.4%1990 7,322,564 3.5%2000 8,008,288 9.4%2008* 8,363,710 4.4%

Historical populationsYear Pop. %±1830 8,668 —1840 18,213 110.1%1850 42,261 132.0%1860 81,129 92.0%1870 117,714 45.1%1880 155,134 31.8%1890 255,664 64.8%1900 352,387 37.8%1910 423,715 20.2%1920 506,775 19.6%1930 573,076 13.1%1940 575,901 0.5%1950 580,132 0.7%1960 532,759 −8.2%1970 462,768 −13.1%1980 357,870 −22.7%1990 328,123 −8.3%2000 292,648 −10.8%2008* 270,919 −7.4%

New york

Syracuse

Buffalo

Albany

Historical populationsYear Pop. %±1790 3,498 —1800 5,289 51.2%1810 10,762 103.5%1820 12,630 17.4%1830 24,209 91.7%1840 33,721 39.3%1850 50,763 50.5%1860 62,367 22.9%1870 69,422 11.3%1880 90,758 30.7%1890 94,923 4.6%1900 94,151 −0.8%1910 100,253 6.5%1920 113,344 13.1%1930 127,412 12.4%

Historical populationsYear Pop. %±1840 20,191 —1850 36,403 80.3%1860 48,204 32.4%1870 62,386 29.4%1880 89,366 43.2%1890 133,896 49.8%1900 162,608 21.4%1910 218,149 34.2%1920 295,750 35.6%1930 328,132 10.9%1940 324,975 −1.0%1950 332,488 2.3%1960 318,611 −4.2%1970 296,233 −7.0%1980 241,741 −18.4%1990 231,636 −4.2%2000 219,773 −5.1%``2008* 206,886 −5.9%

Rochester

92.8 km2

1800 5,289 51.2%

1930 127,412 12.4%

1790 33,131 51.5%

2000 8,008,288 9.4%

1830 24,209 91.7%

1930 6,930,446 23.3%

1840 20,191

1950 332,488 2.3%

1880 155,134 31.8%

1960 532,759 −8.2%

56.6 km2

1,214.4 km2

Buffalo

Syracuse

Rochester

Albany

New

York

45.1%

31.8%

1830

1840

1850

1860

1870

1880

39.3%55.3%67.3%110%

132%

92%

1890

80.3%

32.4%

29.4%

43.2%

49.8%

80.3%

26.3%

53.1%

20.3%

70.2%

50.5%

22.9%

11.3%

30.7%

4.6%

63.8%

54.4%

64.9%

57.8%

15.8%

28%64.8%

-8.3%

-10.8%

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

-3.9%-4.2%-8.2%

-13.1%

-22.7%

2008

-7.0%

-18.4%

-4.2%

-5.1%

-5.9%

-2.1%

-8.7%

-3.7%

-13.7%

-10.1%

-6.3%

-10.7%

-12.1%

-0.6%

-5.4%

-1.6%

-1.4%

1.5%

-10.4%

3.5%

9.4%

4.4%-7.4%

136.0 km2

66.4 km2

New Amsterdam

1700

1700

1790

st.louis

new orleans


new o

rlens t

ranse

ct 1200 m

iles

New Amsterdam

santa fe

st.louis

new orleans

1700

New york

erie canal

erie canal

sandiago

fort calstop

sandiago transect 2500miles

foet calstop transect 2500miles

santa fe transect 1750 miles st.Louis transect 900 miles

new o

rlens t

ranse

ct 1200 m

iles

1790

1800

1810-40

1850

2600miles

santa fe st.louis

new orleans

santa fe transect 1750 miles


new o

rlens t

ranse

ct 1200 m

iles

New york

1700

1790

1800

1810-40

+_

+_

$50,

000

$100

,000

$150

,000

$200

,000

$250

,000

$300

,000

$350

,000

$400

,000

$450

,000

$500

,000 $0

The rhythm of travelling over the canal greatly influenced the urbani-sation patterns in the upstate region of NY; cities sprouted where ships had to wait inside locks, slowing down the flow of goods and people, and therefore providing an ideal location for economical transactions.

rome

rivertrade postpop. < 100

Erie Canaldevelopmentpop. < 5,000

Barge Canaldevelopment

pop. 26, 331

canal relicsshrinking city?

