Design Development - Curating Experience

I want to curate people's experience when they walk through my project, but how can i achieve it? I guess a series of 'planned experience' that experienced in a certain order can tell the story.  

The story of how the communities or Brooklyn changed from a industrial and economic base to the current Brooklyn; a sustainable urban oasis that focus on the culture of art.


Curating Experience

I think it is quite important to have 3 routes so that people can experience the project from all three sides, so i kept the element of joining all three sides from the previous concept. When i revisit the maps, i actually found a mistake i made when i was mapping the 'development opportunity map; missed out a carpark which is very important to my site selection.

By moving one of my site to this location allows all sites to have maximum view of the canal which is really important especially i am trying to curate experiences. And with this minor change, i was able to come up with circulation plan showing how all my buildings joined up.

And in details, showing what will people experience at each 'zone' and how will this 'experiences' put together can form a story.

Summary of the Curated Experience

Starting from the neighbourhood of Brooklyn (Zone 1) and walking to the old Industrial areas (Zone 2 project site), you will find how nature, artists and their work occupied the industrial buildings that was once forgotten, abandoned and left vacant.  

Following the path to the building around the canal (Zone 3) and you will experience the changing style of architectural design; a design that has both the elements of industrial and nature. This symbolised how the community started to change.

Once you walk through the building to the bridge (Zone 4), you will experience the 'transition of industrial to oasis'. This is the experience of the how the value of the communities has changed. 

Continuing the journey, the first thing you see when you walk onto the green island is the gallery in nature (Zone 5), that sits peacefully and in harmony with the surrounding. How Brooklyn is no longer about the economy and industrials but tranquility and harmony of art and nature.

And last, you will arrive at a resting area (Zone 6) where you can look down to the canal and even touch the clean water from the canal. Looking at a whole new different side of the Gowanus Canal; a better canal with brighter future.  And this concludes the purpose of the project; showcase Gowanus Canal through art and nature.

Design Development - Critical Review

After I finished the CAD model, I step back and look at my design in the context and feels like I'm not answering my topic. The core concept is to showcase the Gowanus Canal through arts and nature, my current concept shows connect to natures but not art, nor the harmony between them. I decided stop developing the design for now, and rethink what was my approach to the condition I mapped, and how can I capture it through the design. 

So what is "showcase Gowanus Canal through art and nature"? I think it's like looking from the building and you will see a different Gowanus than the one people knew; a Gowanus without polluted canal and industrial building once was abandoned but now occupied by nature and artist in harmony.

I want to design a building that curates the story of community change in Gowanus through experience. So I'm thinking instead of having a huge building in the middle of the oasis with bridges joining three sides, I should have buildings along the canal. So that people travel through the building will experience the community change, a different aspect of Gowanus Canal.

Re-Identify Issues, Opportunities and My Approaches


Issues

• The area is separated by the canal with very limited connections, most of the roads are cut off apart from few bridges
• There are large numbers of vacant / abandoned buildings, under-used buildings, empty sites and carparks
• The current situation of the canal is.....very very bad....polluted and smells so bad that people avoid the canal
• The economy in this area was based on industrial-related works; but has been in decline since the major ones withdrawn from Gowanus nearly half decade ago

Opportunities

• A lot of historical building that will attract tourists, or can create activities like tour, etc.
• The whole site is well accessible with the public transport and also bicycle path
• Rising number in artists since ArtGowanus started, and they consistently host events to attract more artists into this area
• Because of the canal, people around the area has high awareness of sustainability; this can be found from the stakeholders' research (Most of them discussed about sustainable-related issues)

Approaches

• I want to use art as an alternative income for Gowanus area, to replace the industrial-based economy.  This can be achieved by providing 'whole packages' for the artists; accommodations, studio space, galleries, education institutes and even job opportunities
• Reuse abandoned / vacant and under used areas so that no space is wasted.  Because the plan is to boost the economy based on arts, which then encourage developers to invest in the areas (Developing accommodations, open shops, etc.
• Create connection to all side and join them together
• Upgrade the polluted canal into tourist hotspot, urban oasis, etc.

