Germantown Gateway Competition

EDOCTSE

SEASONAL USE DIAGRAMS

The historic neighborhood of Germantown has led many lives: a destination for German immigrants, an industrial mill town, a community of resurgence. With a little imagination one can envision all of those lives being lived simultaneously: a mill worker trods home after a long day’s work. With his head stooped low he passes a young professional couple making their way downtown for dinner. The boots of a prosperous merchant fall heavily on the brick sidewalk, while a butcher looks on.

Somewhere a century’s worth of paint is being removed from a front door. It is at this intersection that we draw our inspiration for the design of the Germantown gateway.

The form of the gateway consists of a board-formed concrete and brick plinth.

Rising above is a steel tower which houses the Germantown sign. The use of brick seamlessly fits into the neighborhood aesthetic, while the rich texture of the board-formed concrete references another important architectural material of the

EDOCTSE

INDEPENDENCE DAY

OKTOBERFEST

WINTER HOLIDAYS

community: wood. The industrial steel superstructure is influenced by the water towers sitting atop the former Werthan Bag Factory and nearby Neuhoff Meat Packing Plant. Both the material (steel) and the form (water tower) reference the importance of Germantown’s industrial history.

Furthermore, the design of the signage exhibits an intermingling of two histories: industrial and residential. The residential, Victorian gingerbread decoration wraps around an industrial, all-caps typeface. During the day the use of contrasting materials makes the Germantown sign easily visible (white type on a Cor-Ten steel background).

At night the gateway sign is back lit, serving as a beacon for the community.

The repetitive use of the Germantown gateway strategically placed throughout the community serves as a cohesive icon of this disparate neighborhood. It is our belief that the gateway will enable a diverse community to speak with a single voice.

COR-TEN STEEL SIGN, LASERCUT AND BACKLIT HISTORICALLY INDUSTRIAL INSPIRED TYPEFACE

HISTORICALLY RESIDENTIAL INSPIRED GINGERBREAD DECORATION

STAINLESS STEEL CABLE TENSION SUPPORTS

BLACKENED STEEL FRAME

EDOCTSE

BLACKENED STEEL TRUSS SUPPORT

RAINGARDEN RECESSED UP-LIGHTING

BOARD-FORMED CONCRETE PLINTH

BRICK PLINTH WRAPPER, RESIDENTIAL INSPIRED MASONRY PATTERN TYPICAL GATEWAY PLAN GATEWAY LOCATIONS MODIFIED GATEWAY LOCATIONS NEIGHBORHOOD BOUNDARY

BRICK CROSSWALKTHRESHOLD TO GERMANTOWN

Jefferson St.

Jefferson St.

GERMANTOWN LOCATION MAP

INDUSTRIAL

RESIDENTIAL

INDUSTRIAL

RESIDENTIAL

INDUSTRIAL

RESIDENTIAL

Germantown is a place that is rich with history and character. Being the first neighborhood in the Nashville area, Germantown was and is still remarkably diverse, ethnically, economically and architecturally. Industrial, residential, and commercial spaces make this a strong mixed-use/live-work neighborhood.

The proposed gateways signify arrival to a special place. The intent of the gateways is to resemble a 25’ smokestack which represents the industrial influence (Neuhoff Meat Packing Plant) that impacted most residents in the area from the 1900s until the late 1970s.

Some of the driving factors throughout this design were to follow green practices, relate to Germantown’s extensive history through context and materials, engage the pedestrian, represent the diversity, and create a public fixture that was fairly low-maintenance. One is proposed on the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Monroe Street. The other is at 5th Avenue and Jefferson Street. Both of these locations are the primary entrances into Germantown, and the two streets meet at the primary intersection in the middle of the neighborhood. This is where many of the festivals and celebrations take place.

The neighborhood’s history is reflected in the design of the gateway; the historic foundation with new, modern infill complimenting (but not replicating) what exists. The tower’s design began with a limestone smokestack as the primary focus in the center (4’ at the base). Then a steel angle space-frame surrounds the column creating an interesting form that is comprised of triangular shapes. These triangular shapes vary in size and shape which represents the diversity of the neighborhood. This steel frame symbolizes the new,

engages the pedestrian, and creates a piece of art around the historic core smokestack.

With the use of the metal frame, panels of different materials can be applied to create an enclosure and to help relate the tower to the pedestrian scale. The frame is 20’ at the base, creating a space underneath the steel frame that can comfortably engage several pedestrians simultaneously. The panels are mostly transparent for two reasons; one for security and the other is to reflect the down lighting. Up lighting pollutes the night sky, therefore we are proposing the light to be located at the highest point on the tower. This also lights the surrounding area creating a safer environment.

We wanted the site to compliment the sculpture, not take away from its complex shape, thus the site became a small, simple, circular plaza. Pervious concrete pavers with grass grout lines create a 7’ path surrounding the tower which allows for minimal surface runoff.