pop. 34,9508.5 % vacant

buffalo

lake/rivertrade post

pop. <1,000

Erie Canaldevelopmentpop. 2,400

Barge Canaldevelopmentpop. 506,775

canal relicshrinking city?

pop. 292,6488.22% vacant

riversettlement

pop. 15

Erie Canaldevelopmentpop. 2,500

Barge Canaldevelopmentpop. 295, 750

canal relicsshrinking city?

pop. 219,7736.97% vacant

rochester

1800 1850 1900 1950 2000

This flourishing economy made it possible to fully recover the ini-tial investment of 7 million dollars for the construction of the ca-nal within merely 8 years. When this flow of transaction carried by the Erie Canal slowed down, so did the development of these cities and in many of these locations life took on a slower pace.

the ‘rust-belt’ a region formerly known for its manufacturing industries now characterized by shrinking population numbers

the ‘rust-belt’ a region formerly known for its manufacturing industries now characterized by shrinking population numbers


92.8 km2

56.6 km2

136.0 km2

66.4 km2

day 1 day 2 day 3 day 4 day 5

albanyamsterdamuticaromesyracusenewarkrochesterlockport

7 hours4,5 hours

buffalo

RHYTHM(0,5 h)

CURRENTTRAVELTIME

CANAL-SCAPE

DAY-CYCLE

little falls

6 hours5 hours 2 hours 3 hours5 hours 9,5 hours5,5 hours

0 miles100 feet

100

albany

troyschenectady

amsterdamfonda

canajoharie

fort plain

st.johnsville

little falls

illoin

utica

oriskany

rome

syracusejordan

port byron

auburn

clyde

newarkmacedon

fairport

rochesterspencerport

brockportalbionmedinalockport

north tonawanda

tonawanda

buffalo

baldwinsville

fulton

oswego

fayetteville

canastota

travel on the erie canal and the related experience of a varied arrey of paces



The pace of development in the region was also accompanied by competing infrastructures, which has led on the one hand to these wasted spaces, but also holds the potentiality of hav-ing a wide range of alternative modes and paces of mobility.

92.8 km2

56.6 km2

136.0 km2

66.4 km2

day 1 day 2 day 3 day 4 day 5

albanyamsterdamuticaromesyracusenewarkrochesterlockport

7 hours4,5 hours

buffalo

RHYTHM(0,5 h)

CURRENTTRAVELTIME

CANAL-SCAPE

DAY-CYCLE

little falls

6 hours5 hours 2 hours 3 hours5 hours 9,5 hours5,5 hours

0 miles100 feet

100

albany

troyschenectady

amsterdamfonda

canajoharie

fort plain

st.johnsville

little falls

illoin

utica

oriskany

rome

syracusejordan

port byron

auburn

clyde

newarkmacedon

fairport

rochesterspencerport

brockportalbionmedinalockport

north tonawanda

tonawanda

buffalo

baldwinsville

fulton

oswego

fayetteville

canastota

Apart from illustrating this relation between the unique pace of the Erie Canal and the location of settlements and key cities, travelling on the Erie Canal today also shows this shift in pace from high speed development to a location for people that want to take a step back.It also reveals the natural cycles that have always greatly affected the pace in this region, like the drastically changing seasons with a difference in temperature averaging over 40 degrees Celsius, and re-lated to that the fluctuating flow of water and the agricultural cycles.

Natural to the process of fast development is the creation of aban-doned buildings, infrastructures and open spaces. The Erie Canal, in a way, acts as a datum that structures the distribution of these indus-trial remnants and wasted spaces in Upstate New York, creating what is now known as part of the “Rust Belt”, a region formerly focused on manufacturing industries and now characterised by shrinking cities.



East Coast Megaregion

Great Lakes Megaregion(Canada extension)

Great Lakes Megaregion

urbanisation

High Speed Rail

Incrimental Speed Rail

Bus Connection

3 million + metro

250,000 +

50,000 +

Philadelphia

NEW YORK

CHICAGO

Boston

Detroit

Minneapolis

Kansas City

St. Louis

Cleveland

Cincinnati

Omaha

Milwaukee

Montreal

Toronto

Bu�alo

WASHINGTON

Pittsburgh

0 50 100 150 200 250 km

THE GREAT LAKES MEGA-REGION2050

In the current trend of globalization, the creation of strong tran-snational regions and providing fluid connectivity is crucial to drawing and facilitating flows of transaction. This idea of mega-regions changes our perspective on upstate New York completely.

