Back On Track Reuse abandoned site for homelessness
Manchester School of Architecture Qiushi Chen 19088504 Aug 2020
Designer: Qiushi Chen Tutors: Dominic Sagar David Johnson
Contents
01 Introduction 06 Urban Analysis Timeline Important area of Detroit Regional master transit plan Population distribution Grocery store & food access Urban agriculture Total scope of blight Weather analysis Homelessness analysis The cause of homelessness Summary of urban issues
16 Site Analysis Location Fisher body plant 21 timeline Site existing analysis Factory existing analysis Site status Identified Issues Proposal diagram Proposal collage
32 Design Process Design elements Elements and connections Design process
38 Project Masterplan Variations Connection Site function analysis Traffic flow Section view Building concept Functional axonometry First-floor plan Section Perspectives
Introduction
Detroit is located in the northeastern of the United States and is the fourteenth most significant city in the United States. Detroit is best known as the centre of the U.S. automobile industry, the "Big Three" auto manufacturers General Motors, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler are headquartered in Metro Detroit. This city was developed rapidly because of the automobile industry. However, due to economic restructured and other factors, the city declined, the population was lost, and the city government's finances appeared. In 2013, the city filed for bankruptcy.
Photo by Alex - 01 -
x S. MacLean - 02 -
Location&Project Brief
World Map
United States
Packard plant
Fisher body plant 21
Packard plant
Fisher body plant 21
Packard plant
Cooley high school
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Michigan
AMC Headquarters
Lee Plaza
Lee Plaza
Detroit
The Site
Homeless in Detroit
Detroit was known as Motor City. The Big Three with Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler helped Detroit to prosper. However, due to fierce competition from manufacturers, race, unbalanced development of the urban industry, and suburbanisation, the city has declined. With the decline of the city, a large number of factories closed down. Many companies went bankrupt, which resulted in the abandonment of a large number of factories and office buildings. Meanwhile, a large number of employees lost their jobs, which increased the number of homeless. The durability of destruction and relative poverty means that several generations continued to be unemployed (Sugrue, 2005). Therefore, the design will focus on reusing the abandoned area and helping the homeless back into society.
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Part
02 Urban Analysis
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TimeLine
The Stroh Brewery Company, circa 1864. (Creative Commons/Wikipedia)
1898
1850
Plan of the Town of Detroit and Fort Lernoult, 1792.
1720
1700
1802
Detroit was incorporated as a small town by the Northwest Territories of the Legislature in Chillicothe, Ohio.
1783
Britain ceded territories including Detroit to the newly recognized United States in the Paris Treaty.
Detroit’s population is about 200 people.
1760
1701
French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac founded Detroit in 1701.
Britain w i n s the city from the French.
Bernhard Stroh opens Stroh Brewery Company. Over the years, Stroh's acquires several rival brands, including Schaefer, Schlitz, Old Milwaukee, Lone Star, and Colt 45.
Ford establishes the Detroit Automobile Co., producing all of two cars before the company fails three years later
1900 1903
Ford starts the Ford Motor Co. in Detroit
1827
1796
U.S. forces capture Detroit from the British.
1800
The Indians lost at the Siege of Fort Detroit during Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763.
1901
Detroit adopts its forward-looking city motto: Speramus Meliora;Resurget Cineribus (We hope for better days; it shall rise from the ashes).
Ford op his secon company, H Ford Co. leaves the co in August and it becom Cadillac Mot Detroit is Am 13th bigges with a popula about 286,000
1899
Ransom E. Olds opens Detroit's first auto manufacturing plant.
1896
H e n r y Fo r d test drives his first automobile on the streets of Detroit.
A National Guardsman in Detroit during the riots of 1967. Associated Press
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Shift change at the Ford factory in Detroit, circa 1910. (Library of Congress)
1994-2001
1958
The 3,500,000-squarefoot Packard Motor Car Co. factory is shuttered.
July 23-28, 1967
1908
The Twelfth Street riot, one of the biggest in U.S. history, pits inner-city black residents against police. In five days of rioting, 43 people are killed, 467 injured, and more than 7,200 arrested. Some 2,000 buildings are destroyed.
