cha·rette noun \ shəˈret\: an intense effort made by architectural students to complete their solutions to a given architectural problem in an allotted time or the period in which such an effort is made
for last weeks design charrette, i presented two scenarios for the site along with some basic analysis. the idea was to illustrate the dramatic change in site conditions through loss of population and then built structure, that led to the current vacant and forgotten landscape in the Kinsman neighborhood.
the two design scenarios suggest improved economic, social and physical conditions in the neighborhood over time with both small and large interventions.
scenario 1: Scrap metal and an industrial heritage create new opportunities and an identity for the Kinsman neighborhood and its residents.
this diagram was used to portray site feeling and physical changes that will happen overtime
-Cleveland Institute of Art & Cleveland School of the Arts use existing warehouse buildings for large scale piece manufacturing
-Scrap yards surrounding site support material needs of classes
-Recycling yard is added to the site to “organize” materials as well as create jobs for the community
-Said recycling yard should create power in some way
-”Park” area next to site becomes display space for sculpture and improved public green
-Bridges into site become neighborhood signifiers by being amended with scrap metal and artistic talent of students working in the area
-Storage and collection of scrap metal creates space in interesting ways
-both pedestrian and train traffic experience improved by sculpture or metal goods
-parcel sizes decide on program elements for different parts of site
-identity elements on bridges change as students involved go through the program
this diagram was used to portray site feeling and physical changes that will happen overtime
scenario 2: An urban forest of high quality native species takes over the void left after population loss while creating regional ecosystem benefits.
-This will suggest to the city, and surrounding areas, plants that can be used and left basically untouched, that will resist looking like the scrub plants left in the current landscape.
-Create a native seed bank and street tree “grove” for the county.
-Infrastructure is consolidated and residential units (11) from the interior are removed, while the adjacent residential area is improved.
-Rapid Transit stops become “forest” stops with land bridge atmosphere attributed, to remove the “dark corner” feeling created by entering the site under crumbling bridge structures
-Stormwater pipes under site can be day lit in forested areas and improved to be areas of retention and treatment (some of Cleveland’s largest and oldest sewer pipes lay under this site)
-….must research the contamination on site more, as i assume there is quite a bit, the “park” that was created next to the in-tact public housing unit south of the site was created on a landfill in 1952, and this was previously a heavily industrial area because of the rails
-Existing buildings (only 4 warehouses) become urban nature education centers and/or a magnet school based around agriculture (which is, supposedly, a growing trend in the Cleveland area)