Renaissance of Industrial Imprints - Master Dissertation
RENAISSANCE OF INDUSTRIAL IMPRINTS
reviving manufacturing sites along the Chicago River into productive mixed-use environments
MICHA NIKOLUSSI
This project tackles the topic of industrial sites along the river in Chicago. With a changing of the industry and leaving the sites and the industrial buildings empty, this rises questions like “What to do with the industrial sites?” and “Are the industrial buildings worth keeping?”. The sites offer an immense potential of new development in the city with access to the river shore, a right every citizen should have , and the potential of keeping the industrial character and history of a place. It is the eternal architectural question „Should we keep the existing but risk not evolving any further“. This project tries to remember the past without withholding progress. It tries to make what was there before visible without copying it.
This will be made based on elements found in the city of Chicago as well as elements found on site. City imprints are classic components in the city fabric of Chicago, very prominently but maybe also unconsciously. Industrial imprints - the remains of the industry at these locations - are locally found. Drawing parallels between the city’s and the industrial imprints and translating them to one another will help to build a connection between the old and the new and give a rebirth to an empty industrial site into a new productive and mixed-use neighbourhood.
INTRODUCTION
DEFINITIONS
CITY IMPRINTS GRID RIVER BRIDGE HOUSING INDUSTRY
PL ANNED DEVELOPMENT
SITES ANALYSIS
HISTORY REASONS
INTERVENTION
INDUSTRIAL IMPRINTS
REFERENCES SOURCES
THE GRID THE RIVER THE BRIDGES THE
INDUSTRY
THE RULE
THE GAPS INBETWEEN IRREGULARITIES IN THE GRID
OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLE
INTRODUCTION
Fig.2
INTRODUCTION
Chicago is what it is today thanks to the connection between the Chicago River and the DeSable River. Industry was settling down along it, as it was the route from the great lakes over the Mississippi River all the way down to the Golf of Mexico. Due to the combination of the waterway and the train lines a lot of companies were placed along the river, afterwards also combined as Industrial Corridors. With modern technology industry changes and raw materials industry is moving out of the city and is exchanged with more valuebased industries (like art, technology, fashion, cosmetics). Furthermore, there is a decline of the South branch of the River as waterway to transport goods by 67.9 percent between the years of 2003 and 2012. This gives space to new developments along the river, an element that defines Chicago like no other.
INTRODUCTION
With climate change people realise the importance of water-bodies as cooling elements in the city, therefore more and more new housing developments take place along the river on former industrial plots. Both the population and decision-makers are gradually realizing the importance of access to the riverbank. This raises the question whether to save existing industrial buildings aligned along the river or tear them down to make ways for new developments. With the construction industry accounting for around 38 percent of CO2 emissions worldwide and around 145 million tons yearly only in the US, this is the first big reason to re-purpose existing structures instead of tearing them down. Another is its cultural and historical importance as a testimony of its time.
INTRODUCTION
The Cermak Road Bridge District is one of those sites in Chicago that have those criteria of a historic substance that is worth keeping along the Chicago River with its unique constellation of industrial buildings together with the Cermak Road Bridge.
With it being the literal bridge between two districts which have a high percentage of households with a migration background this site could also be a cultural bridge of those two neighbourhoods that are now separated through an industrial blockage along the river. Armour Square with the Chinatown neighbourhood in its district has 67,80 percent of households with an Asian background and the Lower West Side district with its Pilsen neighbourhood has 68,70 percent of households with a Hispanic background. With neighbourhoods always secluding and communities keeping to themselves this space could be the perfect spot to combine cultures in a former industrial defined area, that also gives the direct access to the waterfront. The industrial building would be used as a cultural centre and by creating new housing spaces these two neighbourhoods melt together into one.
INTRODUCTION
As Design Tools and to transform the former industrial site and eventually future former industrial site into a value based space that is not only serving one purpose but will be a mixed-use area, multiple elements found in the city will be interpreted newly and are translated to the site. These elements are classically found in the city of Chicago, very prominently but maybe also unconsciously. The four key elements are the grid, the river, the bridges and the industry. These will be translated to further understand their meaning in the city fabric. Those topics will be talked in detail and later also highlighted in the chosen site. Furthermore design choices and gestures will be implemented found in existing projects that show similarities to this project. Lastly elements found on site, so called industrial imprints which are trays of the industry, will be used to help form a new structure.
Fig.3
DEFINITIONS
...INTERIOR BECOMES EXTERIOR, AND THE INVISIBLE IS RENDERED VISIBLE.
Defining certain components helped this project to go in the direction it ended up. To understand what it should be and what it should not. When working with something existing or something that once was and is now gone it always brings up the topic of copying and repeating. This always raises the question if by the act of doing something again, or if by keeping something as it is you stop progress from happening. Or simply just not creating something from once own mind. Therefore, the project tries to avoid copying and rather remembering what was there by embracing the existing and using the newly build as an indicator of what once was.
The heritage of buildings is a very much talked of topic in the world of architecture. Preservation is indeed of utter most importance, but as shortly mentioned it can stop progress, or by doing it - at least in some eyes - wrongly done, it can even be a dangerous tool to delete parts of history one does not want to deal with. One of the most recent architectural replicas in Europe is the re-erection of the Berliner Stadtschloss, or now “Humboldt Forum”. Almost burned down in the second world war it was torn down by the DDR and in its place the “Palast der Republik” was erected. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunion of west and east Berlin the “Palast der Republik” was a thorn in the eye of Berlin politicians as it was a big symbol of communist East Berlin in the middle of the city. So instead of keeping this building as a symbol of remembering it was decided to tear it down and rebuild the former castle - in a concrete structure though.
For this project the decision of not rebuilding the former industrial imprints, but rather building around it should be an attempt to remember the former structure but avoiding to create a direct copy.
RENAISSANCE
/RꞮˈNEꞮS (Ə )NS,RꞮˈNEꞮSⱭːNS,RꞮˈNEꞮSⱰ̃S/
A REVIVAL OF OR RENEWED INTEREST IN SOMETHING.
