Filling the Void: From Leftover to place

FILLING THE VOID From leftover to place

FILLING THE VOID From leftover to place Alejandra Quezada | 4622375 AR1U100: Designing Sustainable Urban Environments Luisa Calabrese & Jiaxiu Cai BK City | TU Delft January 31st, 2017 Delft, The Netherlands

FILLING THE VOID From leftover to place

CONTENT

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VOIDS in SOUTH ROTTERDAM p.12

VOIDS THE ISSUE WITH OUT OF SCALE DEFINITIONS: SPATIAL VOIDS HYPOTHESIS BRIEF

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UNDERSTANDING SOUTH ROTTERDAM p.24

SOUTH ROTTERDAM SOCIAL DATA SPATIAL TRAFFIC MACHINE GREENSCAPE/WATERSCAPE FACILITIES/SCOPE POOR SPATIAL ATTRIBUTES OUT OF SCALE NEGATIVE | POSITIVE SPACES VOIDS MAP DIAGNOSIS STRATEGY

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PRINCIPLES FOR SOUTH ROTTERDAM p. 48

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FROM LEFTOVER TO PLACE p. 102

STARTING FROM THE COMMUNITY: Framework for Sustainable Urban Engineering of Territory

ZUIDPLEIN

GIS DATA ANALYSIS OF FOCUS AREA

FRAME THE VOID

POTENTIAL MAP SUET TOWARDS HUMAN DIMENSIONS: A reflection DESIGN PATTERNS HEALTH CONTROL LEGIBILITY SAFETY APPLICATION OF PATTERNS SEES

KEY PROJECTS LEFTOVERS

MASTER PLAN DETAILS A CASE FOR METROPLEIN STRIP: Socio-economic feasability

PREFACE

The intent of this document is to present the process for the Second Quarter (Q2) of TU Delft Urbanism Master Programme, in which human dimensions, sustainable urban engineering and feasability of an urban design project should be integrated.

The goals of this Q2 is to produce an urban design project based on a vision while exploring a design pattern methodology that tries to combine human scale urban design, subsurface information and GIS Data, along with traditional urban analysis. The area selected for the project is Rotterdam South.

The structure of this booklet is divided in 4 chapters:

- C1: Framework that guided the process and inspired the design project.

- C2: Analysis of neighbourhood and focus area along with strategy for development of the project

- C3: GIS Analysis and design patterns responding to human dimensions and sustainability issues

-C4: Design Project and feasability evaluation.

This exercise has serve personally to learn new softwares and to explore new graphical representation tecniques to convey the ideas of my design process.

INTRODUCTION

After a site visist to Rotterdam South, I observed residents, facilities and the use of public space. As a design studio group, we observe scales, accesibility, different age and origin goups, daily life of people in the neighbourhood and the relation between housing and streets.

In my case, I notice where the life of the neighbourhood was located, it was mainly where small local shops of diverse background where placed. However the center, has major facilities but no life, maybe the reason for this is, that these facilities are not necessary intended for the inhabitants of the neighbourhood or it can be an accesibility issue, a physical aspect, the scale or the street itseelf.

For me, scale and functions had a role in this issue, some important areas neglect the residents and after my visit, they almost also felt like empty lots.

In this booklet I will explain these areas in terms of voids, understand the the physical, social and technical elements that contextualize them, some tools to approach them and ultimately an urban design proposal to transform these voids.

METHODOLOGY

Q2: Designing Sustanaible Urban Environments VISION Human Scale/Sustainable Urban Design Project

TOOLS:

RESEARCH: Based on chosen topic ANALYSIS:

Classical Urban Analysis GIS DATA Analysis Sustanaible Urban Engineering of Territory

Social-Spatial Processes

[Design translation of principles] DESIGN PATTERNS: HEALTH | CONTROL | LEGIBILITY | SAFETY

SOIL | WATER | VEGETATION

Site Visit

TOPICS

General Anaylsis

GIS DATA Anaylsis Design Pattern production

Multicultural Spaces Out of scale Inside Out Missing link The Front Door Spatial Narratives Child Friendly City

Topic Analysis Project Develoment Application of patterns to project

Design Proje ct

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VOIDS in SOUTH ROTTERDAM

VOIDS The area of Rotterdam South contains facilities that have an important role in the city, such as the Ahoy Convention Center, the Zuidplein Mall and Metro Station and the Hospital.