William Durant and Charles Stewart Mott found General Motors in Flint.
pens d car Henry Ford ompany 1902, mes the tor Co. merica's st city, ation of 0.
Under Mayor Dennis Archer, the city's credit rating rises to a solid investment grade, on the back of a bout of urban renewal
July 18, 2013
Orr files a Chapter 9 bankruptcy petition on behalf of Detroit, marking the largest municipal bankruptcy filing in history.
2016
CNU24, the 24th Congress for the New Urbanism, is held in Detroit. Congress focuses on the city's resurgence and legacy projects.
2002-2008
The city's credit ratings start to slide back into junk territory.
2014
2000
1973-74
1925
More fuel-efficient foreign-made cars a toehold in the U.S., signalling a long period of crisis in Detroit.
Walter Chrysler starts the Chrysler Corp. in Detroit.
1974
1959
Detroit elects Coleman Young as its first black mayor. He serves until 1993.
1992
Moody's cuts Detroit's debt rating to junk status.
May-July 2009 Chrysler and GM declare bankruptcy.
December 2008
President Bush gives a provisional $17.4 billion bailout to GM and Chrysler.
Berry Gordy founds Motown Records.
1950
Detroit's population hits 1.85 million, making it America's fourthlargest city, with 296,000 manufacturing jobs.
Governor Rick Snyder announced that Detroit had emerged from bankruptcy
Mayor Coleman A. Young of Detroit at an event in 1980. Richard Sheinwald/Associated Press
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2018
Bedrock Detroit, owned by Dan Gilbert, announces a $900 million, two building project on the site of the former J.L. Hudson store (which once had the tallest retail tower in the world), including a 58-story tower.
Important area of Detroit
WCCC
Burt Industriaal Center
E.Michigan Marygrove Detroit Mercy
G a t e w a y Industriaal Center W e a r f i e l d Industrial Center
Hamtramck Artisanal Cluster
Focus Hope Rusell Industrial Center
WCCC
GM Assembly Plant
Henry Ford
TechTown Wayne State Detroit Creative Corridor
Medical Centers
Eastern Market Food Cluster
Downtown
Corktown small business
Site
Regional Master Transit Plan
Site
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Chrysler Assembly Plant
Population Distribution
0-1100 1100-2200 2200-3300 3300-4400 4400-5500 Site
Grocery Stores& Food Access
Site Full-line Grocery Stores (2017) 1- mile 'access' buffer USDA 'food desert' areas (2015)
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Urban Agriculture
Site Community Gardens Large-scale Urban Farming (>1 acre)
Total Scope of Blight
Site Parcels Recommended for Structure Removal (40077) Parcels Recommended for Further Analysis (38429) Blighted Vacant Lots (6135)
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Weather Analysis Average High Temperature And Low Temperature 100
80
60
40
20
High Temp. (℉) 0
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May.
Jun.
Jul.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Low Temp. (℉)
Dec.
Average Monthly Rainfall 5 in 4 in
Jun 1 2.7 in
3 in
Sep 9 2.7 in
Jul 10 2.5 in
2 in Jan 29 0.7 in
1 in 0 in
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May.
Jun.
Jul.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Daylight Hours 24 hr 20 hr 16 hr 12 hr 8 hr 4 hr 0 hr Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May.
Jun.
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Jul.