IMPRINT
/ꞮMˈPRꞮNT/
IMPRESS OR STAMP (A MARK OR OUTLINE ) ON A SURFACE
A MARK OR OUTLINE MADE BY PRESSING SOMETHING ON TO A SUBSTANCE
COPY
/ˈKⱰPI/
A THING MADE TO BE SIMILAR OR IDENTICAL TO ANOTHER
REPLICA
/ˈRƐPLꞮKƏ/
AN EXACT COPY OR MODEL OF SOMETHING, ESPECIALLY ONE ON A SMALLER SCALE
CITY IMPRINTS
GRID
Fig.4
FRAMEWORK
THE CHICAGO GRID
8 BLOCKS MAKE UP 1 MILE SO 1 BLOCK IS 0,125 MILES, WHICH IS AROUND 200 METERS
Fig.5 The Chicago Grid
Fig.6 Center of the Grid at Madison St. and State St.
THE CHICAGO GRID
A grid is found in many cities nowadays. It tries to make the city easier to understand though often not very successful and often ruining the character of a city. The character that is mostly defined by its public spaces – the streets. Chicago’s grid is one of the famous tries of American cities to make them more efficient, especially for cars.
As most cities that grew naturally, Chicago’s street system was a mess at the beginning of the 19th century. With introducing a city plan in 1830 a first try on tidying up the city was made but not fully successful for Chicagoans. Around 70 years later in 1901 Edward P. Brennan proposed a system that shaped Chicago to the city it is today. He suggested to re-name and re-number almost every street in the city. He introduced a new central point from which the new counting system should begin. This centre is the crossing of State and Madison. Not only with numbers but also adding, depending on which direction, north, south, west and east. Brennan’s grid system was implemented 8 years later and remains until today.1
The grid follows specific rules that need to be understood to find your way through it. With the main ones already mentioned. One rule that is fundamental and shapes the city like no other is that eight Chicago blocks are equal to one mile.
The Chicago Frame can be seen as a vertical version of the grid. It was invented in 1884 as a iron structure that compared to the formerly common masonry structures weight three times less. Later build in steel it opened the doors to curtain walls.2
1 Chicago’s grid system. (2020b, August 26).
2 The Chicago Frame, PDF provided by Martine De Maeseneer.
THE CHICAGO FRAME
Jenney, 1892) stood eleven floors and was establishment of the city. Also employed were arches set between the floor joists. Unfortunately were timid architecturally and were a missed perspective.
Fig.7 The Chicago Frame
RIVER
Fig.8
IRREGULARITIES IN THE GRID
THE EVOLUTION OF WATERWAYS AND INDUSTRY
Chicago River
Des Plain River
1. original layout of the Chicago River and the Des Plain River
2. connecting the Des Plain River with the Chicago River a water route Chicago South Side Canal
3. with this connection the city grew due to it important positioning
4. a lot of industry positioned itself along the river to transport goods on the waterway
5. nowadays the industry moves out of the city and the river gets more interesting for housing projects
6. due to climate change the access to the water becomes a focus point for a lot of new developments
CHICAGO WATERWAYS
Fig.9 Map of 1851
HISTORICAL MAPS
When trying to understand how a city evolved into what it is now one has to take a closer look at its history. With Chicago it is crucial to especially look at the evolution of the river and how buildings were set along it.
This is how we can understand how the river got artificially connected with the DeSable River, got straightened on some points to make transportation via ships more convenient. Furthermore, it helps us to realise the big technical interventions Chicago went through to reverse the direction the river is flowing. Originally the Chicago River was floating into Lake Michigan. As the Lake was used as a fresh water source it soon became a problem as the settlements along the river dumped their waste water into to river, which led to the coming up of diseases when consumed the water of the Lake. Transportation wise the river delta also brought its difficulties with it. The waterflow was so strong that it created sandbanks. The big ships coming from the lakes were not able to pass them therefore the good had to be further transported by smaller boats. Those faced difficulties as well, as the waterflow was at certain points too strong for them.3
3The History of the Chicago River | The Chicago River Tour with Geoffrey Baer. (2023, May 12).
On this map of 1888 one can already see how massively the city grew in the last 40 years, with the city grid being extended to the south and west.
Fig.10 Map of 1888
Fig.11 Map of Straightening of the River
On this map we an see the plans of straightening the River which led to the creation of Rezkoville, that until now is a barely used space almost in the center in the city. The straightening of the river was finished in 1929, after only 15 months of construction.
This Map shows the industrial area in Pilsen has been created by now with its access to the canal
Fig.12 Map of 1934
Map of Chicago Portage overlaped with a Map of 1923
On this map the old Chicago Portage was overlapped with a how the canal goes nowadays. It is a perfect display of how men altered their surrounding.
Fig.13
BRIDGES
Fig.14
OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLE OF THE IRREGULARITIES
Fig.15
A CITY OF BRIDGES
With the Chicago River and its extension taking such a prominent role in the city fabric the typology of the bridge is also a key element in the city. The first bridge in the city was build in 1931, which was privately funded. Since then Chicago gained many bridges from which a lot of them are moveable bridges to ensure ships that where to high could pass through.
The earliest movable bridge in Chicago was a drawbridge at Dearborn Street, built in 1834 that was spanning over the river like a medieval bridge over moats at castles.
Nowadays there are still 37 movable bridges inside the city limits.
A few movable bridges are not in use anymore. Due to its historic value they are kept, like the Bascule Bridge - St. Charles Air Line Bridge, opened 1919.4
4Chicago’s movable bridges. (n.d.).
Fig.16 Vertical lift bridge - Canal Street railroad bridge (or Amtrak South Branch Bridge), 1913 - 1914
Fig.17 Bascule Bridge - St. Charles Air Line Bridge, opened 1919
Fig.18 Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge - Cermak Road Bridge, opened 1906
HOUSING
Fig.20
racial/ethnic self-identification in chicago in the year 2000
Fig.21
HOUSING
To further understand Chicago it is also crucial to understand who is living in its city borders. Chicago is a multicultural place, that is set together people from many cultures. Although all living together in the same city one can see that people with the same ethnicities are often living in the same area. This leads to a separation of ethnicities, instead of being mixed up.
