Transforming A Lot

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

TRANSFORMING A LOT NGUYEN P. NGUYEN MASTER OF ARCHITECTURE

“In the Pantheon of Building Types, the parking garage lurks somewhere in the vicinity of prisons and toll plazas.�

- Architecture REcord

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to express my gratitude to the professors and friends that have supported and inspired my interest. Thank you for being a part of my journey.

I am thankful to my advisor, Ann Cederna, whose guidance and encouragement helped me to develop this project Finally, I owe my deepest gratitude to my parent, who have always supported my interest and education.

TABLE OF CONTENT

THESIS STATEMENT

5

CHAPTER 1: THE RESEARCH

6-25

-History of parking garage -Current condition -Problems -Typological matrix -Program analysis -Location -Precedents

CHAPTER 2: THE SITE -Site selection criteria -Site overview -The selected site -Site analysis -Proposed programs

CHAPTER 3: THE DESIGN -Study models -Sectional analysis -The concept -The collage

6-11 12-13 14-17 18 19-20 21-22 23-25

26-39 28-29 30-31 32-33 34-37 38-39

40-53 42-43 44-49 50-51 52-53

CHAPTER 4: THE PRESENTATION

54-61

BIBLIOGRAPHY

62-63

Thesis Statement Problem: Car Parks have been fragmented urban structure. The advent of Car Parks is considered as urban eyesore since many of them were designed as stand-alone structures, disconnected with surrounding environment.

Description; Since the turn of 20th century, automobiles have dominated our society. Car was once a symbol of freedom- a way to achieve personal independence. Cars made our life become more convenient. They brought us to our destination faster, and we didn’t need to abide by a schedule or rely on anybody else to become mobile. However, things have changed. The freedom of mobility that made automobiles so desirable is exactly what now makes cars undesirable We are more and more reliant on the personal automobiles as a main source of transportation. Since we became hooked on cars, we have neglected how bad cars have been shaping our built environment. One of negative impacts that automobiles has on urban environment is car parks. Many car parks have been built as a solution for the lack of automobile storage. They have been always designed for one single purpose: vehicle storage. Because of their inhabitability, car parks negatively impact on social interaction which is one of important factors to maintain urban vitality. In addition, many surface parking lots create void in urban fabric due to the absence of building structure.

Consequently, they negatively affect both urban growth and urban experience.

Solution: To argues that Carparks can be more that just structures that have only pressing obligation: dealing with the exploding automobile population , this thesis aims to change the perspective toward the design of parking garages by developing a new parking garage typology that can transform car parks from utilitarian structure into multi-functional public spaces, into infrastructure platform that not only stores automobile but also provide urban amenities that response to the need of the city, enhance the character and vibrancy of urban area.

CHAPTER 1: THE RESEARCH

History of parking garage Parking garages have been seen as the result of automobile culture in the U.S. The first parking garages were created to respond to an immediate practical need: both personal automobiles and the vehicles of the arising cab industry required protection from weather. The parking garages started as a single-story structure. However, they quickly became multi story structure that we’re familiar with today. Because of the strong demand for automobile storage, parking garages became utilitarian structure. Early parking garages were not just for vehicle storage, but provided many different functions for motorists and their vehicles: changing rooms, restrooms, car washing and detailing...1 In the first decade of parking garage design, people were struggling to define a new building type for parking garage. Early parking garages were referred to as a barn, stable, station, parkway...Later terms were those still in use today: structure, deck, ramp.2 1. Parking Lots: In the beginning of 1917, many land owners converted their vacant lands to parking lots to finance property taxes. With time and the rise of automobile, the land owners found the business of automobile storage to be a very profitable on with little or no liabilities attached. In addition, parking lots required no site renovation, maintenance or operating fees. As a result of this lucrative business, a lot of vacant buildings got torn down to pave more surface for parking. The parking lot was beginning to shape the city’s landscape. Since the demand of automobile storage increased rapidly, many cities developed car parks between road lanes and by the side of the roads. However, this solution 1 McDonald, Shannon Sanders. The parking garage: a modern urban form. Washington, D.C.: Urban Land 2 McDonald, Shannon Sanders. The parking garage: a modern urban form. Washington, D.C.: Urban Land

design and evolution of Institute, 2007. design and evolution of Institute, 2007.

SURFACE PARKING IN FRONT OF CAPITAL BUILDING

only solved the problem for the moment, but the rise of car use simply overwhelmed the solution.