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Homelessness Analysis Analysis of the Total Number of Homeless
Composition of homeless families 82% Female Single Parent
9% Two Parent Families
4% Male Single Parent
3% Other Family Composition
2% Grandparents, Foster Parents, or Non- Custodial Caregivers
Demographics Transgender 1%
Female 28%
Male 28%
Gender
White 10%
American Indian or Alaskan Native 1%
Black 89%
Race
Adults in families with children
Other 1%
Single Adults 92%
Househould Types
The average age for women experiencing chronic homelessness was 42 and the average age for men was 48.33% of the chronically homeless ages 55 and older. Youth Demographics
Seniors
Source: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5344557fe4b0323896c3c519/t/5d8106a6b87890058943840c/1568736936423/2018+Stat e+of+Homlessness+Annual+Report+for+the+Detroit+CoC.pdf - 13 -
The Cause of Homelessness System
Challenge Areas
Person
Can not afford housing
LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING
EMPLOYED Working, but in poverty
SUFFERING ECONOMY
ABLE TO WORK, BUT UNDER-EMPLOYED
Unable to find work
LACK OF SUPPORTIVE &HEALTH SERVICES
NOT ABLE TO WORK
Personal hardship
Physically or mentally ill
Summary of Urban Issues
People Housing crisis
Food poverty
Hard to find a job
Population decline
Lacks green spaces
Abandoned land
Land waste
Urban duality
Unbalanced industrial development
Low income
Underdeveloped tourism
Environmental
Economic
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Part
03 Site Analysis
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Location
The site is located in the centre of Detroit, close to Highland Park, Hamtramck. West of the site is the Woodward Ave, the main road of Detroit. North of the site is also close to E Grand Blvd, which could pass through the east and west of Detroit. The east and south of the site are close to the highway. On the east side are manufacturing factories and abandoned factories, and on the south side are communities. The site has two large abandoned factories, as well as houses, restaurants and companies. Large site density, so there are many vacant spaces, which are relatively desolate.
ard odw Wo
The location is close to several important buildings, such as the Ford Pickett Avenue Factory (Automobile Museum), the Homeless Organization and the American Railroad Company.
Ave
N
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d Blv nd a r EG
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FISHER BODY PLANT 21 The Fisher Body Company establish by Albert Fisher and his nephews Charles and Fred, initially produced bodies for both the carriage and auto industries.
The company constructed the nowabandoned Albert Kahndesigned Fisher Body Plant 21, on Piquette Street, in Detroit, in 1919.
A series of violent strikes broke out at General Motors and Fisher Body plants across the country, bringing work to a halt.
1908
1930
1919 1910
Fisher was producing high-quality automotive bodies for Cadillac, Ford, Studebaker, and Hudson, among other names.
1
1920
The plant begins production of Buick and Cadillac bodywork. Assembly line conveyor made by the Jeffrey Manufacturing Company of Columbus, Ohio in use at Fisher Body Plants #21 and #7 in Detroit, Michigan, 1923. The conveyor chain can be seen on the floor.
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1936 Fisher body plant 21
During the Second War, Fisher carried ou production, modific aircraft, anti-aircraft gu and other materials.
1940
1982
GM announces closure of body plant 21.
The factory sells for only $ 300,000, but there are no buyers yet.
As Carter Color filed for bankruptcy and subsequently abandoned the plant.
1993
Nowadays The vacant plant found new life when the Carter Color Coat Company purchased it in 1990 for use in industrial painting.
1990
Fisher body plant 21 owned by Detroit.
2000
d World ut military cation of uns, tanks
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Site Existing Analysis
E
lvd dB n a Gr
ard odw Wo
Vacant & Green space Commercial
Ave
Abandoned building Church Residential Manufacturing Car park Charities
N
Public space Office Warehouse
Museum& Gallary Charities
Important building
Transport
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Factory Existing Analysis
The company constructed the nowabandoned Albert Kahn-designed Fisher Body Plant 21, on Piquette Street, in Detroit, in 1919. Fisher Body 21 has now been abandoned, the overall structure of the factory is intact, and some floors have collapsed. The lines are simple and the glass is damaged in many places.
Fisher body plant 21
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Site Status
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Identified Issues
Lack of Connection
Too much car park
Too much vacant space
Train station
Street Car park
Inconvinient public transport system
Vacant space
Bus stop
Train routes
Bus stop Bus routes
Street C a r park
Replace car park and remove some car park.
Vacant space
Reuse vacant spaces
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Improving pedestrain route
Identified Abandoned
Industrial buildings are no longer used and have been vacant. The structure of the building is intact, with few damaged.
Urban gaps
-Do attra -Do facil -Do
Train
Factory Buliding
A b a n d o n e d Factory Buliding
T s
-Increasing the diversity of economy types. -Reuse abandoned factory.