This large scale facilities occupy an important area of the neighbourhood, however, some of these areas are not used by the inhabitants, mainly by visitors outside the site. In addition to this, residential streets are not use either, everything happens behind doors, there isn’t a collective life and no interiorexterior relation. These areas, the ones not used by the residents, create negative spaces in the neighbourhood.

South Rotterdam has been neglected from the urban plannning process in Rotterdam and the new proposals plan to convert this area in the new center for Rotterdam South, however this area has issues that have to be addressed in order to satisfy the inhabitants of this neigbourhood. They are the ones that live and can give character to this zone, that is why priorities should be dedicated to the locals of South Rotterdam.

This part of the city needs to works from within. It depends on its inhabitants to transform it into a neighbourhood where people actually use its space.

A void is not place

THE ISSUE WITH OUT OF SCALE Borja & Muxí (2000), said “in the city, first the streets and squares, the collective spaces, only later the buildings and the roads will come”. Out of scale elements in a city ignore the basic human needs of space, therefore people avoid using this areas of the built environment and they can be interpretated as spatial voids.

OUT OF SCALE

DISCONNECTS FROM PEOPLE AND PLACE

Monolitic buildings and high traffic roads have created a spatial structure that has disconnected socially and visualy, people from people and from place (Salirangos, 2001).

This issue has multiple social relevance, which relays on the fact that people have the right to be present in a place (Lynch, 1981) and also the right to access an area with centrality elements, to live in a well regarded neighbourhood and not be ashamed of it (Borja & Castro).

Moreover, is in public spaces where people can exercise citizenship.

INHABITANTS DON’T HAVE SPACES TO USE, APPROPIATE AND EXERCISE CITIZENSHIP

FREEWAY = VOID

AHOY = VOID

PARKING LOT = VOID

In South Rotterdam, the Ahoy, and especially its parking lot, are negative spaces because they are not used by the residents of the neighbourhood.

STREETS = VOIDS

In the neighbourhood, streets are empty spaces and residential blocks are isolated from each other FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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Completely empty vacant, without contents, containing nothing, blank, bare, clear, free, unfilled, unoccupied, uninhabited, desolate, barren Oxford Definition

VOID:

“Generally speaking, lost spaces are the undesirable urban areas that are in need of redesign-antispaces, making no positive contribution to the surroundings or users�

Roger Trancik, 1986 What is lost space?

Spaces where residents of South Rotterdam are not present or cannot freely use or act in them.

In terms of SPACE Physical Void:

Out of human scale physical elements Space does not respond to humans spatial needs Dark areas No relation between people and place

Functional Void:

Regional functions without a local use of the facility.

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HYPOTHESIS By “filling the void�of Rotterdam South via a network of positive spaces, meaning human scale open spaces, the neighbourhood has the potential to become one where residents can use and claim the space they inhabit, feel confortable in it and ultimately invite others to also enjoy it.

From home to the void

BRIEF CITY SCALE: Network of human scale open urban spaces for the residents of South Rotterdam.

NEIGHBOURHOOD SCALE: Metroplein area with the METROPLEIN STRIP, Terraces for the surroiding office buildings and connections across the higways (pedestrian bridges).

FOCUS PROJECT: Metroplein strip to connect the local theater with Ahoy Rotterdam and transforming the residual areas of the station’s traffic machinery. It consists of waiting areas for the different transportation systems, shops,eating and resting spaces, along with promenade to link cultural anchors of the area.

Network and focus project [ METROPLEIN STRIP]

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UNDERSTANDING SOUTH ROTTERDAM This analysis focuses on the chracteristics of the South Rotterdam that define it as a neighbourhood composed by spatial voids.

Tradiitonal urban analysis, demographic data, and social media were the tools use to draw som important conlusions.

SOUTH ROTTERDAM

The Netherlands

Rotterdam

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South Holland

South Rotterdam

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SOCIAL DATA

Main socioeconomic issues

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Cheap rental housing and overcrowded households indicates poor appropiation of residencial areas.

< 15 % Overcrowded housing < 8 % Cheap Rental Housing

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SPATIAL

Figure-Background 30 |

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TRaffic MACHINE

Traffic machine desintegrates the neighbourhood into isolated areas.

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GREENSCAPE

Greenscape in found in residual areas of highways. There is also a large green park with a city scale.

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WATERSCAPE

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FACILITIES

Google places for South Rotterdam

Facilities via Foursquare 34 |

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SCOPE

Main facilities of the neighbourhood and their rich at local, city and region level.