The east with New York City as its main node is part of the East Coast Mega-region; in the west Buffalo is envisioned as the new gateway to the Great Lakes Mega-region, whereas the rest of the hinterland is turned into an “in-between” space. The mega-regions are linked by a high speed rail project which reinforces this idea.

On the other hand one of the major cyclical processes affecting both mega-regions and the hinterlands are the seasonal changes with cycles of freezing winters and warm comfortable summers. Adapting to these natural processes has been one of the assets of the region and con-tinuing to do so will be crucial in its sustained development.

Our research position argues that mediating between fast processes of development and slower processes and cycles of change contrib-utes to the unique landscape character and regional identity of upstate New York and therefore should be sustained with strategic urban and environmental interventions.

To advance this investigation, we have selected two sites: one situated in Buffalo, which will develop in the coming decades as the gateway to the Great Lakes mega-region and as an important node in the newly proposed HST system. And one in the Mohawk Valley, the hinterland “in-between”, characterised by its long hard winters, rugged terrain and inaccessibility. We deliberately chose two sites of apparently con-trasting paces, but the project will show that this opposition of fast and slow pace is only apparent at first sight, and that the projects should mediate between different paces locally to be able to adapt to the rhythm of Upstate New York in a contextualized, non-generic way.

proposed HST conectivity network

seasonal frost phenomenon affectin the whole of the great lakes region

In the context of the proposed development of mega-regions in the US (by 2050) as a continuation of its fast pace of development, we argue that the plan for the Great Lakes Mega-region and the HST should extend over the national borders to Canada, as it is equally part of the Great Lakes economic and ecological rhythm.

The fast process of suburbanisation in the Greater Buffalo metropolitan area has extended across the Canadian border towards the metropolitan area of Toronto. Together, the cities of Toronto and Buffalo could become the new commer-cial and cultural gateway to the Great Lakes Mega-region. Slightly adjusting the proposed high-speed rail connection for the region would facilitate this global vision and partnership.

Buffalo used to be one of the main commercial nodes and distribution ports for goods going to and coming from New York City via the Erie Canal. Its industrial activities were mainly located around the Buffalo River, which acted as an extension of the Canal. Therefore it is currently also the location of many waste-spaces, dis-connecting the suburbs (to the south of the river) from the shrinking city centre. Locating the new HST station just south of the Buffalo River, close to the waterfront, will not only connect the city of Buffalo to the global network, but the proposed development could also generate a new impulse in this part of the city. 4. These waste-spaces are the result of the rhythm of industrialisation and deindustrialisation. But some of these indus-trial relics, caught in a pace of decay, still hold esthetical value and great potential for reuse.

But since the site is located in and around wetlands any future development should also take the critical slower processes of seasonal flooding and freezing into account, giving them room to happen and using them as as-sets if possible.. To be able to reintroduce a new urban pace in this location we not only need to connect it to the global network, but also reconnect it to the city centre. . Extending the existing mobility network and strategically placing new transportation nodes will help facilitating this.

Together the pace of wetlands, cultural heritage and alternative modes of transportation can generate a wide range of interrelated programs on this particular location.

In plan this basically translates into three strips working on a different pace. The strip linked to the HST sta-tion represents the fast pace development in the context of Buffalo as gateway for the Great Lakes mega-region and node in a global network. On the waterfront we have development sfocussing on a slower pace of leisure, but also providing an ideal location for related commercial development. Between these two is a strip working on a slower pace, where industrial relics stand in a landscape of wetlands revealing the rhythm of the seasons.

A possible spatial translation of this is shown in the following sections, which represent the location of spe-cific programs and an envisioned development they could bring.

10. The next collages show we can mediate between these different paces. By for example reinforcing them through confrontation as shown here in the HST station.11. Or by recycling the industrial heritage to facilitate a new urban cultural program along a pedestrian eco-trail consisting of reused rail tracks.12. The waterfront development is organised around the skyway (highway), which we downgraded and turned into a linear park and providing a safe connection to the city centre for pedestrians and cyclists.13. This last image shows the seasonal transformation and how this can influence the pace in the station development area by drawing the water system in and using its rhythm of change as an asset.


