From Leftover to Integral

From Leftover to Integral: how greyfield sites can be used to promote sustainable and productive communities

introduction

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case studies

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synthesis

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proposal

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INTRODUCTION

How can cities reuse greyfield sites to promote sustainable and productive communities?

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greyfields...

A greyfield site is a plot of land or a real estate asset that is economically obsolete. For my project, I have been focusing on greyfield sites located near residential spaces that have the potential of becoming or have already become important public spaces within a

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to greenfields

local community. At some point, as cities develop, they will have to start redeveloping the leftover spaces. In order to create the sustainable cities of tomorrow, there should be a focus on using these spaces for sustainable initiatives.

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sustainable

A sustainable community is a localized community that has the means of creating social bonds and identities, giving them the the potential to take on sustainable initiatives. This community should be able to grow and adapt over time in order to best meet their needs as well as the needs of future generations.

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productive

communities

Urban density provides the unique opportunity for people to interact and create communities. The more people socialize and invest within their local communities, the more they will care for and identify with their community. The stronger the community identity, the more they will care for the betterment and sustainability of a public, shared space.

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CASE STUDIES

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london & Paris

Jardins du ruisseau city: Paris, france Site: old & disused railroad tracks Inception: 1998 by a group of local inhabitants Community: Porte de Clignacourt Membership: annual 15 euro fee site: http://lesjardinsduruisseau.fr/

Features • • • • • •

People share small wooden box plots Small, mobile tables and chairs line the tracks Hen coop at one end Hydroponics system with abundant veggies and fruits Food is taken care of and consumed by members Open to all on weekends. Members only on weekdays.

Observations

• Activities: board games, reading, drinking • People: friendly, easy to talk to, know one another, diverse in age and ethnicity

• Improper use of space: Teens using the space for smoking and loud music

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Jardin de la folie titon city: Paris, france Site: Residual space between buildings Inception: 1999 - locals fought to turn it into a park Community: 11th Arrondissement Membership: annual 15 euro fee for gardeners only site: https://association-folie-titon.blogspot.co.uk/

Features • • • • • •

Central lawn used for picnics and play Shared garden and pond 13 plots: 3-4 gardeners per plot Gardeners meet on the last Sunday of every month to garden together Annual Neighbors Party every summer Largest park in area and used by many

Observations

• Has become an accessible community space with a far reach • Not obviously used for gardening • The space feels like a generic park that can be used by anyone

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CAMLEY ST. NATURAL PARK city: London, united kingdom Site: former coal drop Inception: 1984 local community initiative Community: king’s cross area and commuters special Membership: monthly 2.5 pound fee site: wildlondon.org.uk/reserves/camley-street-natural-park

Features • Visitor center with a sign in and information on the community and the park • Information about the future of the park and community decisions • Benches and small sitting areas scattered along park • Lots of informational plaques • Pond dipping activity for families • Linear path brings you in a loop around the park Observations • • • •

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Not much space for large gatherings Volunteers and information makes you feel involved in the park Entry is somewhat hidden Very few people in the park on a Saturday compared to public spaces in the vicinity

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DALSTON EASTERN CURVE city: London, united kingdom Site: old & disused railroad tracks Inception: 2009 by exyzt an arch. collective Community: hackney Membership: volunteer basis site: http://dalstongarden.org/

Features • • • • • •

Has a small restaurant serving drinks and snacks Wooden Pavilion for shade and events Lots of movable seating and ledges to sit on Many flower boxes for the community to garden in Painted signs were scattered across the gardens Events like free yoga classes are often hosted in the space

Observations

• Many casual interactions • Very full with diverse groups - However, the majority of people were on the younger, hipper side

• Many people aren’t involved in the garden but come to hang out because of the atmosphere

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culpeper community garden city: London, united kingdom Site: old industrial site Inception: 1982 as a local initiative Community: islington Membership: annual 15 euro fee site: http://www.culpeper.org.uk/

Features • • • • • •

47 plots Garden is enclosed in another park space with jungle gyms and swings Small lawn near entrance of the park used by all for picnicing Small hut with information and tea Communal leaf compost All things grown are organic

Observations

• Most of the people who use the garden are immigrants who live in flats without garden spaces

• People share produce and host events • Some grow things for pleasure like flowers while others grow foods from their home countries

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synthesis

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what are the most important features to consider in community driven public spaces?

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Entry and accessibility Parks with eye catching and strategically place entrances tended to get more activity. For example, Camley St.’s entrance had a hidden entrance with very little signage while Dalston Eastern Curve had an eye catching entrance that was connected directly to a road with high pedestrian traffic.

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adaptability Adaptability and incremental phasing allows a community to continue developing a space, keeping the space up to date and relevant.

Additionally, this allows the space to adapt to a specific community’s needs.

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education and information When a park serves as an educational tool, it has added value within a community. Additionally, members of the community will have a better understanding and appreciation of nature through the park.

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design Creating of open and flexible spaces with features like moveable chairs and open lawns create flexible arrangements for people to interact in. In parks with these features, there was a noticeable increase in interaction between strangers through chance encounters and forced interactions like asking to borrow a chair.

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community engagement and user agency The most successful parks I studied all put the local community first through certain considerations. In parks like Culpeper, the community members that were interviewed felt proud of and in control of their gardens. They were more willing to spend time in the park and help out their friends with their plots.

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PROPOSAL

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gulfton, houston

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Gulfton is a neighbrhood in Houston that is largely composed of apartment complexes. The area’s development mostly occurred in the 1970’s during Houston’s oil boom. The projects were completed with little planning and a mindset of maximizing profits.

In the 1980s, as the economy declined, Gulfton experienced a huge shift in demographics. Housing prices declined, and the area became known as the “Gulfton ghetto”.The schools were over crowded, and there was an increase in crime. The city of Houston responded by adding more public infrastructure like schools and transport. Today, Gulfton is mostly inhabited by Hispanic residents, including many immigrants from Mexico and Central America. Because of this, Gulfton has become a hub for Latin American culture in Houston.

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SER-NiĂąos Charter School Residential Commercial Pedestrian/Paved 38

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SER-NiĂąos Charter School is a PreK-8 state charter school in Gulfton.

It has three schools located in close proximity as seen in the map to the right. The classes are all bilingual, alternating between English and Spanish, and the student body is mostly made up of Hispanic and economically disadvantaged students.

Between the three schools is green space which provides sports fields for the students. The campus has many commercial developments adjacent to the schools as well as an apartment complex. What is especially concerning, is the strip mall by the middle school which includes a liquor store that is directly adjacent to the school

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SER-NiĂąos Charter School Residential Commercial Pedestrian/Paved 40

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I propose to change this space into a sustainable community space for Gulfton residents, especially the students in SER-NiĂąos. This would create a space that is more appropriate for school childeren as well as a buffer between the schools and the rest of the strip malls.

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How would this space incorporate the features from the case studies for this specific community?

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A field for picnic, play, gather, discussion, and more

Space and structures for kids to be kids 44

An information center to keep the community involved and active

Gardening space that is looked after and developed by students and community members 45

Esther tang rice university post 415/416