Regional City Local

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POOR SPATIAL ATTRIBUTES

Residual spaces and pedestrian connections lack spatial qualities and do not satisfy human needs of urban space.

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OUT OF SCALE

The outscale elements are also the ones with city or local scope.

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POSITIVENEGATIVE SPACEs

Positive spaces correspond to housign areas and local facilities such as schools and shops

Negative spaces are main facilities with no urban spatial quality

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Map of positive and negative spaces

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VOIDS

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Type of VOIDS

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Highway: Functional Void

Metroplein:Physical Void

Ahoy: Functional Void FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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DIAGNOSIS: Unaccessible center composed by voids.

- Out of scale â&#x20AC;&#x153;boxesâ&#x20AC;? and open urban spaces with poor spatial attributes - Traffic scape makes a non accesible center - Regional and city facilities are not used by inhabitants of the neighbourhood

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STRATEGY Places network

To address the unaccessible center composed by voids, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s necessary to decentralize and re-scale the elements that form it and redistribuite them in the neighbourhood.

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PRINCIPLES FOR SOUTH ROTTERDAM As one of the goals of this quarter is to integrate human dimensions and engineering into the desing, this chapter will present a framework for sustainibility and what are the main aspects that need to be applied in an urban proposal for South Rotterdam. Later, an analysis of subsurface and social issues gather with GIS. Apart from that, 4 aspects of human dimensions are addressed and combine with GIS data to produce design patterns.

STARTING FROM THE COMMUNITY FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE URBAN ENGINEERING OF TERRITORY

Holistic and long term are words associated with sustainability. The most common definition for it is the development of the present while maintaining resources for the future while considering three basic dimensions: nature, society, and economy. However, the changes in the environment have increase and is now an urgent issue if we still want resources not only for the generations to come, but more pressing, for our current development.

Although it seems like a scary scenario, this should not be taken with fear, on the contrary, it has to be approached as an opportunity to explore new solutions that can solve existing and new issues with minimal resources, an exercise in multifunctionality and how human life can prosper while using nature elements, not only to make the most of them, but also regenerate what has been consume with previous human actions in an effort to eradicate this type of behaviour and to develop a reciprocity between people and nature, one serving the other and vice versa ( Hes & Du Plesssis, 2015).

Personally, sustainability is about cycles and the necessary process to obtain a product or result. In such method, every step should respond fairly to nature, economy, and society in global terms.

Also, I considered that sustainability depends on the principle of multifunctionality and diverse solutions with one idea.

Another important principle about sustainability is learning how to minimize the need of new. From a design point of view, starting from zero is not only outdated, is often a challenging starting situation, since taking advantage of what is already existing leads to a richer design product.

McLennan (2004) explains that sustain-

ability has two core beliefs: that our lifestyles are having a negative impact in the environment risking the continuity of the human and other species existence in the planet and that we have the responsibility to modify our society in a way that allows us to live in this planet, where we have evolved.

Sustainability is not only a goal, is also a process to evaluate the principles behind the design. Interdisciplinary practice for the built environment is a step towards achieving better sustainable living areas and the work of engineering and design can bring social benefits in a neighbourhood (Spence et all, 2001).

In every practice, there are guidelines for decision making, in this sense, Hes & Du Plesssis (2015) define a set of ecological values not only as an input for the professionals involve in the sustainable physical world, but also translate them in the output in a way that everyday built environment users can experience them and become aware.

-Integrity: Maintain the wholeness of a system -Inclusivity: Integration of human and nature, along with different bodies of knowledge -Harmony: Cooperation of all the elements of the system -Respect: Ecological value of no differentiation of the self, all life should be treated with regard, esteem, and consideration.

-Mutuality: Interconnected whole -Positive Reciprocity: Exchanges of mutual benefit -Fellowship: Cooperation between entities to benefit the whole -Responsibility: Human capacity of decision can make then accountable -Humility: Tool for decision making for the unpredictable -Non-attachment: Modifying ideas and FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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strategies for a rapidly changing situation.

If the aim is sustainability, working with nature is a key step. To do so, it should be taken as a model, measure and mentor (McLennan, 2004) on how to work with what is available, and to explore, ground, above and below and more importantly connect people with it. Working with nature also means working with place, the ecological and cultural network in relation to the geographic area, contributes to the possibilities of growth and viability that a place, community, neighbourhood has (Hes & Du Plesssis,2015).

Participation and collaboration are also

important for sustainability, local experience has essential knowledge about place and the changes in it, therefore making use of it facilitates the design process, in addition is create a bond between the future users with the final product via their participatory role.