2. Mechanical Parking: The first mechanical garage in the United States was built in Cincinnati in 1932. It was designed to house nearly 400 cars and used a elevator system to lift the vehicles from the central receiving area to any one of its 24 floors. When the vehicles reaches to appropriate floor, the dollies or an attendant moved the vehicles into its parking space. The advantages of the mechanical garages are the opportunity to establish a pollution free environment. No car running, so there are no choking car emissions to have to deal with inside the parking garage. In addition, because cars do not have to circle around and around to look for parking space, there is no accident happens inside parking structure. However, there are many other issues come with mechanical garage. We have to rely on machine, so if there is a mechanical failure, it will be more different and challenging for people to get their cas. Also, parking spaces in mechanical garage are designed follow standard car’s dimension, if some people have bigger cars, they won’t fit. In addition, waiting time can be another issue since the operation of bringing cars in and taking them out takes time. Also, mechanical garage is more expensive. The cost of installation, maintenance and operation is really high.

3. Multistory garage 3.1 The “cage garage” In the middle of 1930, the mechanical garage, which had full of potential a decade earlier, was replaced by the multi-story “cage garage”. The reason that led to this change was because of the imperfection of technologies, which eventually caused unsatisfactory, There are many advantages of the “cage garage” but the main principal advantage

The Pigeon Hole Parking structure inside the Davenport Hotel Garage in Spokane, WA.

was that its open deck design. The first “cage garage” was an open-deck parking garage, designed in 1933 by Sam Elliot in Boston, Massachusetts1.

As a result of non-envelope structure, there were no ventilation or fire protection system required.

Therefore, the construction and maintenance cost were low, making the cage garage become the best option for developers.

3.2 The “screen garage” By the end of 20th century, architects/ developers started to consider aesthetic aspect of garage design. Many multistory parking were being covered by vegetation screen or perforated metal screen.

4. The new typologies: Since the start of 21th century, we’ve been witnessing the dramatic change of parking garage typologies, From the open-deck parking garages to enclosed, covered by vegetation or stunning facade design. However, the main function of parking structure has not changed. They are still utilitarian structure that serve only one purpose: vehicle storage. Taking some steps further, many parking garage located in the middle of urban area integrated retail shopping at the ground level.

Herzog and De Meuron is the pioneer of new parking garage typology. Their “1111 Lincoln Road” parking garage has been known as the first paradoxical, innovative design of parking garage. The parking garage is successful because of its banal archetype that can transform a place into a destination of Miami. In this composition, the floors house retails/ shops, or areas that promote social interactions are expanded while levels strictly reserved for parking are compressed.

1 Jakle, John A., and Keith A. Sculle. Lots of parking: land use in a car culture. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2005.

EXPANSION EXPANSION EXPANSION EXPANSION

COMPRESSION COMPRESSION COMPRESSION

THE GARAGE’S VARIED CEILING HEIGHTS (STANDARD PARKING HEIGHT, DOUBLE, AND TRIPLE)

CURRENT CONDITION After all these years of evolution, what are current conditions of parking garage in the United States?

Many urban planners, developers, and professors have been conducting researches to understand the role of parking garage in our culture. According to Ben-Joseph in his book “Rethinking a lot”, typical parking space dimension are from 8 feet to 10 feet wide and from 18 feet to 20 feet long. That makes up the area from 144 square feet to 200 square feet for one parking space. One acre lot can accommodate from 100 to 150 parking spaces. Approximately, there are from 150 million to 2 billion parking spaces in the united states. The combined area of these parking spaces is more than thirty five hundred square miles which is larger than the area of Puerto Rico.

Although parking spaces take up a lot of land in the U.S, they become lifeless space since there are no other functions or activities happens inside the garage. Even if there’s one, it usually happens in certain hours or certain time of the year (such as event space, or recreation space) The advent of parking in the urban area has been out of control in the past decades, The term “Parking Craters” has been established as the depressions in the middle of an urban area formed by the absence of buildings. As result of federal bulldozer. Cities knocked down whole blocks of buildings. Many that were irreplaceable, at their center for the promise of a massive rebuilding effort that did not materialize as planned

18’-20’ 8’-10’

100-150 PARKING SPACES

ONE-ACRE LOT

PUERTO RICO Storage Parking Work Space Repair, maintain vehicles Activities that not suitable in the house Recreation Area Pet space Event space Other purpose 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

PERCENTAGE OF GARAGES USED FOR SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

These diagrams below showing how parking structure create voids in four big cities in the U.S: Dallas, Denver, Houston, and Washington D.C. The highlighted parts indicate locations of parking structure. Based on the diagrams, we can easily tell how parking structures fragment urban fabric, which is one of the serious problems caused by Parking facilities.