Underneath the structure is a concrete surface which is flush with the pavers. Recycled blue glass tiles will create the Cumberland River which flows from one sidewalk, across the site, underneath the structure to the other sidewalk. In plan, the tower represents the location of Germantown in relation to the River and a bronze star inlaid in the concrete symbolizes where Nashville is in reference to the River and Germantown. This feature also creates an interactive space for the public. A small arc-ed wall behind the tower is used as a retaining wall. A Germantown timeline is inscribed in the wall, similar to our precedent.

The arc is inverted across the front edge which creates an area for the signage. We thought there was a strong paradox between the neighborhood and the sculpture. Both have the historic aspect as well as the progressive, modern additions.

The gateway at 5th Avenue and Jefferson is one block away from the traditional architecture of the Bicentennial Mall Park. The challenge was to design a structure that signified entry into a culturally rich neighborhood, and stand its own across from a formal park. We used materials to define each site response. Here we wanted to make the tower limestone to connect with the limestone colonnade in Bicentennial Mall. The park’s columns are based on a 4” and 4’ grid. The metal fixture on the top of the smokestack has four arms which is complimentary to the columns in the park. The panels would be more on the artistic side, using perforated screens and shatterproof holographically treated panels (clear, reflective acrylic panels are imprinted with a holographical, bidirectional diffraction film. The panels are then attached to the steel frame. External light is projected through the panels in which the reflection of the real acrylic component that comprises the sculpture’s fore-ground and the vertical image of it, reflected in the mirror, create the sculptures ‘real’ + ‘virtual’ likeness.)

This creates a dynamic, ever changing special display as one moves around the sculpture throughout the day. This application allows light to reflect off the panels creating more natural light and color. This green practice uses less electricity and less artificial lighting.

The gateway at Rosa Parks Blvd. and Monroe Street is the same design with different materials. Located just a couple blocks from Werthan Bag Complex and its prominent water tower, we wanted this gateway to be predominately metal. Here, the tower is a light shaft. Simple and elegant. This allows the panels which are wire mesh and screens to be the primary focus.

This modern twist on the smokestack also represents the progressive as well as the historic.

The site context creates a busy backdrop, therefore, the tower needed to shine and stand out. Small trees create a green hedge behind the sculpture defining the public space.

C ONTEX TU AL P H OTOGRAP H S

REC Y C L ED

GL AS S

C ONC RETE AND

GERMANTOWN GATEWAY

L OC ATI ONS

I MP ORTANT L AND MARK

TI L ES

L I MES TONE

C ONNEC TI ONS

D OWNL I GH TI NG D OES N’ T P OL L U TE TH E NI GH T S K Y

H OL OGRAMS H OL OGRAMS REF L EC T L I GH T RED U C I NG TH E AMOU NT OF L I GH TS NEED ED

REC Y C L ED GL AS S TI L ES C REATE TH E C U MB ERL AND RI V ER

OP EN WI RE MES H

RI V ER ROU TE OV ERL AY

WI TH

NAS H V I L L E S TAR

GREEN P RAC TI C ES

P ERV I OU S P AV ERS P REV ENT S U RF AC E RU NOF F

P ANEL D ETAI L

GRAS S

+ C ONC RETE P AV ERS

GERMA TI MEL I NE ARC

WAL L AND

NAS H V I L L E S TAR

5 TH

+ J EF F ERS ON NI GH T V I EW

ROS A P ARK S

B L V D . + MONROE NI GH T V I EW

L I GH T TOWER

P REC ED ENTS

EL EV ATI ONS 0’

10’

20’

0’

10’

20’

’

48

’

52

ROS A P ARK S

F I F TH

B L V D . + MONROE S T S I TE P L AN

AV E + J EF F ERS ON S T S I TE P L AN

DOWNLIGHT FIXTURE ILLUMINATING LIGHT TOWER LIMESTONE COLUMN

HOLOGRAPHIC PANELS

OPEN WIRE MESH PANELS

OPEN WIRE MESH PANELS

STEEL ANGLE FRAME

STEEL ANGLE FRAME

TIMELINE WALL

ROS A P ARK S

B L V D . + MONROE S TREET MATERI AL S EC TI ON

TIMELINE WALL

F I F TH

AV E + J EF F ERS ON S TREET MATERI AL S EC TI ON

NTOWN ROS A P ARK S

B L V D . + MONROE S TREET GATEWAY

F I F TH

AV E + J EF F ERS ON S TREET GATEWAY

G A T E W A Y SITE LOCATION

TRANSLUCENT GLASS (LIGHT BRONZE) LIT UP WITH LED STRIP LIGHTS FROM THE BOTTOM PERIMETER

I N S P I R A T I O N S

GERMANTOWN REFLECTING 1 THE FUTURE

TO

5th Ave. North at Jefferson St.