As in many cities housing is a big problem for a lot of people. As 2-4 Unit Housing are disappearing, in which mostly lower income households live, a lot of people are forced to move further away from the centre or even outside of the city, as housing gets more and more expensive.5
5 Institute for Housing Studies - DePaul University. (2019).
Fig.22 Chicago Residential Zoning
Fig.23
Fig.24
INDUSTRY
Fig.25
THE GAPS BETWEEN THE GRID AND THE IRREGULARITIES
Historical Tonnage for Waterway Segments of the CAWS (1990-2012)
Fig.26
INDUSTRY
Chicago‘s industry is changing, as in many other cities as well. In recent years the usage of the waterway is declining. That can be seen when looking at the statistics of the usage of the waterway and locks in the Chicago area. On of the reasons for this trend is the shift towards more value-based industries (art, technology, fashion, cosmetics), compared to an industry that was originally characterized by an industry of raw materials.
Industrial corridors and Planned Manufacturing Districts (PMDs) were introduced in the 1980s by the city of Chicago. Initiative by the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) to refine and modernize land and support growth in the Industrial Corridors, also with the help of private investment. One major objective is to maintain and improve the freight as well as the public transportation systems. Furthermore, the growth of new jobs, especially for low-income neighbourhoods is essential.6
In 2011/2012 around 18 million tons of goods were transported on all of the Chicago Area Waterways combined. From those 30 percent were coal and 25 percent were crude materials (sand, gravel, etc. mostly for producing concrete). Compared to the freight transported by truck in the Chicago area, this is only a small number. 67 percent of the 1 billion tons of freight, that are worth around 1,24 trillion dollars, were transported by trucks. Compared to only 3.4 percent of freight on waterways, or 0,3 percent of the value (3,7 billion dollars).7
6 Industrial Corridor Modernization Initiative. (2022). 7 Group, G. W., Cambridge Systematics Inc., & U.S. Equities Realty. (2015).
Fig.27 Chicago Industial Corridors
Waterways Access:
recent from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics Program (LEHD). From 2002 to 2014, Manufacturing and Moving and Storing of Goods and Services the core job types in many industrial corridors on the Southwest and West of the City. Meanwhile, corridors on the Near Northwest and North experienced a significant transition toward other core job including Information & Technology and Business-toBusiness.
conducted a more inanalysis of North Branch and included additional categories, including FIRE (finance, insurance, real estate), and Education, Leisure Hospitality Services, and categories. The data indicates that manufacturing jobs been drastically declining North Branch while many new job categories are significantly growing.1 with the changes in employment types, predominant uses simultaneously shifted the corridor. Manufacturing industrial uses decreased 73 percent of corridor 1990 to 20 percent of
(continued on following page)
EMPLOYMENT TRENDS
DPD analyzed job trends in each of the 26 Industrial Corridors using the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Longitudinal-Employer Household Dynamics Program (LEHD). From 2002 to 2014, Manufacturing and Moving and Storing of Goods and Services were the core job types in many of the industrial corridors on the South, Southwest and West sides of the City. Meanwhile, six corridors on the Near West, Northwest and North sides experienced a significant transition toward other core job types, including Information & Technology and Business-toBusiness.
DPD conducted a more indepth analysis of North Branch data and included additional job categories, including FIRE (finance, insurance, real estate), Health and Education, Leisure and Hospitality Services, and other categories. The data indicates that manufacturing jobs have been drastically declining in the North Branch while many other new job categories are significantly growing.1
Along with the changes in employment types, predominant land uses simultaneously shifted within the corridor. Manufacturing and industrial uses decreased from 73 percent of corridor area in 1990 to 20 percent of
land area in 2016, according to Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) land use data and related analysis by DPD. Over the same period, the percentage occupied for commercial, transportation and utility uses more than quadrupled.
(continued on following page)
Chicago’s Industrial Corridors Employment Trends
Chicago’s Industrial Corridors Employment Trends
Manufacturing - (Largest number of jobs are in manufacturing and are stable or growing)
Manufacturing and Moving & Storing Goods - (Largest number of jobs in both manufacturing and the distribution and storage of goods and are stable or growing)
Business to Business - (Largest number of jobs are in business support services which is increasing with info & tech rising in east Kinzie)
to Business - (Largest number of jobs are in business support services which is increasing with info & tech rising in
and Moving & Storing
(Largest number of jobs in both manufacturing and the distribution and storage of goods and are stable or growing)
Info & Tech - (Largest number of jobs are either information technology and management or business support services and are growing in North Branch)
Info & Tech - (Largest number of jobs are either information technology and management or business support services and are growing in North Branch)
Area Waterways Map
Fig.30 Waterway System Map
This Map shows the Waterway System with boardering industrial corridors.
Figure 1. Chicago Area Waterways System Map
Industrial Buildings up for sale
A map of empty industrial buildings up for sale on LoopNet.com.
Fig.31
PLANNED DEVELOPMENT
Fig.32 River District
Fig.33 The 78 Proposal
Fig.34 Riverline
PLANNED DEVELOPMENTS
Looking at proposals of real planned developements we can see that there is a huge potential along the riverfront. These projects are often high-end proposals that are limited for one social class. High Rise buildings and places of leasure for in which you are forced to consume. Already seen in cities around the world, these projects also promote gentrification as they are primarely funded by private investors. All these points lead to a onesided inhabitation of the site and a exclusion of people with less income or another social class.
Chicago River | Zone 5
2nd Ward Alderman Brian Hopkins
Chicago River | Zone 6
Planned and Existing Bikeways within One Mile Buffer of the Chicago River Trail
Existing On Street Bikeways Existing Trails Opportunity Areas
Another planned development on a city scale is the Chicago River Trail Action Plan. Partly realised already, it aims to connect the central part by a foot and/ or bike route along the river and canal. This project is aiming for a usage by everyone as it gives access to the riverfront.