DALLAS

HOUSTON

DENVER

WASHINGTON D.C

PROBLEMS In order to answer the question: Why cities need a new parking typology? How existing carparks negatively impact our built environment?, I started to analyze the problems of carparks in three different scales: Urban, Architecture, and human scale.

Roger TRancik notes in his book “Finding Lost Space: Theories of Urban Design” that parking lots are the undesirable urban areas that in need of a redesign- antispaces, making no positive contribution to the surrounding or users. They are ill-defined, without measurable boundaries and fail to connect elements in a coherent way”1. Indeed, due to the absence of building structure, many surface parking lots create voids that fragment urban fabric. In addition, lots of parking structure do not represent the character or identity of local environment since they are built as stand alone structure that completely isolated from surrounding environment.

Moreover, located in urban areas, many parking facilities are active during office hours (from 9 am to 5 PM). After this period of time, they pretty much become lifeless spaces in the middle of urban area.

This is the main reason why carparks degrade urban vibrancy.

Architecturally, parking facilities are usually considered as urban eyesore due to their design issues. Parking structures were created for a pressing obligation: dealing with the problems associated with the exploding automobile population.

Specifically, multistory parking structures are recognized as a dull, cold-engineered rationalism that have created forbidding structures that impose themselves upon our urban landscape. In his article “The Living Architecture of Parking”, Kevin Falkerson describes parking garages as “Banal, uninviting, bleak and at worst, brutal appearances of these structures have the functional design 1 Trancik, Roger. Finding lost space: theories of urban design. New York: J. Wiley, 1986.

sensibility of war bunkers or prison architecture.

The simple frame, homogeneous elevation and visually rudimentary construction of the multi-story parking garage tend to produce an expression of a raw seemingly incomplete building”2. A building typology so unforgiving in its prime directive - to efficiently pack away as many cars as possible - its aesthetic impact on human culture had to literally ‘take a back seat.’ Moreover,many parking lots are always assumed as temporary structure, awaiting the next development. Due to this factor, “property owners refused to invest in their lots as they anticipated a potential change in use, and city officials often agreed”. As a result, these “temporary” parking lots left undesigned, and poorly maintained.

Finally, because of its inhabitability, parking structures ruin social interaction, which is one of the most important factor contributes to urban vitality. In addition, parking garages are well known as a place where criminal activities happen. In conversations about parking lot problems, a topic commonly overlooked is that of security. This is unfortunate, as, according to the latest National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 1 in 10 property crimes—including motor vehicle theft and property theft—occur in parking lots or garages.

An even more disturbing statistic from the survey is that 7.3 percent of all violent crimes are reported to occur in these facilities. Of those crimes, 16 percent were violent victimizations, such as assault, rape, and robbery.

Furthermore, not many people are aware of the fact that parking lots harm our environment.

Because parking lots’ surface are made out of heatabsorbing construction material, and some of them lack of vegetation, parking lots create Urban Heat Island effect (UHI). The Urban Heat Island Effect 2 “ Park Here - The Living Architecture of Parking Part 1, By Kevin Falkerson and Kerrie Lee Cole.” Park Here - The Living Architecture of Parking Part 1, By Kevin Falkerson and Kerrie Lee Cole. Accessed April 02, 2017. http://www.greenroofs.com/content/articles/141-Park-Here-Part1.htm.

(UHI) is the phenomenon of increased air temperatures over urban areas compared to nearby rural areas1 Researchers at Kobe university in Japan conducted a research about how surface parking lot creates UHI by measuring temperatures on different kind of grass and asphalt surfaces and concluded that “the mean surface temperature of a parking space [decreases] with an increase in the green coverage ratio.”2 The diagram in the next page shows the infrared images of the parking lot covering with vegetation and asphalt in three hours intervals from 9:00 am to 9:00 PM. Clearly, the grass covering surfaces remain cooler (blue and green) than the asphalt surface (red and yellow).