Reference

https://www.flyingcalls.com/37823/

Design Models - Initial Concept Models

Massing Model

Did a small model of my concept out of LEGOs, just as a massing model to give an idea of how it will look like and also the ratio of each parts.

Adding another building to see how can two forms interact.

CAD Model

And i quickly made a model with Sketch up in scale to see how the concept interact with the site and context.

Design Development - Initial Concept Design

The ideas i have for the design are just few elements i want to capture: Industrial, connection to nature and harmony of art and nature.

I started by designing the facade with a hint of 'industrial' feel, adding elements like metal panels and steel beams.  The the slop roofs that descend into ground level are like roots into the ground which symbolising the connection to the land.  And lastly i play around and explore with the form to see what other options i have.

Research - Building Typology

2 sketches i did when i was looking at the building around the canal, and especially the industrial buildings. For my design, i want to capture and shows a hint of 'industrial' look to help my design relate back to the industrial era of the Brooklyn. It is quite important aspect to me because my project is focused on the community change from industrial-based to the current Brooklyn.

Site Analysis - Proposed Site for Field Station

Site Selection

By using the GIS process, i have decided where my field station will be located.  I actually picked multiple sites, so i can spread out my project and join the surrounding neighbourhood.  

Design Concept

I will dredge the canal and joining 3 ends together not only to create 2 islands which will be the 'oasis' of my design, but also to circulate the canal so that the canal will be easier to maintain/clean in the future.

Buildings that are located on each side of the canal will be bridged together and create a connection between all sides of the canal and also provide a unique experience/tour through the oasis while using these bridges.

Site Analysis - Final GIS Map

From all the condition we looked and mapped, we now understood more about Gowanus even without physical presence.  The reason to conduct such a detail and time consuming mapping process is to help us select the most suitable site for our project; and Geographic Information System (GIS) is the way to achieve this.


To start the map layering process, first i need to identify what are the most important factors that will influence my decision of suitable site:

1. Development Opportunities - Carparks, vacant lots and parklands
2. Brownfield Opportunity Areas - BOA identified by Star Whitehouse
3. Historical Significance - Heritage listed (or should be listed)
4. Artists and Studios - With an approx. 200m radius of influence
5. Transportation - With an approx. 800m radius of walking distance

GIS Process (White area means suitable area)

Final GIS Map

Site Analysis - Artists and Studios

The last piece of the puzzle for my site selection is artists and their studios; they are the core of my design concept and will affect the location of my project. The 'Social Services' map that i created using data set from New York City Government only shows galleries in Gowanus areas.  Therefore, i decided to redo this condition in a finer details; by also locating studios and art related educational facilities.


Artists and Studios

Site Analysis - Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) by Star Whitehouse

Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) are areas previously used for industrial purpose that might be contaminated with toxic pollutions, and has potential to be reused once it is cleaned up.  The 19 BOA identified by Star Whitehouse are either vacant, contaminated or underused. These areas can be used for my field stations or just potential areas once the field station is build, they are key areas to take into consideration in my site selections.


19 BOA By Star Whitehouse

Site Analysis - Development Opportunities

After realizing I cannot just focus on abandoned building, I went back to the maps and looking for another answer.  And I started to look on a different perspective, instead of searching at places that are ‘ready’ for development, I broaden by view and considering at areas that have potentials in them. 

Development Opportunity

• Carparks, vacant lot will have a lot of potentials in them especially in the early stages of the project; they have the most flexibility and easier to acquire compared to vacant buildings with multiple owners.

• Parks are great space to be utilised, it provide greenery and can be connected to my design because of its similar characteristic; providing a retreat in the urban city.

• Once the area is flourished with artists and tourists, vacant and abandoned buildings can then be renovated into accommodations, gallery and studios.