To assess place in sustainability the LENSES framework aims to transforms projects into regenerative ones by urging communities to gather principles, and align them with their daily life to create suitable living environments. It is structured to change the mindset into a holistic one to obtain healthy vital places. This framework contains three lens-

Lenses Framework Diagram. Source:https://goo.gl/WJLWK1 52 |

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es: • Foundation: about actors and who has a voice in the project, • Flows: Uniqueness of the project and identifyin relations and intersections, • Vitality: Addresses the critical issues when setting goals and evaluates the impact of decision making (Hes & Du Plesssis,2015) Community building is also essential for the social dimension of a sustainable territory, however social sustainability has been more difficult to satisfy and indicators such as access to key services (health, education, transport, housing and recreation), relations and equity between generations and cultures, promotion of cultural integration, a sense of community and responsibility need to be addressed in creating social sustainable environments. (McKenzie,2004).

From the urban design point of view, parks and plazas are tools for social sustainability, here residents of a neighbourhood can interact with each other and with nature, create a human – nature relation improves mental and social health. Neighbourhoods that want to become communities need spaces of interaction, this helps to create links and healthy social bonds. These public spaces should have optimal quality at eye level to attract people outside and serve as the platform where social relation occurs (Wheeler & Beatley, 2004) and where the above-mentioned indicators can be seen and evaluated.

The tangible aspect of sustainability is perceived in the physical world, and that is why sustainable development must be understood in territories, urban and rural areas, both working together as elements of a bigger system, without making the mistake of only meeting the

needs of specific city. Social and economic needs are in constant change and those transformations often happen in cities, where the largest percent of the global population lives and generates ecological footprint (Pugh, 1996).

Sustainable cities, are lively compact ones, composed by quality urban public spaces where people can interact and are supported by walkability and public transportation networks. Sustainable cities need better public spaces for people to inhabit, and emphasizing is quality, comfort and aesthetics is important for a successful urban space.

Sustainable design is more than designing something that can be maintained, it implies achieving the maximum quality of the built environment without negative impacts to the natural one. Sustainable design seeks to create healthy and nourishing places and to balance human needs without enabling nature to thrive (McLennan, 2004).

Frameworks for sustainable design can be: qualitive than included participatory design process, conservation of resources, fostering biodiversity, ecologic aesthetic, social justice, accessibility, creativity; or quantitative related to ester efficiency, air quality, materials, resources, waste, pollution, energy, soil and air. Sustainable design should evidence sense of place, since this reinforces the meaning of the site and creates affinity that later generates understanding of the larger environment (Dinep & Schwab, 2010).

Case Study for Sustainability ChonGae Canal Source Point Park: FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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Sunken Stone Garden, Seoul, Korea This project is an urban public space that forms part of an urban redevelopment plan and is located in the Central Business District of Seoul. This park frames the restored ChonGae waterway.

This river use to flow in the centre of Seoul for centuries, however the increase in population with poor water and waste management, the river became a sanitation concern and the river was later cover and a highway was built over it. In monsoon season, the overflow send contaminated water to surrounding areas.

The canal design leaves spaces for seasonal flooding. The polluted waterway was restored by demolishing an elevated highway infrastructure that divided the city. Two superblocks frame the canal, transforming the former vehicular path into a pedestrian corridor.

In a larger scale, this canal forms part of

the waterway redevelopment of the city and is located at the source point of an 11 Km green corridor.

This public space has become a major gathering place in a city in dire need of public spaces. All age groups use this space and connect with nature and history. This canal holds important cultural events and celebration and has help the economic growth of the city. Another valuable aspect of the project is the removal of traffic infrastructure, combined with other expanded rail and bus service, restriction on cars and higher parking fees has decrease traffic congestion and air pollution.

Some of the environmental benefits of this canal are: clean water, storm water management, urban heat reduction and biodiversity restoration and decrease air pollution.

The reason this project is a good example of sustainability, lies on the co-creation of the project, different teams of landscape architecture contributed to

ChonGae Canal Source Point Park. Source: https://goo.gl/JZo4tR 54 |

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the design. Along with this, the project works with place, symbolising the future unification of Korea and using local materials. A guideline for this canal was the changes of water level form hour to hour and season to season and targeting the extreme flooding in monsoon season.

These restoration efforts awarded the city the World Technology Award in 2005.