1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Heat Island Home,” Heat Island Effect, http://www.epa.gov/hiri/index.htm (accessed April 19, 2012).

2 “Study on the Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effect Achieved by Converting to Grass-Covered Parks.” Cool Roofs and Cool Pavements Toolkit. Accessed April 02, 2017. https://www.coolrooftoolkit.org/knowledgebase/ study-on-the-urban-heat-island-mitigation-effect-achieved-by-converting-to-grass-covered-parks/.

Photos by: Hideki Takebayashi and Masakazu Moriyama1

1 “Study on the Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effect Achieved by Converting to Grass-Covered Parks.� Cool Roofs and Cool Pavements Toolkit. Accessed April 02, 2017. https://www.coolrooftoolkit.org/knowledgebase/study-on-the-urban-heatisland-mitigation-effect-achieved-by-converting-to-grass-covered-parks/.

TYPOLOGY ANALYSIS Parking garages have been developed throughout history. Even though they serve the same function as their ancestors, there are variety of parking type that we usually see nowadays. In term of program and connectivity, carparks can be describe by two features: connection and separation. In the separation condition, parking garages can have either clear or unclear structure.

Whereas, in the connection condition, parking garage can be identified based on where or not it serves or connects to specific use. When these features are juxtaposed, they yield four types of parking facilities

CONNECTION

SEPARATION

SPECIFIC USE

CLEAR

UN CLEAR

Carparks that can be seen as a clear functional structure that serves a specific building type: shopping mall parking, office parking or school parking Autonomous parking that can be seen as a clear functional structure that serves general uses, such as public parking Carparks don’t have clear, defined space but serve a specific use, such as 7eleven parking Carparks do not have clear, well defined space and do not serve any purpose

NON SPECIFIC USE

PROGRAM ANALYSIS Since the goal of this thesis is to develop a new generic parking typology that can be applied to different settings (site condition, location...), the first thing to do is to answer the questions: “what kind of programs can be brought into a parking garage?”, and “how does these programs relate to its site/ context?”. Typically, a parking garage is built in three different site conditions 1. Urban Area: where a parking garage surrounded by office buildings 2. Suburban (commercial): this type of parking usually located in suburban setting where parking structure connected to specific commercial uses (shopping mall parking garage. retail stores...)

3. Suburban (residential): located in suburban area, this parking structure is usually built to serve residential buildings (apartments, row houses...)

The goal of this study is to identify what programs that these areas need in common

P R O G R A M S BASED ON SITES SUBURBAN (RESIDENTIAL) MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPACE PARKS, OUTDOOR AREAS SMALL RETAIL LARGE RETAIL RECREATION CENTER OFFICE HOUSING DAYCARE

SUBURBAN (COMMERCIAL)

URBAN

Taking a step further, this study analyzes the relationship between these programs and the scale of parking garage in order to understand which scale of parking garage can accommodate which program.

P R O P O S E D PROGRAMS BASED ON SCALE

SMALL MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPACE

PARKS, OUTDOOR AREAS

SMALL RETAIL

LARGE RETAIL

RECREATION CENTER

OFFICE

HOUSING

Daycare

MEDIUM

LARGE

LOCATION This study analyzes different types of connections and explores many innovative precedents for each type. Typically, parking garages have four type of connection with their neighbor building:

1. On the ground: parking structure located on the

P

P

P

ON

ground and connect directly to other buildings P

• Marina Tower by Bertrand Goldbeg Follow the concept of American dream that everybody owns a car and they want to showcase their automobiles. The parking structure was stretched to twenty four stories and fully exposed to the exterior.

P MARINA TOWER/

• Mountain Dwelling by B.I.G With the program of 2/3 parking and 1/3 living, this project represents symbiotic relationship between parking and housing

P

P

P

MOUNTAIN DWELLING/

2. Above the ground: Parking structure is built on top of existing building structure.

P

P

ON

P

• 1111 Lincoln Road by Herzog and De Meuron Complementing the most vibrant pedestrian promenade, this project is designed for both convenience and destination. Parking facilities are integrated between retail floors.