Redevelop buildings on both sides to remove gaps.
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Red activ
d Issues Lifelessness
o not have enough activities to act people. o not have health and sports lities. not have school.
Bus stop
Train routes
Disused units along the street
-Do not have public spaces and not vibrant. -Lack of good infrastructure.
Units
n station No public spaces Bus stop Bus routes
Train station
B u s routes
Bus stop
Train routes
Units
Bus stop
define the site and add more vities to attract more people.
Reuse units along the street.
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Add more activities to enrich the public spaces.
Proposal
Agriculture Farm
Food
Food sale
Health care
Hospital
Mental health
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Commu
Diagram
unicate
Family Personal
Music
House
Entertainment
Career opportunities
Outdoor activity
School
Library
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Proposa
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al collage
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Part
04 Design Process
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Design E
The design will mainly focus on homelessness and the connection between the sit for homelessness but also for surrounding residents. As many vacant areas aroun open space will be added to attract more people and connect with surrounding res homeless.
The living area is mainly for the homeless, followed by people with lower income. Solving their housing problems first.
Social housing
Social housing include: 1. Single unit 2.Couple unit (friends/ roommate) 3. Family unit
Urban farming
Community centres is to help people increase communication and increase community spirit.
Community center
Community center include: 1. Hospital 2. Technical school 3. Library 4. Indoor fitness venue 5. Community kitchen
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Community open space
Elements
te and the surrounding area. Therefore, the site uses mostly six elements, not only nd the site and close to the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant (motor museum), so, the sidents. It could also increase communication between the homeless and the non-
Urban farms are mainly aimed at homeless people to enable them to achieve selfsufficiency and selling food while satisfying the needs of homeless people. It will also be used as an experiential picking garden as an element to attract people.
Urban farming include: 1.Outdoor farm (in winter, could be used as a playground such as ice skating.) 2. Greenhouse farm 3. Indoor vertical farm
Manufacturing provides jobs for the homeless, helps them return to society as soon as possible, and helps the development of the urban economy.
Manufacturing
Manufacturing include: 1. Manufacturing area (Produce) 2. Storage area 3. Packing and shipping area
The open space is for people to have a place to communicate with each other, and also to attract tourism to visit.
The commercial space is mainly for tourism and residential. It will serve as an important element to guide the flow of people.
Social housing include: 1. Outdoor sport space 2. Public green space 3.Public entertainment space
Commercial space include: 1. Supermarket 2. Farm market 3. Restaurants and coffee shop
Commercial space
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Elements and connections
Manufacturing
lvd dB ran EG
Manufacturing
Community open space
Homeless shelter
Museum
Fisher body plant 21 (for sale)
Community center
Organisation for homeless Company ard odw Wo
Detroit Amtrak (Train station)
Urban farming
Fisher body plant 23 (for sale)
Church Car dealer and after-sales service
Commercial space
Company
Ave
Company
Church
Social housing
N
Jacobs(1961) in ‘The Death and Life of Great American Cities’ proposed that cities need diversity to generate and stimulate more variety; this can make the city vitality. Therefore, the site will mainly use six elements to connect with the surroundings, primarily connecting the Main road, Ford Piquette Avenue Plant (Museum), Organisation for homeless, Homeless shelters, and Detroit Amtrak and the surrounding communities and office buildings. The west and north of the site are the main entrances. Therefore, the designer wants to build the stores and parks to connect the main entrances. Meanwhile, a car theme park to respond to the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant (Museum) and attract more tourists. Besides, because there is Amtrak in the site, the car theme park will build in the place surrounding where Amtrak passes, so that more people can see the site and visit the site. Moreover, two organisations are serving the homeless near the site. Therefore, the designer wants to establish a working area to provide more work and other infrastructure for homelessness. Thereby create more connections.
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Design Process
N
Attract people For homeless Connect & Residential
N
Step 2. Use stores and parks and car theme park to attract people and tourists from west and north to go into the site.
Step 1. The site will divide into three parts according to the shape. The aim is to attract people and connect with the surrounding area, also for homelessness and residence.