RECESSED FACE WITH LED STRIP LIGHTS AT BOTTOM EDGE

COMPOSITE PANELS

EXTRUDED ALUMINUM TUBE FRAME

LIMESTONE VENEER

7’-0”

17’-4”

8’-4”

2’-0”

2’-0”

3’-0” 4”X4” EXTRUDED ALUMINUM FRAME

The openess and willingness of Germantown to embrace the past as well as contemporary culture is represented in the design of the gate. It synthesizes two iconic forms from within the neighborhood (the Werthan Mills water tower and the community gateway) and one from just outside the gate location (the Carillon Bell Towers). The design product relies on the use of contemporay materials and lighting systems and combines a modern design approach with craftsmanship.

2’-0” GATEWAY STRUCTURE WITH LIMESTONE BASE

RECESSED SURFACE MOUNTED FLOOD LIGHT FOR EACH BASE

.

E. N

LIMESTONE VENEERED BASE WITH STEPS

3’-0”

GATEWAY STRUCTURE WITH LIMESTONE BASE

. AV 5TH

10’-0”

This gate serves as a neighborhood gate to welcome and introduce people to the rejuvenated Germantown.

The gate celebrates the diverse, progressive and passionate characters of the new Germantown.

NEW REWORKED CURB AND SIDEWALK

N O S ER

F

JEF

COMPOSITE PANELS TRANSLUCENT GLASS AT TOP (LIGHT BRONZE)

PLAN

The open frame support at the bottom reserves a quality from the Werthan Mills water tower while also working pragmatically to provide clear views for automobile drivers. No less than the form itself, the placement and perfect symmetry of the gate structures are meant to acknowledge the strong visual connection from the gate location to downtown. Seen from Fifth Avenue North, the gate frames the downtown view exquisitely, a reminder that there are dynamic lives within close proximity to the neighborhood that will influence and shape the future of Germantown.

SITE PLAN

EE R T S

T

G A T E W A Y

TO

GERMANTOWN

SITE LOCATION

2

REFLECTING THE PAST

M onroe St. at R osa P ark B l vd .

COMMUNITY GATEWAY This gateway speaks to the uniqueness of the Germantown community’s history and architecture. The building style, intimate scale of the neighborhood and the annual celebrations that take place here are significant components of the community. The gateway is intended to reflect upon and to honor these aspects.

The gateway will serve to welcome people, to create a landmark in the area, and to complement the urban fabric of the neighborhood and its surroundings.

The basic form of the gate is adopted from vernacular German architecture, with four open arches on the bottom part to maintain visual connection from many directions. The proportion of the structure is slender, resembling a tower or a monument. The stand-alone structure of the gateway is also meant to recapture some characteristics of the old smoke-stacks ” and the water tower at Werthan Mills, without imitating them.

9’-2

GROUND MOUNTED UPLIGHT ON EACH CORNER

-0”

”

’-0 0 0 1

12’

The placement of the gate structure on Monroe Street is essential in order to command a demanding presence and to complement the urban fabric. Placing it on an island in the middle of the street keeps the street corner free of obstructions, retreats the structure from existing visual clutter and leaves both corners open for future valuable building developments that can enhance further the appearance of the urban fabric.

GATE STRUCTURE HISTORY ENGRAVED ON STONE (OPTIONAL)

LANDSCAPE WITH GROUND MOUNTED LIGHT FIXTURES BRICK PAVINGS LIMESTONE SIGN MONUMENT

RED BRICK ACCENT

BRICK PAVINGS AT PEDESTRIAN CROSSING

BROWNISH BRICK

PLAN

31’-0”

CLEAR GLASS LIGHTING FROM INTERIOR SIDE

10 ’-0 ”

R N O

NEW REWORKED CURB AND SIDEWALK

OPEN ARCHES WITH LIGHTING FROM INTERIOR SIDE

M

RO .

LVD

KB

R PA SA

9’-2”

FRONT

SIDE

SITE PLAN

GATE STRUCTURE LANDSCAPE LIMESTONE SIGN MONUMENT

S E O

T E E TR

SITE PLAN: monroe st and rosa parks blvd

URBAN LANTERN:

PERSPECTIVE: text illuminating the streetscape

creating a civic gateway for germantown text inscriptions

ELEVATION: northeast facing panels

ELEVATION: southwest facing panels

entry # 022 site:

strategy:

corner of Monroe Street and Rosa to use light to cast a narrative account of Germantown’s Parks Boulevard rich history onto the surrounding area. by day, its laser-cut goal: Corten panels cast shadows on to highlight the rich presence of the Germantown community the groundplane, inscribing the with a new civic beacon, further outlying area with the story calling attention the the neigh- of Germantown. by night, the spotlight within the structure borhood on both a street-level shines out and civic scale.

and high up into the sky, signaling the greater urban community of Germantown’s presence within the city. it also illuminates the sidewalk and surrounding [future] buildings with the shimmering letters of its text. the street-facing side of the monument bears the superscript ‘germantown’ defining the community edge to passing motorists

PERSPECTIVE: monroe st, looking to rosa parks blvd