P P P

1111 LINCOLN/

P

• Feana Park by OMA A hybrid of self-park and mechanical parking garage, this project features a rooftop pavilion to maximize the parametric view

P

P

FAENA PARK/

1. In the middle: Parking structure located half on the ground and half underground.

P

P

P

P

2. Underground: This is the most common type of parking structure in urban setting that we are familiar with. Because of their

P

MIDDLE

P

P

P

UNDER

• Georgetown park This project consists of four levels of below grade parking beneath the mall structure

GEORGETOWN FOUR LEVELS OF BEL BENEA

P

PRECEDENTS Nowadays, we are moire and more reliant on automobile. The number of automobile increases rapidly not only in United States, but also in other developing countries. Many carparks design competitions have been held in order to find solutions that can solve the overabundance of cars and enhance the vitality of surrounding environment.

This study focuses on how the projects integrate different functions into parking facility. Furthermore, this study will explore the answers for the question “If there was social interaction inside parking structure, how would automobiles and people interact to each other?”, “What is the relationship between cars and people, between oblique ramps and flat floor slabs?”

1. 1111 Lincoln Road, Miami, Florida by Herzog and De meuron 1111 Lincoln Road by Herzog and De Meuron is considered the most innovative parking garage typology. The garage is fully open concrete structure. Ceiling heights ranges from standard parking height to double or even triple height in order to accommodate other programs, permanently as well as temporarily. This parking structure includes retail stores and private residence. Moreover, the structure is used for many different events (fashion shows, photo shoots, concerts, and other social activities).

EXPANSION EXPANSION EXPANSION EXPANSION

COMPRESSION COMPRESSION COMPRESSION

Variety of ceiling height suggests program inside

TYPICAL FORM

PARADOXICAL FORM

1. Carpark proposal in Hong Kong Alternative Car Park Tower Competition These three projects integrate different programs into parking structure.

Yet, there is still a separation between people and automobile. • Mozhad Studio:

The exposed structure and ramp system create movement. Social activities mainly happen at ground level. This parking structure is a hybrid of selfparking and mechanical parking system

• Interface Studio

Similar to Mozhad Studio’s project, the ramp creates movement for the entire structure. This parking facility offers more than just parking spaces. It comprises many different programs that create social interaction (restaurant, pedestrian path, playing field...)

• FC2STUDIO

Unlike the other two proposals, FC2STUDIO’s parking garage is an enclosed structure. The ramp system is not exposed in the exterior. Instead, the floor slabs are shifted in different direction to create movement.

CHAPTER 2 : THE SITE

SITE SELECTION CRITERIA Because the main focus of this thesis is to develop a new parking garage typology that not only solve urban’s issues but also enhance vitality and characters of its surrounding environment, the first criteria for site selection is that the site must be located at urban setting. Moreover, since this project explores the relationship between social activities and parking structures, the site should be a parking structure which situated in dynamic, vibrant area.

In addition, in order to answer the question “urbanistically, how can this new parking typology solve issues created by parking structures?”, the selected site should be an existing parking structure that interrupting urban vibrancy.

THE AREA

National harbor is a new development by Peterson Companies. Located at the bank of the Potomac River, just south of the Woodrow Wilson bridge in prince George’s county, MD, National Harbor is a 350-acre resort destination that comprises resort, convention center (Gaylord Resort) and shopping mall (Tanger outlets). In addition, many urban amenities located on site (restaurants, bars, popular shops and three lined pedestrian dedicated street...). The vibrancy of this site is unique in D.C region.

WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE

NATIONAL HARBOR

Because National Harbor is a remarkable destination for both local residents and visitors, there are more than 10 millions annual visitors. As a result, there are five parking structure built on site in order to accommodate the large population of vehicles. These parking facilities are not only declining urban vitality of the surroundings but also affecting real estate values of the area.

OVERVIEW PARKING: 100%

PARKING: 95% RESIDENTIAL: 0% RETAIL: 5%

PARKING: 30% RESIDENTIAL: 60% RETAIL: 10%

PARKING: 90% RESIDENTIAL: 0% RETAIL: 10%

PARKING: 80% RESIDENTIAL: 15% RETAIL: 5%

This diagram shows locations of parking structures on site and the percentage of programs (parking, residential, retail) that comprised in one urban block.

A large percentage of area in one block dedicated for vehicles, whereas human activities only happen at the ground level.

THE SELECTED SITE

4

3

1 2

SITE ANALYSIS 1

2

The Capital Wheel – a 180-foot observation wheel featuring panoramic views of the nation’s capital.