MOHAWK VALLEY adapting to a slower pace


oswego river/�nger lakes

chemung river

Mohawk river

upper hudson river lake champlain

lower hudson riversusquehanna river

black river

genesse river

niagra falls/lake erie

lake ontario tributaries

BUFFALO

ROCHESTER

SYRACUSE

ROME

UTHICA

ALBANY

TROYSCHENECTADY

April 20-30 SPRING THAW 2009

April 20-30 April 20-30 April 30-May 10 May 10-20 after May 30 May 10-20 May 20-30 April 10-20 April 10-20

0 5 15

This shift in pace brings us to the Mohawk valley, which in es-sence is emblematic of what we identified as being a slow-er pace, characterized by subtly changing landscape tex-tures, dense vegetative masses and dramatic rolling hills that buffer the interior region of New York State from the accelerated ur-ban conditions found in the port cities as New York City and Buffalo.

The Native American tribe of Mohawk from which the Valley inherited its name were also known as the “Keepers of the Eastern Door”, as they pro-tected their nation from invasions from that direction. We believe that this area- secluded as it may be- is once again under indirect pressure in-duced by the future development of these mega-regions on either side,

since it is a continuum of the same regional network and ecologi-cal corridor. Though bundles of infrastructure are packed together in this valley, this area acts mainly as a corridor of flows (both liter-ally and figuratively) and thus offers a condition which is in sharp contrast from the character associated with mega city-regions

Mohawk valley is also characterised by its long and harsh win-ters, which in combination with its rugged terrain and inacces-sibility gives the area its slow paced dynamics, highly regulated by cyclical natural processes to which it is continually exposed.


secluded despite abundance of infrastructure


oswego river/�nger lakes

chemung river

Mohawk river

upper hudson river lake champlain

lower hudson riversusquehanna river

black river

genesse river

niagra falls/lake erie

lake ontario tributaries

BUFFALO

ROCHESTER

SYRACUSE

ROME

UTHICA

ALBANY

TROYSCHENECTADY

April 20-30 SPRING THAW 2009

April 20-30 April 20-30 April 30-May 10 May 10-20 after May 30 May 10-20 May 20-30 April 10-20 April 10-20

0 5 15

Frost generally stays longer in the Mohawk Valley, lasting on average from mid November until beginning of Aprilrendering this part of the region literally dormant during this period .The rate of the water flow also affects the speed of the frost-and-thaw-cycle, as the fast flowing water in rugged terrain freezes later and thaws faster.

A direct consequence of this is the seasonally recurring problems of ice jams and continual swelling of the Mohawk River posing a seasonal threat to the settlements downstream.

To address this reoccurring problem we propose to enhance the exist-ing wetlands in the floodplain of the valley segment between Little

Falls and St Johnsville, as a sample of the area. This intervention could be implemented in parallel with the rearrangement of settlement pat-terns in the valley, as is shown in the sequence of valley sections below, by properly programming it and moving settlements and crop-yielding fields further uphill on the south facing side of the valley

and dedicating the north facing one mainly to a less demanding pro-ductive landscape.


an area subject to cyclical micro climatic conditions


1

2

3

4

A

B

C

The next slides show a simulation of how we propose to slow down the seasonal and exceptional water fluctuation, by letting the river seasonally claim part of the agriculture land temporarily increasing the natural wetland areas. The existing infrastructures in this val-ley could act as dikes on the edge of this widened floodplain. This would then decrease the speed of the water flow and thereby reduc-ing the risk of flooding further downstream of the Mohawk River.

As a continuation of this slower water strategy- we add a second ab-sorptive layer of forest on the steep slopes and along the creeks feed-ing into the river. Reforesting certain strategic locations could contrib-ute over time to the enhancement of existing ecological corridors. Next we zoomed in on a sample site of this particular area, containing strips of various contextual conditions, changing at their own pace, that can be found here: ranging from creeks to forest and wetlands, to the little urbanisation there mainly linked to agricultural activities.

