VISION STATEMENT
PROCESS
The Boise Bench is a disconnected area with a diverse and growing population. It provides a unique opportunity to revitalize and strengthen the communities and connections that are found there. Located to the west and slightly south of Boise Downtown, it is a prime location for people to live outside of the city, yet still be close enough to connect to and access the downtown area. We intend to plant seeds of opportunity throughout the neighborhoods that, over time, will flourish into a unified community. We envision a place that fosters cultural diversity while enabling interaction between neighbors, and creates places where everyone can be happy with their way of life. Rebuilding the Boise International Market and creating a community center is our third main focus, that will tie the bench together.
PHASING The phasing is determined by what would most quickly improve the Boise Bench area.
EXISTING
PRECEDENTS
DIAGRAMMATIC PROCESS LEGEND
FOCUSED AREAS 2 1
3
In yellow is the Boise city limits. This is a great opportunity because of the unique geographic features. The Bench its self is an elevated plateau, then it is bordered by the Boise River, and Mountains. The Bench in green also has a close connection to down town Boise in gray.
DENTON ST.
CLINTON ST,
CLINTON ST,
https://geolocation.ws/v/W/
The bench has several areas that are in need of attention. We narrowed it down to four specific spots which are shown in blue, and the areas that will be affected by the revitalization is shown in yellow.
PRECEDENTS
EXISTING
diversity in housing type. In order to accommodate all users we plan to include a variety of housing types. We will provide a plethora of new and existing single family homes, duplexes/multiplexes, townhouses, condos, lofts, apartments, etc. That will best fit the needs of the area. We have identified four specific areas that our improvements will be focused on.
2. Strengthen connections and nodes between residents and surrounding amenities
Connections and nodes are important to any successful community. The circulation throughout the Boise bench is broken-up and uninviting for residents and visitors. In collaboration with other teams, we will significantly improve the connections between first, second, and third places. Improvements will include issues of pedestrian safety, proximity of residents to amenities, and experience of the user. Locations for first places are carefully selected and oriented for future growth.
3. Rebuild and improve the Boise International Market and enhance its connections with surrounding areas
This area was designed after the case study called The Missing Middle. Its purpose is to establish a buffer of higher density housing around a mixed commercial node. This provides more opportunities for walk-ability and people to easily access their every day needs outside the home. By creating these opportunities helps feed the community and promotes interaction between other residents sparking interaction and promise of diversity
GREEN SPACE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL HARDSCAPE EMERALD ST.
EMERALD ST.
ORCHARD ST.
1. Create additional places to live that vary in size and type Although the bench continues to experience growth, it currently has a lack of a
DIAGRAMMATIC PROCESS LEGEND
ORCHARD ST.
KEY POINTS
PHASE 1: INTERNATIONAL MARKET
The market will create a great cultural hub/community center for the bench, and by implementing it first it will kick start the growth in the bench.
AREA 2: MIXED COMMERCIAL
The Bench is located just outside of down town Boise. Boise is the largest city in Idaho. It is interesting because once you get outside the greater Boise area it is very spars.
4
DENTON ST.
CURTIS RD
WHAT PART OF IDAHO UNIQUE GEOGRAPHY
AREA 1: LIBERTY PARK
CONTEXT
CURTIS RD
GREEN SPACE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL HARDSCAPE
The goal for this neighborhood was to urbanize a dead space. This was a very run down area, because it was segregated by from any other housing connection, but with much potential. The Boise Bench was lacking in a variety in their housing types, making it difficult for the needs of the user to be met if they were anything other then average. We implemented a variety of house types and styles while maintaining affordability. Courtyard style housing was used in order to create space for a community to strive. A green corridor was implemented in between the houses. We also tried to break up the block so it has a tighter feel to it. The original block was unwalkable.
PHASE 2: MAVERIK GAS STATION
The missing middle designed by Opticos
Tragically, the Boise International Market burned down earlier this fall. As a part of our plan we are proposing to rebuild, and create a new and improved Market. We plan to place the market towards the north end of the property, and have the entrance face the street. Orienting the market in this way will help to create an exciting and dynamic place for events, farmers market, parties, flea markets, gatherings, restaurants, etc. We also want to improve the physical and visual access, and create a more usable environment.
The Maverik Gas Station site with its mixed use retail, and city park will provide more open space, and give opportunity for activating the streets.
PHASE 3: LIBERTY PARK
Steven: 22 year old college student attending BSU. His major is Business communications.
Shani: 34 year old African refugee with 3 children. She owns a small clothing shop in the BIM
Jessica: 28 year old young professional, she has a husband and a child on the way.
We wanted to highlight areas of interest and then make a strong connection between them all.
PARTI 2: CENTRALIZING
PRECEDENTS
DIAGRAMMATIC PROCESS
The Boise International Market is something that was running and had many successful aspects. As a team we focused on keeping what was successful and implementing new ideas that will spark activity in the entire area. An outdoor patio, food truck parking, and an increase of residential opportunities surrounding it will make sure the space is always activated. By moving the building toward the improved street, it increases visibility causing more people to be drawn in. By urbanizing through flexible housing there will be more people to benefit from the new and improved Boise International Market.
LEGEND GREEN SPACE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL HARDSCAPE FRANKLIN
RD.
FRANKLIN
RD.
CURTIS RD.
PARTI 1: WORKING INWARD OUT
EXISTING
CURTIS RD.
PARTI EXPLORATION
AREA 3: INTERNATIONAL MARKET
USERS OF THE BOISE BENCH
Liberty park is a space that is later in the phasing because it will start to thrive as the Bench begins to see more growth. Time is needed to let the area develop.
PHASE 4: MIXED COMMERCIAL
Anuja: 56 year old Hindi refugee. First generation in America with many grandkids. Henry & Trish: 65 year old “empty nesters� of 3 children. They have 6 grandchildren that visit once a month.
We wanted the bench to be self sustaining. Having the main area in the middle, and then transitioning outward toward downtown.
DIAGRAMMATIC PROCESS LEGEND GREEN SPACE RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL HARDSCAPE
FRANKLIN RD.
FRANKLIN RD.
ORCHARD ST.
PARTI 3: CONNECTIVITY
PRECEDENTS
EXISTING
ORCHARD ST.
Chung: 43 year old refugee from china. He has a wife and one child.
We want to have a central focus within the Boise bench, this ideal would be the international market. Pulling all focus and connection toward the market.
AREA 4: MAVERIK GAS STATION
Jenson family: Paul and Sarah have a son nick age 5 and a daughter Kenzie age 11. Paul works as an architect down town.
The Hollywood library, Portland OR.
This area was selected due to its already existing proposal to improve the area. The connection to a great commercial node is paramount to capitalize on. It is intended to be a residential buffer between Orchard street and the proposed park. Our idea was based off of the case study Hollywood Branch Library in Portland where residential housing was placed above a public library. Housing and the park will share an intimate connection. This is a creating a nice small neighborhood node creating another third place for residents. The Boise Bench is greatly lacking in third place outlets for their residents.
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT & BOISE INTERNATIONAL MARKET JILLIAN VIRGI SETH VANCE KENDRICK OSTERGARD MARK JENSEN BRYANT AVALOS UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY FALL 2015 URBAN DESIGN LAEP 4100 PROFESSOR LAVOIE
This Mixed commercial area is the last phase because in order for it to effect the bench it needs a density of people to support the cost of building these new residential places.