POTENTIAL SITES
Fig.36
POTENTIAL SITES
When looking for potential sites there were many options to be found. Criteria were the major elements described before have to be found. So all sites should be close to bridges, along the river with empty industrial sites that can be reused. Focused on the South Side of the Chicago River three Sites seemed interesting to work on with empty industrial buildings with big potential. The first one was the site of the Union Station Power House. It served as the Power House of the Union Train Station up until a few years ago. Now it faces demolition. The next one is the Continental Paper Company Building. It is currently up for sale. And the last one is the Site of the Cermak Road Bridge District with the empty Hoyt Building on site. It is under heritage and will be converted in the short future.
POTENTIAL SITES
Fig.37
Potential Site 1
Union Station Power House built in 1932, by Graham, Anderson, Probst & White not in use since 2011, up for demolition
Potential Site 2
Continental Paper Company up for sale
Hoyt Building Empty, with planned recreation project by Space Architects
Fig.38
Fig.39
Fig.40
Fig.41
Fig.42
Fig.43
CERMAK ROAD BRIDGE DISTRICT
Fig.44
Neighbourhoods
Lower East Side
Armour Square Core Area
SITE ANALYSIS
The Cermak Road Side District and its surrounding sites are an area of industrial sites along the Chicago River. In this area along the river the two DistrictsLower East Side and Armour Square - are building a border. Even though this is just a bureaucratic border, it is also a cultural one. Both of these districts house neighbourhoods with a high percentage of people with a migration background. The Lower East Side with its Pilsen neighbourhood has around 70% of people with a Hispanic background and Armour Square with its Chinatown neighbourhood houses around the same amount of people with Asian background. This type of ethnic segregation is a phenomena happening in all major American cities.
Neighbourhoods
Lower East Side
Armour Square Core Area
Lower East Side
Armour Square
Community Data Snapshot of Chicago Neighbourhoods 2023
Site
Water Buildings Street
Pedestrian
Visible Green Boat Docks Train Tracks
Fig.45
Fig.46
Existing Industrial Buildings, valuable to keep Industry that might move away in the future
Industrial Buildings worth keeping
Fig.47
SITE HISTORY
is seen in the distance. The bridge is located just south of 18th Street and east of Canal Street.
Fig.48
Cover: The Cermak Road Bridge District consists of the City’s finest intact ensemble of riverfront industrial buildings grouped around the last remaining double leaf Scherzer Rolling Lift bridge in operation in Chicago.
The Commission on Chicago Landmarks, whose nine members are appointed by the Mayor and the City Council, was established in 1968 by city ordinance. The Commission is responsible for recommending to the City Council which individual buildings, sites, objects, or districts should be designated as Chicago Landmarks, which protects them by law.
The landmark designation process begins with a staff study and a preliminary summary of information related to the potential designation criteria. The next step is a preliminary vote by the landmarks commission as to whether the proposed landmark is worthy of consideration. This vote not only initiates the formal designation process, but it places the review of city permits for the property under the jurisdiction of the Commission until a final landmark recommendation is acted on by the City Council.
This Landmark Designation Report is subject to possible revision and amendment during the
Fig.49 Cermak Road Bridge District
SITE HISTORY
The Cermak Road Street District is a unique example of riverfront industrial sides in Chicago. Have there been many of this kind in the past is it one of the sole survivors of a collection of century old industrial buildings in the city. Furthermore is the Cermak Road Street Bridge the last of its kind in Chicago. It is a double leaf Scherzer Rolling Lift bridge, named after its inventor. The buildings are a testimony of Chicago’s historical importance as a manufacturing capital as well as a depot for the western United States. This is due to its important location at the connection between the great lakes and the Mississippi river that goes all the way down to the Golf of Mexico.8
Multiple lumbar yards were situated on the South Branch of the River. At the end of the 19th century the city was known for being the lumber capital of the Midwest with over 1 billion board feet of lumber being broad to the city in the year of 1880.
Due to a lumber crises at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century and rising prices in downtown Chicago manufacturers moved further north and south of the river. The sites also served a better rail connection. Around this time the buildings that are still remaining on this side were build.9
The W.M. Hoyt Company building was commissioned in 1909 and the company moved from its original location to this due to the lack of space and the better connection to the railroad on the new site.
In 1921 the Cuneo Press Building has been built with the intention of being the biggest printing plant in the world. It was situated next to the Hoyt Building, which was implemented in the complex after the Hoyt Company got out of business.
After the Cuneo Press building was sold in 1978 the complex was demolished with the exception of the Hoyt building.10
6 Daley, R. M., Healey, L. T., & Commission on Chicago Landmarks. (2003).
9 Daley, R. M., Healey, L. T., & Commission on Chicago Landmarks. (2003).
10W.P. Henneberry Co., Cuneo Press. (n.d.)
Left: A contemporary view of the Western Shade Cloth Company Building (left) and the Thomson & Taylor Spice Company Building located at the corner of Lumber Street and Cermak Road in the Cermak Road Bridge District.
Below: A historic view of the district looking northeast. The Thomson & Taylor Building (left), the Cermak Road Bridge, and the Hoyt Building (right) are seen in this photo from 1940. Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge 458, a vertical lift bridge constructed in 1915, is seen in the distance. The bridge is located just south of 18th Street and east of Canal Street.
Fig.50/Fig.51 Historic Images taken in the direction of the Loop of the Cermak Road Bridge and its industrial sites
Fig.52/Fig.53 Hoyt Building Historic Plans
Fig.54/Fig.55 Hoyt Building Historic Plans
Fig.56/Fig.57 Hoyt Building Historic Plans
Fig.58/Fig.59 Historic Images of the Cuneo Press
Hoyt Building
Fig.60/Fig.61/Fig.62 Historic Images of the Cuneo Press
Fig.63 Google Satellite Image of Allied Metal Company
Fig.64/Fig.65 Historic Images of Allied Metal Company
REASONS FOR THIS SITE
Fig.66
HISTORIC REASONS
historical relevance
red brick facade with Prairie style ornaments, in Terracotta and Limestone last remaining double leaf Scherzer Rolling Lift bridge in Chicago
constructive value structure made from either metal or concrete frames facade made from brick
spatial value
multi-story loft buildings wide-open interior floors to be flexible to the company’s needs
Fig.67
The grouping of the industrial buildings along the river front is showing the historical importance of the Chicago River for industrial and warehouse activities.