Small urban nodelocated in anarrow steep corridor, developed near lock,subject to seasonal �ooding

Agricultural landmostly pasture land, developed on milder slopes,greatly a�ecting run-o�

Forestlocated on steep slopes, mostly along creeks,slows down run-o�

Wetlandslocated in Mohawk �ood zone, ecological value,slows down river run-o�

0 1 2 3 4 km

Mohawk Valley Little Falls - Saint Johnsville

1

2

3

4





0 1 2 3 4 km


1

2

3

4





0 1 2 3 4 km


1

2

3

4





0 1 2 3 4 km


1

2

3

4





0 1 2 3 4 km


1

2

3

4


Valley cross section study

proposed forest cover extention schemes


0 100 200 500 m

jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug

warm season grasses

tall grasses 150 lb

AV

AIL

AB

ILIT

Y

ave. annual precipitation

0 in

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

ave. annual snow fall

legume

stockpiles tall fescue

kentucky blue grassunimproved

kentucky blue grassimproved

summer seededbrassicas

summer seededbrassicas

sep oct nov dec

Agriculture has been one of the most important activities in the Mohawk Valley ever since people started inhabiting the area. Even today it is the main occupations of its inhabitants, but the locally slower pace of agriculture is under pressure of ac-celerated conditions in the mega-regions as mentioned before The pace of the local agricultural facilities follows the cyclical processes of the seasons. This graph represents how these proc-esses affect the growth and distribution of various kinds of pas-ture grasses. Since the economy of the valley is highly depend-ent on pasture based animal rearing practices and dairy-farming consideration of these processes is of paramount importance.

Our intervention on this scale consists of the implementation of the earlier proposed densification of the existing forest patches along the creeks, and also use it to mediate between this ecological interven-tion and the little development there. Small wooden cabins could exist within these forests, but they will focus on the experience instead of ownership. On the other hand we try to adapt the local agriculture to the current pace of development to be able to sustain their pace of living. By promoting and facilitating agro-tourism for people that want to take it slower, by constructing terraces and smaller parcels to facilitate this and suggest a more sustainable use of soils and water.

ee ee eeeee e ee

e

highersurface run o�higher

surface run o� increased percolation

resized and terraced agricultural plots Pature land wooded wetland wood land

pasture land farmland wetland areawoodland woodland woodland farmland farmhouse

creek

creek

west Canada lake

0.00

irrigation channel

foot path

raised foot path

run o�

crops

crops

1.60

drydry

wetwet

in�ltration in�ltration

in�ltration ee ee eeeee e ee

e





creek

creek

west Canada lake

0.00

irrigation channel

foot path

raised foot path

run o�

crops

crops

1.60

drydry

wetwet


in�ltration

ee ee eeeee e ee

e





creek

creek

west Canada lake

0.00

irrigation channel

foot path

raised foot path

run o�

crops

crops

1.60

drydry

wetwet


in�ltration ee ee eeeee e ee

e





creek

creek

west Canada lake

0.00

irrigation channel

foot path

raised foot path

run o�

crops

crops

1.60

drydry

wetwet


in�ltration


seasonal land surface texture change patterns


More concretely this could translate into introducing walkways in the forests and wetlands for people to experience the rhythm and changes of this landscape as depicted in the sections above. a scematic detail showing the agricultural terraces with a rethought irrigation system on these steep slopes that slows down the runoff, and with increased accessibility for both owner and visitor can also be found above .

The maps immediately above suggest the seasonal cycle of drastic change and its effect on the textures, the experience, and the use and pace of the landscape.

We adapt the area to the rhythm of the region by reinforcing existing ecological systems that also structure the landscape and urbanisation, and by introducing new seasonal programs of a different pace to help sustain the existing pace of life and recycle historical (industrial) relics.

In this sense we not only try to mediate between the different paces on a local level, but also on a regional level mediate between the accelerated development in the coastal and port cities of the mega-regions and the hinterland of Upstate New York in a contextualized, non-generic way.


Design Studio Spring 2010 I MaHS-MaUSP-EMU 2009-2010 I KULeuven Belgium

DESIGN STUDIO REPORT:Dagnachew G. Aseffa, Miguel Vanleene, Payam TabrizianSTUDIO CRITICS:Amaechi Raphael Okigbo + Ward Verbakel

INFO:MAHS / MAUSP / EMU Master programs, Department ASRO, K.U.Leuven Kasteelpark Arenberg 1, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium,Tel: +32 (0) 16 321391 Fax: +32 (0) 16 321984

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