References:

• Dinep, Claudia & Schwab, Kristin (2010). Sustainable Site Design: Criteria, Process, and Case Studies for Integrating Site and Region in Landscape De-

sign, John Wiley & Sons, New Jerseyy • Hes, Dominique & Du Plessis Chrisna (2015). Designing for hope, Pathways to regenerative sustainability.

Routledge, New York • Honor Award: ChonGae Canal Source Point Park: Sunken Stone Garden, Seoul, Korea (2009). Retrived from: https://www.asla.org/2009awards/091. html • McKenzie, Stephen (2004). Social Sustainability: Towards some definitions. Hawke Research Institute, University od South Australia, Magill, South Australia, 2004 • McLennan, Jason (2004) The Philosophy of Sustainable Design, Ecotone, Kansas, Missouri • Pugh, Cedric (1996). Sustainability, the Environment and Urbanization.

Earthscan Publications, London • Spence, Robert, Macmillan, Sebastian and Kirby, Paul (2001) Interdisciplinary design in practice. Thomas Telford, Nottingham • Wheeler, Stephen M. & Beatley, Timothy (2004) The Sustainable Urban Developer Reader. Routledge, London

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GIS DATA ANALYSIS

To comprehend the technical aspects of our site, GIS data of subsurface and social issues has been analysed. This information helped to give reason to previous information, gathered with the site visit and basic morphology analysis.

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Pollution: Soil contamination and noise levels Noise in this area is caused by the traffic machinery. The soil is contaminated soil outside the center

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PHYSICAL HEALTH: Obesity Health information available on GIS correspond to obesity, showing that this affects diferent age groups.

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SUBSIDENCE:

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INFILTRATION

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WATER LEVEL

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DESIRED LEVEL:

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PIPES Small parts of the focus area have separate sewage, the rest is combined.

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CABLES

SOIL PROFILE:

FOUNDATIONS

Pollution: Soil contamination and noise levels Noise in this area is caused by the traffic machinery. The soil is contaminated soil outside the center

CONTROL OF SPACE: Overcrowding and cheap rental housing The combination of this data, suggest that resiendt of the neigbouthood have little personal space, or space they can appropiate.

ALERT in THE NEIGHBOURHOOD: Reported violence and alert by neighbours can illustrate the sense of security of the inhabitants of the area.

VACANCY:

POTENTIAL MAP

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ARCHIVES: Inspiration from old maps

For urban planning policies, maps are extremely important. They illustarte the transformations and justify or not the desicion making.

This map showing ownership and responsability help to clarify some erronous decisions before takinf formal steps.

This, apart from being a beautiful suggestive drawing, shows the outline of an urban proposal. Clear bold lines to indicate the new building.

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suet towards human dimensions A REFLECTION â&#x20AC;&#x153;In many ways, the environmental crisis is a design crisis. It is a consequence of how things are made, buildings are constructed, and landscapes are used. Design manifest culture, and culture rests firmly on the foundation of what we belive to be true about the world.â&#x20AC;?

Sym Van Der Ryn

To understand the subsurface, the tools used was GIS Data combined with some other sources. In some cases, data can be overwhelming and difficult to process, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why translating, selection and interpretation is key. However, if data is not always available for the area, decision making becomes a harder task.

and here is where design have the role to make users aware of the subsurface in relation of how they use space along with highlighting the functions of the subsurface is what supports everyday urban life, as it is often hidden, is not an issue for users, is only for the technicians that work with it.

The aspects to understand social-spatial processes in the city, which refers on how people and space dialogue, occur on the surface, with little or none direct connection with the underground. This factor makes combining GIS and human dimensions and demanding exercise.

The smoother transitions from subsurface to surface was for me in terms of health and control/decentralization.

Physical health depends on a healthy environment above and below ground, and just the use of space itself will be determine on how safe is to use. On the other hand, decentralization of underground systems also helps create a dialogue between people and subsurface, which works in urban block scale. In terms of materiality, using soil, water and vegetation is the easiest way of relating ground and below, since these elements are rooted on the subsurface.

As a designer, combining engineering and human dimensions requires a big effort to achieve an elegant design, since the activities done on the surface and how people dialogue with space is, in most cases, completely independent from the subsurface. This is also caused by the unawareness of the underground, which is leave to technicians and where the public rarely pays attention.

Is in the in the physical environment that people become aware of it, and the potential of open public space for creating communities and places. The same should happen with the subsurface,

Design combines art and science, and one of the goals should be to engage users of public space in the current sustainability issues that occur on the subsurface, so they become more aware of these processes and cycles. This can be achieve by mirroring and identifying on the ground the functions of below.