CULTURAL REASONS
Neighbourhoods
Lower West Side
Armour Square Core Area
The Site is the literal bridge between the two districts of the Lower West Side and Armour Square, so it could also be the cultural bridge between the two neighbourhoods of Chinatown, with a high percentage of people with Asian migration background and Pilsen with a high percentage of people living there that have a Hispanic Background.
Armour Square
Lower West Side
INFRASTRUCTURAL REASONS
The Boat Taxi Line could be extended, serving as an alternative transportation system.
The Chicago River Walk could partially be extended south.
INFRASTRUCTURAL REASONS
Ping Tom Park could be extended further south along the Chicago River to give more access to the water front that now blocked by industrial sites.
Ping Tom Park
Bus Line 21
Orange Line
Red Line
Green Line
Existing Stops
Existing Bus Stop
Potention Orange Line Stop
Roosevelt
Cermak-McCormick Place
Cermak-Chinatown
Halsted
Cermak & Canal
INTERVENTION
TRANSLATION OF THE ANALYSED CITY ELEMENTS TO THE SITE
The project is a play between the things that were, the things that are and the things that will be. The still existing industrial buildings should be kept intact but should be able to be used by the general public. The plots on which buildings were already torn down should be remembered and the plots on which the industry might probably move away in the future should be kept as well. All those components will be brought together under the concept of the imprints. The city elements analysed before will be translated from an urban to a neighbourhood scale. The chosen site should merely be an example of how the idea of the imprints and its components and rules could be implemented on site.
THE RULE THE GAPS INBETWEEN IRREGULARITIES IN THE GRID
OVERCOMING THE OBSTACLE
THE
THE INDUSTRIAL IMPRINTS
CONNECTING THE OLD WITH THE NEW
GRID BUILD IN THE UNBUILD SPACE
INDUSTRIAL IMPRINTS
INDUSTRIAL IMPRINTS
Imprints in the form of existing industrial buildings like the Hoyt or U-Haul building on site existing imprints forgotten imprints
Imprints of industrial buildings that have been torn down and are either completely gone or only visible due to the plots outlines existing imprints
Imprints that exist but might be gone in the future due to the moving of the industry and the shift of type of industry
POTENTIAL USES OF THE INDUSTRIAL IMPRINTS
POSSIBLE USAGES
DIG IT OUT AND USE IT AS AN EXTENSION OF THE RIVER
FRAMING THE IMPRINTS
REERECT IMPRINTS
USING THE IMPRINTS AS THE INDICATOR TO CHANGE THE TOPOGRAPHY
IMPRINTS AS INDICATORS FOR WHERE TO TOUCH THE GROUND
FLOOD THE SITE AND ISOLATE THE IMPRINTS
ROOFING THE IMPRINTS
CONNECTING THE IMPRINTS BASED ON AN CHICAGO FRAME STRUCTURE
THE GRID AS AN INDICATOR OF WHERE IT IS BUILD
AND THE IMPRINTS AS INDICATORS OF WHERE IT IS UNBUILT
GRID
REINTRODUCING THE GRID
grid aligned with the Chicago Grid
grid aligned with the river
RULES OF GRID AND IRREGULARITIES
Some basic rules are introduced to realise the idea of building around the imprints. It starts with the size of the grid. It is 20 m x 20 m which symbolises a scaled down version of the Chicago Grid that is around 200 m x 200 m per city block. Different than the City grid this grid will be aligned with the river, to create a unique result with its surrounding. As mentioned before the imprints will remain unbuilt and the area of the grid square in which an imprint is laying in will be build out in form of a beam and column structure that can be used as wished. The only alteration to this rule is if surrounding obstacles, like infrastructural paths, make it impossible to go on with it.
Furthermore, in this particular example the floor heights will be altered to the ones of the existing Hoyt building to make it easier to connect New and Old with each other.
Grid is 20mx20m
Grid follows the River
Imprints symbolise irregularities
grid square with imprint inside will be build
all imprints stay empty and will be unsealed
all imprints will be connected with the Hoyt building at the center
main and secondary structure will consist of beams and columns with beams placed on grid
the form will adapt depending on surrounding (e.g. infrastructure, streets)
the floor height follows the one of Hoyt building
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RULES
IMPLEMENTATIONS OF THE RULES
1. Existing Setting with different types of industrial imprints highlighted
2. Overlaying the Grid parallel to the Waterway
3. Implementation of the defined rules
4. Imprints and surrounding areas being turned into recreational areas
PROJECT TIMELINE
1. Starting with the Site of the former Cuneo Press and the Empty Hoyt Building
2. Continuing with the site of the former Allied Metal Company
3. In the future assuming that the Concrete Making Company will move further outside
4. Potential of the U-Haul Company moving or repurposing their parking space
PROJECT FOCUS
CULTURAL CENTRE
The Idea for the existing Hoyt Building is to convert it into a cultural centre. As mentioned earlier the site is the boarder between two neighbourhoods with a high percentage of people with a migration background. On one side the Pilsen neighbourhood with a high percentage of People with Hispanic background and on the other side Chinatown in which the majority of people have an Asian background.
This cultural centre should become a cultural bridge between these two neighbourhoods instead of separating these two cultures. Every person benefits from cultural exchange and a mix of communities.
The program should be focused on this cultural exchange but also reflect the history of the building, therefore a usage of „productive usage“ should be implemented. Yet this is only a proposal as the flexible floor plan really aims for being used by multiple functions and adapted very easily if needed by movable walls and curtains depending on the function.
This means that the space should host workspaces and spaces for crafting for people of all ages, from children and teenagers to seniors, as well as local artists.