N
Stores Parks Car parks
Original houses New homes New homes for homelessness
Planting areas N
Step 4. Use planting areas to distinguish between homeless and non-homeless.
Step 3. Retain the original houses and increase the new homes.
N
N
Functional areas
Road New road
Step 6. Road in the site (Add a road running through north and south).
Step 5. Add functional areas for the residents and the homeless in the site. - 36 -
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Part
05 Project
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Masterp
1
3
1
2
4 5 18 12 1
12
8 7
7 12
1
13 15
12
7
13 14 7
17
13
13
N
13
16 0 2 10m 15
13
15
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13
13
Total site area: 462989 m2
plan
Commercial space: 15,744 m2 Residential: 42,814 m2
Green spaces: 105,297 m2
6
Others: 330,622 m2
7
2
Overall 1 7
8 Homelessness: 14184 m2
7
7 Non-homelessness: 28630 m2
9 10 11 1. Park 2. Car theme park 3. Sport area 4. Motel 5. Community center 6. Manufacturing 6. For homeless 7. Farm 8. Tiny homes (for the homeless) 9. Nurture 10. Food storage & shipping 11. Greenhouses 12. Store 13. Houses (for non-homeless) 14. Kindergarten 15. Churches 16. Farm market 17. Supermarket 18. Bridge (to Amtrak)
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Residential
Park: 49689 m2
Farm: 55608m2
Green spaces
Variations
Original buildings Demolished building
Original buildings
Demolished buildings
Site Function Analysis
Marke
Garde
Experi
Car Pa
Churc
Reside
Kinder
Restau Store Farm
Green
Food s
Nurtur
Reside
Mixed
Comm Motel
Car Th
Manuf Sport
Conne
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Connection
Original buildings New Buildings & Infrastructures & Spaces
New Buildings & Infrastructures & Spaces
Use green spaces to attract people across the whole site.
Traffic Flow
et Area
en
ience Plantation
ark
ches
ential Area (non-homeless)
rgarten
urants& Cafes
nhouses
storage & shipping
re
ential Area (homeless)
d Use (Homeless)
munity Centre
Car New Road Sidewalk Bicycle Lane
heme Park
facturer Area
ecting Bridge
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Section
B
A
B
A
A-
Street Perspective
Street Pe
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n View
B-B
-A
Street Perspective
erspective
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Project Area
Points o
Surrounding Area The main functions around the building are homeless housing, workplace and planting, mainly for homelessness so that the building will be for homelessness.
Project Area
Play Activity
Health Meet Study
Planting
Work - 45 -
Live
of View
Connection
Architectural concept The project area is a huge building. The designer hopes to provide homes for the homeless while adding more facilities to allow more people to enter the building at different times. Therefore, the building will also provide health care, technical schools, and communication areas for the homeless. The purpose is to help them to back to society and be self-sufficient.
Health Care
Residential
Communicate Technical School - 46 -
Functional Axonometry
6tth floor +25M
5th floor +20M
4th floor +15M
3rd floor +10M
Public Spaces Residential (for homeless) Farm Leisure Room Elevator and Stairs Technical School
2nd floor +5M
Toilet Library Sport Centre Indoor Activities Health Care Communication Space
1st floor 0M
Office Reception Entrance
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First Floor Plan
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Of
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The first and second floors mainly provide study a third floor to the sixth floor is residential. The resid 492 people, including 72 single rooms, 36 double quadruple rooms.
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ction
and communication spaces for the homeless. The dences in the building can accommodate a total of rooms, 48 ​​double rooms, 36 triple rooms, and 36
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Indoor Perspective The building retains the original structure of the factory. At the same time, an atrium is add in the middle of the building. This makes the light shine better into the building. The homeless can add more indoor planting space in the public areas of the building to harvest yearround.
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Outdoor Perspective The building materials are mainly composed of concrete and glass. Because the building volume is large, glass can help the building increase daylighting. The building starts from the third-floor residential area with balconies. The purpose is to increase the connection between the residents and the outdoors. They can also plant and communicate on the balconies.
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