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DESING PATTERNS

Based on the analysis of the neighbourhood and the study of the GIS Data for the focus area, I have developed design patterns that respond to spatial needs related to health, control, legibility and safety, while also considering the subsurface and the use of soil, water and vegetation to achieve sustainable patterns.

HEALTH DESIGN PATTERNs A comprehensive definition of health implies overall wellbeing, in terms of physical, social and mental aspects.

The design of the urban environment can improve health related issues for inhabitants and develop communities networks.

physical

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social

mental

HEALTH RELATED DATA Biodiversity Obesity Soil Pollution

HEALTH RELATED ISSUES Different age groups with obesity Polluted soil and various degrees

Health RELATED TARGETS

Health design patters

Reduce the obesity levels

HP1:Walk in the void

Contribute to the remediation of the soil

HP2:Run in the void

Awareness of biodiversity

Hp3: View in the void HP4:Remediate the void

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HP1

WALK IN THE VOID

Hypothesis: Engaging sidewalks invite people to walk, be outside and encounter neighbours, therefore providing this type od sidewalks can increase physical, emnatl and social heatlh.

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How: - Wide pedestrian path with textured/colorful material - Changing and permeable facades in color and shape - Inclusion of trees for a attractive ambience

HP2

RUN IN THE VOID

Hypothesis: Considering the porcentage of obesity in the neigbourhood, engaging jogging routes where people can exercise will attract users and can decrease the obesity levels in the neigh-

How: Shade and Light Irregular shape to avoid obstacles Stairs and ramps to avoid intersections Differents trees in the route for a changing path FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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HP3

VIEW IN THE VOID

Hypothesis: Mental health is as important as physical health for a neighbourhood, therefore generating places where can people can seat and enjoy the scenary benefits the mental health of the area.

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How: - Stairs to generate better views - Places to sit or lean - Benches - Human Scale open spaces - Low Noise

HP4

REMIDIATE THE VOID

Hypothesis: The subsurface has an impact in the surface, therefore adding nature in the surface that is rooted on the subdurface can help heal the polluted conditions of the soil.

How: - Planting different plant species (grass, bushes, plants and trees) - Wide planting space

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CONTROL DESIGN PATTERNs Control has a dual characteristic, it can give complete freedom and at the same time, it can restrain any action, therefore design patterns for control have to considere both aspect of this idea.

Residents

Constrain

AHOY

Free

Visitors

‘‘ In any good settlement, there should be places that are untensely private to persons and strong primary groups, and also some form of free or ‘‘ waste’’ land within their reach whic no external power effectively controls... Therefore a good control system will include ways in which local control, however congruent, is constrained to maintain future vitality, manipulability, and resilience.’’

Lynch, 1981

Based on the spatial rights in terms of control, explained by Lynch (1981) and on the analysis of the time spent in the public access areas, residents and ownership in the neighbourhood, I have created four design patterns that intent to respond the control related issues of the voids of South Rotterdam.

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SPATIAL RIGHTS Presence

Use/ Action

CONTROL RELATED DATA

Appropiation

Modification

Exclude

Disposition/ Invitation

CONTROL RELATED ISSUES

CONTROL RELATED TARGETS

COntrol design patters

Percentage of overcrowded housing

Little time spent in publicly owned spaces

Increase the usage of public space by the residents

CP1: Invitation to the void

Percentage of cheap rental housing

High percentage of new comers

Percentage of newcomers

Diverse background of residents

Percentage of vacancy

Centralised water management

Time spent in public spaces

Rain and dark water combyned sewage system

Introduce responsability for common space Allow visitors and new residents the use of space

CP2: Familiarity towards the void Cp3: Proxemics in the void CP4:Managing the void

Decentralised the sewage system

Type of sewage system

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CP1

FAMILIARITY TOWARDS THE VOID

Hypothesis: By providing elements people feel familiar with, they can feel more welcomw to new open public spaces Theoretical Background:â&#x20AC;&#x153;The first right of space, is the one of presence...the second is use and actionâ&#x20AC;?Lynch, 1981 86 |

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Keywords: Right of presence/increase use of space Practical implication: - Identify element (s) familiar/characteristics of the place/street of residence - Trees, street pavement and apply it to the way of destination [Wayfinding]

CP2

INVITATION TO THE VOID

Hypothesis: By giving residents control over their space, they can also control who to invite an in the terms to do so.