As it should be a space of connecting different cultures it should host cultural events like Mardis Gras or Chinese New Year. It gives spaces to different cuisines in form of a food court. It will host multi Purpose Rooms that can be used for low key sport activities, like dancing, yoga, martial arts, etc. Furthermore it will host spaces for exhibition of produced items. It should also have areas that do not require consumption like the big atrium or the rooftop.
Principle of the moving wall elements/curtains.
CULTURAL CENTRE
With the program being based on the contribution of the arts and culture the architectural interventions were aiming to make the building more userfriendly. The biggest problem the building might be lacking was natural light. With the building being very deep, creating an Atrium that serves as a source for natural light was an obvious choice. With two of the four main staircase cores being situated in the centre it was the decision to keep those and connect them via bridges with the functional floors left and right of the void. With the existing plans provided by Space Architects one could see that one of those staircase cores did not have closed of walls. Due to fire safety the core was closed of with glass walls to help bring more light in.
For the void the floor slaps were taken out yet the beam and column structure was kept to highlight the industrial structure of the building.
4. Floor
Food Court
Administration
Open Kitchens
3. Floor Exhibition Spaces
Study Rooms
Meeting Rooms
2. Floor Exhibition Spaces
Library
Dance/Martial Arts
1. Floor
Auditorium
Crafting Spaces
Library
Ground Floor
Auditorium
Workshop Spaces
Library
Delivery
Basement
Storage
Technical Rooms
CULTURAL CENTRE
1. Floor
CULTURAL CENTRE
2. Floor
CULTURAL CENTRE
3. Floor
CULTURAL CENTRE
4. Floor
NEW MIXED - USE STRUCTURE
The new structure, based on the architectural interventions introduced before, will be a mixed-use building. What does this mean? As the former industrial sites were privately owned and also due to safety reasons, the public was not allowed to enter the grounds. This is also leading to a shielding from the river front. The idea is to highlight the importance of allowing everyone accessing the whole site and the water. The formerly private land will be made inhabitable but should also host public program to invite people that do not live on site. This will be of course made by the cultural centre but also by placing public functions in the new structure.
The structure will be made out of CLT, with non-load-bearing walls in-between beam and columns. CLT serves as a contemporary material as well as a symbolic gesture to the areas long history of being a lumber yard and Chicago being the lumber capital of the United States at the end of the 19th century.
Multiple cores with staircase and elevator will be placed throughout the building. On the ground floor most public functions will be placed, but also some further up. The Flats will be accessible through outside placed open hallways. Each flat will have a small space in front of its entry to place bikes, plants or small furniture. This should make this space a semi-private inhabitable space. Just like the industrial heritage the flats also show up a flexible floor plan, which means a core for wet-cells and kitchen will be placed in the middle. Sliding doors offer the inhabitants to use two rooms as one or close it off. There are multiple common areas on each level.
The rooftop will be broken down on multiple levels giving it a feeling of a roofscape with sports places and meeting spots for all inhabitants but also guests and visitors as it is connected via bridges with the cultural centre.
FLEXIBLE HOUSING FLOOR PLAN
Inspired by the flexible floor plan of industrial open floor plans the new flats included in the mixed-use part of the project should resemble this character as good as possible. Therefore, most flats have a fixed core with wet rooms and kitchen in it, with all the other rooms without any specified program. This should leave as much possibilities for the user as possible. Sliding doors in-between the rooms make it also possible to combine two rooms into one big one if desired. Furthermore, the idea of flats being able to be combined should help creating new ways of shared living. So instead of two separate flats you could have one flat with up to four bedrooms for up to eight and two bathrooms.
The floors accessible threw the cores are connected threw a long corridor that should also serve as a meeting place. Nooks at the entrance of the flat give additional open-air space for sitting areas, bikes or other things. Every flat has furthermore a private balcony. Common rooms in multiple floors create a sense of belonging and community.
14,734
view between new and old
view towards the existing building from the roofscape
ROOFSCAPE
The roofscape is a element that connects the new and the old. Directly connected via bridges, an element also formerly connecting the three buildings of the Coneo Press. On one hand this should remember the forgotten, an architectural element used in an industrial context a hundred years ago still being valid, on the other hand should that be a bridge between the old and new. A symbol that shows that progress can be made along the existing. Already mentioned in this work but a key element is that old and new should be able to coexist next to each other. By tearing down everything that is in our way we loose big pieces of culture, but by not touching anything and therefore not being able to create something new we stop architectural, technological and cultural evolution.
On the roofscape, a small sport ground will be placed as well as multiple pergolas to give shade on hot summer days.
The rooftop on top of the cultural centre will have direct access to the food court to give costumers the option to eat outside. But the space should be a space without the compulsion of consumption.
ROOFTOP PLAN
+23.20m
+10.90m
++6.50m
+19.10m
view on the rooftop of the new structure
view on the rooftop of the new structure
IMPRINTS AND RECREATIONAL AREAS
The general idea is to highlight and remember what was by building the unbuild. This led to the choice to develop the imprints as open spaces for recreational purposes. Here it is very important that the access to the water is given. So the water plays a key role of designing those. Still based on the overlaying grid the new parks have a rather geometric appeal. With the help of hight differences this will be loosened up. Furthermore the water taxi stop will be implemented in the park further north of the Hoyt building. A site, according to the research made has not been build on for decades, which means no imprint is situated on the whole site.
Parc de Bercy in Paris served as a reference with its strict and geometric pathways and sets of water basins but with the help of elevated walkways and sloped meadows, as well as shrubs and trees, it looses it up.
LETTING THE WATER INTO THE SITE
before after
LAYOUT FOLLOWS THE GRID
IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE RIVER TAXI STOP
section view inside one of the imprints
REFERENCES
A lot of different reference projects were taken to help the creation of the design. These projects are examples out of architecture and art from all over the globe.
Some are newly build housing projects, some are architectural icons of the 20th century.
As the idea was to work with the existing it was important from the beginning to avoid copying but as it happened often in history, ideas were analysed, taken and altered so that the project can gain from existing minds.