Research - Soil Contamination and Cleanup

Soil contamination

I think this is a serious issue and because I will be growing plants and trees to add greenery to my site. In case the site will be use to grow fresh produce in the future, I think doing some basic research about this matter will help me plan head and especially we are looking at 100+ years into the future.

So if no action is taken, the chemical might affect my water resources and the site will be growing toxic produces.

Cleanup Options

• Excavate soil and take it to s deposal site away from civiliasation
• Aeration of soils in the site, but my cause air pollution
• Thermal remediation by increasing subsurface temperatures
• Bioremediation, through microbial digestion of chemicals
• Phytoremediation, using plants (e.g. willow) to extract heavy metals
• Mycoremediation, using fungus to metabolise contaminants and heavy metals

Reference
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_contamination

Research - Abandoned....or Just Vacant?

In order to utilise the full potential of the site, I went and conducted research on the number and location of abandoned building.  However, I found it quite difficult and don’t have a very complete data unlike any other conditions I mapped.  Then I came across the article “Counting the Empty Buildings”, and it talks about the difficulties in verifying whether a building is ‘abandoned’ or ‘vacant’

"Often times, what looks like an abandoned building is not an abandoned building, they are buildings with vacant apartments above occupied stores."  Said Mark Alexander of Urban Builders Collaborative

The buildings are vacant mainly due to 2 reasons: conflict between multiple owners and result of the neighbourhood distress of the 1970s and 1980s. 

I think this piece of information changed my idea on the treatment of the areas around my site; instead of only focusing on abandoned building, I need to address the issues of vacant buildings.  How my design can benefit the surrounding surburbs and bring back people to the neightbourhood.

Reference
http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20120905/gowanus/dangerous-gowanus-buildings-plague-up-and-coming-block
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/BrokenPromises_JohnFekner.jpg
http://www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/development/3303-counting-the-empty-buildings

Design Development - Basic Ideas of 'Showcase'

Concept - Art Centre

I have decided to go with the art centre concept and the reason being that, the area around the canal felt like it got "abandoned" after the industrials withdraw, and communities are not happy with that. From the tour videos, heaps of street arts and graffiti can be seen and with the number of artists increasing, it is like voices wanted to be heard.

Community Change

Looking at the maps and all the research leads me to 2 conclusions:

• Abandoned industrial building to art gallery - symbolise the change of focus in the community.
• Toxic canal to green oasis - symbolise the value change in community, from economy to sustainability.

So my concept is 'Showcase' Gowanus Canal, redefine Gowanus through art and nature.  Let the abandoned building become a urban oasis, decorated by nature and the voices of communities (arts).  By planting and decorating the space, it gives the place meanings and the community a sense of ownership (read it in 'place' by Tim Cresswell).

Moodboards

Abandoned Buildings Turned Into Oasis

When Street Art Meets Nature

Reference
http://creepypasta.wikia.com/wiki/File:Abandoned-Building-3.jpg
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200837.html
https://urbexzone.wordpress.com/category/sao-tome-and-principe/
https://www.schuminweb.com/category/places/afton-mountain/feed/
https://elmundosegunfrank.wordpress.com/2012/05/23/green-graffiti/
http://www.graffitizen.com/g/graffiti-caravan-art-gallery/nature-painted-caravan-7737/
http://www.graffiti.org/lunar_ycp/lunar_2.html
http://onebigphoto.com/when-graffiti-meets-nature/

Brainstorm - Concept Generation

Concept Generations

From the brainstorming above, i narrow down my options to 2 main approaches; Art Centre and Farm & Market.  The 2 concepts each concentrate on a different condition and will be focusing on improving and/or changing it.  


Canal Cleaning Stages

According to Gowanus Canal Superfund, the canal will be cleaned in 3 stages across 2017 - 2022. Because of the current condition of canal is not very pleasing due to the toxic, pollutions and especially the smell, i decided to set up my project in stages.

I have already planned a simple 3-stage concept that will help my project to setup as the canal cleans up.  



Reference
http://allenspector.com/mappinggowanus/superfund.php