Theoretical Background: A good control system shoudl have constrained and private areas while allowing future visitors to use the space; flexibility should exists, Lynch 1981

Keywords: Exclude and invite / increase use of space Practical implication: - Height differences (Stairs/Ramps) and barries - Transition between public and private should have a hierarchy - Boundaries (less than 1 mt height) between zones of acces FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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CP3

PROXIMITY IN THE VOID

Hypothesis: By providign different scales of proximity in public open areas, people can appropiate the open space Theoretical Background: Perception of levels of intimacy in space and proxemics studies by Hall, E. Keywords: Appropiation

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Practical implication: - Urban furniture with different witdh of use - Spaces that allow 1, 2, 3, 4 or more people - Combination of private and social closed and open - Boundaries to generate intimacy

CP4

MODIFY THE VOID

Hypothesis: By including areas where people can be respomsible of, the sense of control and responsability can increase in the neighbourhood.

Theoretical Background: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Congruence of control in a place depends on responsability, people should have information, motives and power to do it well.

Keywords: Modification, responsability Practical implication: - Rain water harvesting - Green roof - Absorbtion of rain water via plants - Condition the water and reuse it for plants - Permeable soil/gravel for non planted areas FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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LEGIBILTY DESIGN PATTERNs In terms of cities, legibility refers to how clearly the built environment is, how distinguisable its elements are in a way that the can be remenbered and later organized by memory.

Lynch, 1960

‘‘ A vivid and integrated physycal setting, capable of producing a sahrp image, plays a social roel as well. It can furnish the raw material for the symbols and collective memories of group communication... The perceptive and familiar observer ... would be well oriented, and he could move easily. He would be highly aware of his environment....The positve values of a legible surroundings are... the emotional satisaction, the framework for communication or conceptual organization, the new depths that it may bring to everyday experience’’.

Lynch, 1960

Based on the types of artifacts described by Haken & Portigali, 2003, I have created four design patterns that intent to respond the legibility issues of South Rotterdam.

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LP1

UNIQUENESS IN THE VOID

Hypothesis: Including a constrasting element in public places can help the recognition of the place by users.

Theoretical Background: Unique Artifacts in the environment, Haken & Portigali, 2003 Keywords: Recognition FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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LP2

FILLING WITH PAVEMENT

Hypothesis: A visual connection from one place to the other can benefit the orientation of people walking.

Keywords: Wayfinding

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Practical implication: - Color and texture in the pavement - Changes in sizes and inclusion or natural elements such as gravel or grass

LP3

UNDERNEATH THE VOID

Hypothesis: Including infrastructural elements in the streetscape design while highlghtinh their function and nost disguising it, can be an opportunity for people to notice this artifacts and their importance in urban life.

Keywords: Awareness

Practical implication: - Framing this elements with nature - Identification of their use

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SAFETY DESIGN PATTERNs The physical environment can have, to certain extent, a role in the reduction of urban insecurity. This also has to be combined with crime and offenders behaviour along with the fear people have towards them. People can also serve as element to improve the feeling of security when they exercise informal control (natural surveillance).

On the other hand, by identifying the physyical vulnerabilities of the urban environment is possible the modifiy it to hinder offenders opportunities.

Soomeren, 1996

Considering the low safety index, neighbourhood alert and areas of reported violence, I have developed four design patterns using vulnerability factors of the built environment.

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SP1

FOLDED ENTRYWAY

Hypothesis: Avoiding direct entrance from the street can become another difficulty for robbers, therefore they can be less incline to traspass.

Practical implication: - Low fence along the sidewalk - Placing the entrance on the lateral sides of households

Keywords: Prevention

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SP2

ALL VANTAGE POINTS

Hypothesis: Improving the sense of security can be achieve by decreasing the amount of back areas by adding “more eyes” on the public space Keywords: Feeling of security

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Practical implication: - Place seating areas in multiple directions - Use different type of urban furniture - Use height for more visuals

SP1

NATURAL FENCE

Hypothesis: A clear definition between public and private can benefit the sense of safety.

Keywords: Boundaries

Practical implication: - Slim natural elements close to each other, separating from outside and allowing view from the inside.

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APPLICATION OF PATTERNS

This set of pattern have different applications in the proposed network, that will depend on the subsurface and type of space.

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Street Level

Connections

Public spaces

To use in areas with clean soil, like the center, where water can infiltrate.