Here it is important to mention that references do not necessarily need to be good or of positive impact for the project, but can also show what definitely should not be the output in the end - or in other words negative-examples.
EXAMPLES: ROOFSCAPE
Fig.68-Fig.71 La Muralla Roja, Ricardo Bofill
EXAMPLES: ROOFSCAPE
Fig.72-Fig.Fig.75 Cité Radieuse, Le Corbusier
EXAMPLES: GEOMETRIC GARDEN
Fig.76 Parc de Bercy, Paris
Fig.77 Parc de Bercy, Paris
Fig.78 Parc de Bercy, Paris
EXAMPLES: INDUSTRIAL RECONVERSION
Fig.79-Fig.82 Centro Cultural Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fig.83/Fig.84 Lina Bo Bardi, Buenos Aires, Brazil
EXAMPLES: INDUSTRIAL RECONVERSION
Fig.85 Norwegian Press House / Atelier Oslo + KIMA Arkitektur
Fig.86/Fig.87 Norwegian Press House / Atelier Oslo + KIMA Arkitektur
EXAMPLES: INDUSTRIAL RECONVERSION
Fig.88 Refunctionalization of the Marconetti Ex-Mill, Subsecretaría de Obras de Arquitectura, Gobierno de Santa Fe
Fig.89/Fig.90 Refunctionalization of the Marconetti Ex-Mill, Subsecretaría de Obras de Arquitectura, Gobierno de Santa Fe
EXAMPLES: WORKSPACES
Fig.91 Vaga Space for Art and Knowledge, Mezzo Atelier
Fig.92/Fig.93 Vaga Space for Art and Knowledge, Mezzo Atelier
EXAMPLES: REPLICA
Fig.95 Reconstruction of Notre Dame‘s roof in Paris
Fig.94 Reconstruction of Mies van der Rohe‘s Barcelona Pavilion
Fig.97 Reconstruction of Berliner Stadtschloss/Humboldt Forum
Fig.96 Reconstruction of the Oldtown of Frankfurt
EXAMPLES: CASTING A NEGATIVE
Fig.98/Fig.99 cretto di burri
Fig.100 Sculpture by Rachel Whiteread
EXAMPLES: ENCLOSED GARDEN
Fig.101 Hortus Concluses
Fig.102 Serpentine Gallery, Peter Zumthor
SOURCES
LIST OF WRITTEN SOURCES
1 Chicago’s grid system. (2020b, August 26). Chicago Studies | the University of Chicago. https://chi cagostudies.uchicago.edu/grid ,
2 The Chicago Frame, PDF provided by Martine De Maeseneer, 20.02.2024
3 The History of the Chicago River | The Chicago River Tour with Geoffrey Baer. (2023, May 12). WTTW Chicago. https://interactive.wttw.com/chicago-river-tour/history-chicago-river, 09.02.24, 17:35
5 Institute for Housing Studies - DePaul University. (2019). 2019 State of rental housing in Cook County. https://www.housingstudies.org/releases/state-rental-2019/, 10.02.24, 15:39
7 Group, G. W., Cambridge Systematics Inc., & U.S. Equities Realty. (2015). Industrial usage of Chi cago area waterway system. https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/zlup/Planning_and_ Policy/Publications/Chicago%20Industrial%20Corridors/Barge_Study_2015.pdf, page 36, 11.02.24, 11:24
8 Daley, R. M., Healey, L. T., & Commission on Chicago Landmarks. (2003). L ANDMARK DESIGNA TION REPORT. In Cermak Road Bridge District [Report]. https://www.chicago.gov/dam/city/depts/ zlup/Historic_Preservation/Publications/Cermak_Road_Bridge_District.pdf, 12.02.24
9 Daley, R. M., Healey, L. T., & Commission on Chicago Landmarks. (2003). L ANDMARK DESIGNA TION REPORT. In Cermak Road Bridge District [Report]. https://www.chicago.gov/dam/city/depts/ zlup/Historic_Preservation/Publications/Cermak_Road_Bridge_District.pdf, 12.02.24
Note: All Figures not mentioned in this list were created by the author.
Fig.1-Fig.4 Nikolussi, M. (2023). Fotos of Chicago
Fig.5 Chicago’s grid system. (2020, August 26). Chicago Studies | the University of Chicago. https://chicagostudies.uchicago.edu/grid, 11.03.2024, 17:56
Fig.6 Jaaamin. (n.d.). Chicago Grid Map - My Version [OC] : r/chicago. https://www.reddit. com/r/chicago/comments/x527db/chicago_grid_map_my_version_oc/, 25.03.2024, 13:16
Fig.7 The Chicago Frame, PDF provided by Martine De Maeseneer, 20.02.2024
Fig.8 Nikolussi, M. (2023). Fotos of Chicago
Fig.9 Encyclopedia of Chicago. (n.d.). http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/ pages/700011.html, 07.02.2024, 23:04
Fig.10 Encyclopedia of Chicago. (n.d.). http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/ pages/700011.html, 07.02.2024, 22:51
Fig.11 New, C. O. A. (n.d.). Straightening the Chicago River | Connecting the Windy City. http://www.connectingthewindycity.com/2012/08/straightening-chicago-river.html , 13.02.2024, 16:10
Fig.12 Encyclopedia of Chicago. (n.d.). http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/ pages/700011.html, 07.02.2024, 23:0
Fig.13 Knight, R., & Zeuch, L. H. (1928). The Location of the Chicago Portage Route of the Seventeenth Century: A Paper Read Before the Chicago Historical Society, May 1, 1923, and Later Elaborated for Publication (Vol. 12). Chicago Historical Society.
Fig.14/-Fig.17 Nikolussi, M. (2023). Fotos of Chicago
Fig.18/Fig.19 Google Earth Pro. (2024). 41°51’8.96”N 87°38’23.26”W
Fig.20 Nikolussi, M. (2023). Fotos of Chicago
Fig.21 Rankin B. (2009). https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-Taxonomy-of-TransitionsUnited-States-Census-Data-shows-how-segregation-persists-in_fig1_331440614 , 28.02.2024, 18:20
Fig.22 Vance, S. (2021, December 10). Apartments & condos are banned in most of Chicago - Chicago Cityscape’s Blog. Medium. https://blog.chicagocityscape.com/ how-much-of-chicago-bans-apartments-b6c5b68db2fb, 10.02.24, 16:32
Fig.23/Fig.24 Institute for Housing Studies - DePaul University. (n.d.-b). 2019 State of rental housing in Cook County. https://www.housingstudies.org/releases/ state-rental-2019/ , 10.02.24, 15:39
Fig.25 Nikolussi, M. (2023). Fotos of Chicago
Fig.26 Group, G. W., Cambridge Systematics Inc., & U.S. Equities Realty. (2015b). Industrial usage of Chicago area waterway system. https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/ city/depts/zlup/Planning_and_Policy/Publications/Chicago%20Industrial%20 Corridors/Barge_Study_2015.pdf, 11.02.2024, 15:11
Fig.27/Fig.28 Chicago Sustainable Industries. (n.d.). Chicago Sustainable Industries. https://www. chicago.gov/dam/city/depts/zlup/Sustainable_Development/Publications/Chicago_ Sustainable_Industries/CSI_3.pdf, 09.02.2024, 09:45
LIST OF FIGURES
Fig.29 City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development (DPD). (2017). https:// www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/dcd/supp_info/industrial/NBIC_ Adopted_Final_For-Web.pdf , 11.02.2024, 12:31
Fig.30 Group, G. W., Cambridge Systematics Inc., & U.S. Equities Realty. (2015c). Industrial usage of Chicago area waterway system. https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/zlup/ Planning_and_Policy/Publications/Chicago%20Industrial%20Corridors/Barge_Study_2015. pdf , 11.02.2024, 12:22
Fig.42-Fig.47 Google Earth Pro. (2024). 41°51’8.96”N 87°38’23.26”W
Fig.48-Fig.51 Daley, R. M., Healey, L. T., & Commission on Chicago Landmarks. (2003b). L ANDMARK DESIGNATION REPORT. In Cermak Road Bridge District [Report]. https://www. chicago.gov/dam/city/depts/zlup/Historic_Preservation/Publications/Cermak_ Road_Bridge_District.pdf, 27.02.2024, 10:33
Fig.52/Fig.53 Kugler, L. (2023, September 19). PRC approves redevelopment of Hoyt Building. Urbanize Chicago. https://chicago.urbanize.city/post/prc-approves-redevelopment-hoytbuilding,12.02.2024, 23:36
Fig.54-Fig.57 City of Chicago, Department of Planning and Development. (2020). https://gisapps. chicago.gov/gisimages/zoning_pds/pd1171.pdf , 27.02.2024, 10:23
Fig.66 Google Earth Pro. (2024). 41°51’8.96”N 87°38’23.26”W
Fig.67 Daley, R. M., Healey, L. T., & Commission on Chicago Landmarks. (2003c). L ANDMARK DESIGNATION REPORT. In Cermak Road Bridge District [Report]. https://www.chicago.gov/dam/city/depts/zlup/Historic_Preservation/Publications/ Cermak_Road_Bridge_District.pdf, 27.02.2024, 10:33
Fig.68-Fig.71 Naja, R. (2022, October 6). AD Classics: La Muralla Roja / Ricardo Bofill. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/332438/ad-classics-la-muralla-roja-ricardobofill, 13.03.2024, 22:05
Fig.72-Fig.75 Nikolussi M. (2024)
Fig.76 Google Earth Pro. (2024). 48°50’10.74”N 2°22’52.65”E
Fig.77-Fig.78 Nikolussi M. (2024)
Fig.79-Fig.84 Nikolussi M. (2023)
Fig.85-Fig.87 Naja, R. (2022, October 6). AD Classics: La Muralla Roja / Ricardo Bofill. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/332438/ad-classics-la-muralla-roja-ricardobofill, 23.03.2024, 12:33
Fig.88-Fig.90 Archdaily. (2017). https://www.archdaily.cl/cl/921276/refuncionalizacion-ex-molinoOtt, C. (2024, May 3). Refuncionalización ex molino Marconetti / Subsecretaría de Obras de Arquitectura - Gobierno de la ciudad de Santa Fe. ArchDaily En Español. https://www.archdaily.cl/cl/921276/refuncionalizacion-ex-molinomarconetti-subsecretaria-de-obras-de-arquitectura-gobierno-de-la-ciudadde-santa-fe, 23.032024, 13:26
Fig.91-Fig.93 Moreira, S. (2022, December 22). Vaga Space for art and knowledge / Mezzo atelier. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/964275/vaga-space-for-art-and-knowledgemezzo-atelier?ad_source=search&ad_medium=projects_tab, 23.03.2024, 09:28
Fig.94 Florian, M. (2024, April 29). Demolished and Rebuilt: the identity of architectural replicas. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/989388/demolished-and-rebuilt-theidentity-of-architectural-replicas , 15.03.2024, 17:54
Fig.95 Charles Bremner. (2023). https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/notre-dames-spirerises-from-the-ruins-as-scaffolding-cage-erected-88n0cb88p , 15.03.2024, 18:10
Fig.101 Wikipedia contributors. (2024, January 6). Hortus conclusus. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hortus_conclusus#/media/File:Meister_des_ Frankfurter_Paradiesg%C3%A4rtleins_001.jpg, 20.03.2024, 10:18
Fig.102 Basulto, D. (2020, June 13). Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2011 / Peter Zumthor. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/146392/serpentine-gallery-pavilion-2011peter-zumthor, 20.03.2024, 14:15
Thanks to
... my parents and family for their support.
... to Martine de Maeseneer for her guidance through this thesis project.
... to my friends at home for their moral support.
... to everyone being part of this journey the last two years, especially Clelia, Maria, Justyna, Mita, Emre, Ahaan, Andre, Lara, Arnaud, Pola, Max, Luna, Ymay, Hanh, Noura, Imane.