Parks and green spaces

Residential areas with polluted soil

Sidewalks with combined sewage system

Link between resdential area and new public spaces

Local public spaces and squares

Current empty sidewalks

Streets across the network FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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ATES (aquifer thermal energy)

carrying capacity

cables and pipes

underground building

explosives

LAYERS

ENE

CIVIL CONSTRUCTIONS

archaeology

SUBSURFACE / SUBSOIL

LP3

PEOPLE

METABOLISM

DESIGN PATTERNS EVALUATION

BUILDINGS

This matrix shows how the patterns relate surface and subsurface.

PUBLIC SPACE

LP3

INFRA STRUCTURE

SUBSURFACE

SUBSURFACE

CIVIL CONSTRUCTIONS

shallow shallow and water layer water layer deep > 500 meter

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ENE

HP3 CP4

HP4 HP4

subsurface storage

sand/clay/gravel resources

ecological diversity

geomorphological quality and landscape type

subsoil life / crop capacity

clean soil

drinking water resources

SUBSURFACE

water storage capacity

fossile energy resources

geothermal energy

water filtering capacity

WATER

RGY

SUBSURFACE / SUBSOIL

LAYERS PEOPLE

social structure (neighbourhood typology) social behaviour labour productivity labour capital

METABOLISM

energy /

CP4

food water waste air (building) material products

HP4 HP4

BUILDINGS

offices housing utility culture

CP4

HP3

SP3

PUBLIC SPACE

living environment culture nature agriculture

INFRA STRUCTURE

mobility network

CP4

SUBSURFACE

subsurface subsoil water energy civil constructions

RGY

WATER

SUBSURFACE

SUBSURFACE bouwrijp maken groenvoorziening wateropgave schone bodem en grondstoffen energie concept

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4

FROM LEFTOVER...

TO PLACE Maecenas non mollis turpis. Proin gravida leo eget mi ultricies hendrerit. Vestibulum tempor volutpat sem quis hendrerit. Suspendisse pellentesque turpis quis diam consequat vehicula bibendum et ipsum. Morbi sodales, ante nec varius malesuada, est metus molestie erat, vitae pulvinar quam dolor quis felis. Nunc lorem ipsum, aliquet vel mi facilisis, aliquet bibendum libero. Vivamus consequat cursus mauris. Etiam ullamcorper turpis sit amet turpis vestibulum ornare. Nunc

ZUIDPLEIN

One of the most used spaces of the area is the station, however lacks physical quality and residents donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t engage with it.

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Cultural Office Buildings Grass Pedestrian areas Pedestrian bridges Residential Shops Parking/Storage FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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KEY PROJECTS

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LEFTOVERS

Residual spaces of Zuidplein are the only ones available for people to use.

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FRAME THE VOID Framing the void: Sense of enclosure to make a place

â&#x20AC;&#x153;...sense of enclousure.The enclosure of space in this manner is the purest expression of a sense of place, the centre. It is here that order is created out of the undifferentiated chaos of the world beyondâ&#x20AC;?.

Cliff Moughtin, Urban Design: Street and sqaure

Horizontal and vertical ribbons made added with time, result in a urban/architectonic composition that combines textures and dimension. These ribbons serve as inspiration for the layout of the strip and its main areas.

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MASTER PLAN

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METROPLEIN STRIP AHOY

ZUIDPLIEN MALL ZUIDPLEIN THEATER

foyer eat and wait

wait

wait

foyer

promenade

promenade

BUS STATION (Ground/First Floor) METRO STATION FILLING THE VOID from leftover to place

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DETAILS

Reflective Stainless Steel Ceiling in the foyer and waiting area to reflect natural and artificial light and decrease the darkness of the station.

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Concrete with yellow glass agregate for the seats of the project

Concrete pavement forming a pattern in the foyer, marking the balcony projection on the 1st floor

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DETAILS

Eat and wait

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Reflective Stainless Steel Ceiling in the foyer and waiting REFLECTING: area to reflect natural and artificial light, the rest of the promenade reflects from below with two water mirrors.

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Reflective Stainless Steel

Concrete with yellow glass agregate for the seats of the project

Small platforms with gravel

Hanging seats detail 116 |

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Individual Hanging Seats

Small focal light frame the spaces between columns

Furniture to lay down

Regional buses waiting areas

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DETAILS

Stainless steel ceiling

Seating area

Foyer

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leaning posts to observe from the balcony

Pattern on pavement to frame the foyer (space inside the balcony projection)

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A case for MEtroPLEIN STRIP SOCIO - ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY

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