3

The expansive waterfront with marinas and piers

4

The large public plaza where all dynamic social activities happen

Boardwalks enhance relationship between urban and water

Starting with the site selection process, I choose the surface parking lot that closed to the water to develop this thesis. This site interrupts urban area from water, one of the most valuable real estate. Moreover, this site offers great potentials to enhance the vitality of this area since there is opportunities to create a transition from urban area to water, and from parking structure to existing dynamic waterfront boardwalks.

FIGURE-GROUND SUN PATH

SU

NR ISE

N SU

T SE

Despite having lots of public spaces on site, most of them are hard surface, There is only a large lawn in front of the convention center and small strip of green area surrounds the surface parking lot.

GREEN SPACE TRAFFIC CIRCULATION The diversity of transportation plays an important role on this site. Water traffic comprises of private boat and water taxi. Whereas on the ground, there is a strong grid of automobile traffic circulation.

Moreover, a long, dynamic tree lined promenades located at the center of the site and directly connect with waterfront boardwalks

M-X-T zone: Provides for a variety of residential, commercial, and employment uses; mandates at least two out of the following three use categories: (1) Retail businesses; (2) Office/ Research/ Industrial; (3) Dwellings,hotel/ motel; encourages a 24-hour functional environment; must be located near a major intersection or a major transit stop or station and will provide adequate tr ansportation facilities for the anticipated traffic or at a location for which the applicable Master Plan recommends mixed uses similar to those permitted in the M-X-T Zone.1 The waterfront plaza is the most dynamic area on the site since many social activities constantly happen here, from yoga classes to farm market and art exhibitions. From 3 PM to midnight, these social activities tend to expand to the entire site (restaurants, shops, bars etc.)

m-x-t r-r ZONING

M-X-T (MIXED USED-TRANSPORTATION ORIENTED):

SOCIAL ACTIVITY

ALL DAY 3 PM-7 PM 6 PM - 11 PM

1 “Mixed Use and Planned Community.”

Prince George’s County Planning Department.

Accessed May 6, 2017. http://www.pgplanning.org/ Resources/Guide_to_Zoning_Categories/Mixed_Use_ and_Planned_Community. htm.

Throughout the site, many use groups provide great opportunity to active social interaction for the entire site. This diagram shows the location of specific use groups on site, and the area of each one.

Parking spaces take up a large area of the site whereas other use groups need more room to grow, to engage with the dynamic growth of social interaction

USE GROUP

PUB/BAR DINING

21443 FT2 98625 FT2

RETAIL 135724 FT2 COFFEE SHOP

15936 FT2

OUTDOOR SPACE

PARKING

600000 FT2

PROGRAM PROPOSAL From time to time, we have witnessed the change of building typologies. The shift in our society, politics, or even people’s attitude toward building use lead to the emergence of new building typologies. For example, this conception is best illustrated through the rising of “mixed use development”. Before, “live”, “work” and “shop” were three different activities that only happened in their designated building uses. However, nowadays, we can live and work in the same building, or we can buy grocery right after we get off from work since the retail shops are located under office buildings. However, these drastic changes do not happen with parking structures. Throughout the past few decades, parking structures have evolved from utilitarian structures that only dedicated for automobile to a “mixed use” structure that comprises retail store at the ground level. The social interaction did not occur in the very first generations of parking facility. Until 2010 when Herzog and De Meuron established a new typology of parking garage, social interaction appeared

PARKING PARKING PARKING PARKING PARKING PARKING PARKING PARKING PARKING PARKING RETAIL

PARKING PARKING

TYPICAL PARKING GARAGE CARS DOMINATE. THERE SOCIAL INTERACTION

IS

PARKING GARAGE INTEGRATED RETAIL AT GROUND FLOOR NO

MOSTLY DEDICATED FOR CARS. SOCIAL INTERACTION HAPPENS RETAIL LEVEL

inside their parking structure. However, there is still a separation between people and automobiles. This thesis aims to create a harmony relationship between cars and people, the two entities that constantly affect each other.

In order to embrace this relationship, the core concept of this thesis is to establish social interaction whereever automobiles house; and vice versa create a parking space for cars where people occupy. That way, there will be a constant interaction between automobiles and people, and between people and people inside a parking structure that have been considered as automobile designated facility.

PUB

PARKING

PARKING PARKING

DINING

RETAIL

PARKING

PARKING PARKING

PARKING

PARKING

PARKING

INTEGRATING HUMAN SCALE. EMBRACING SOCIAL INTERACTION. THERE’S STILL A SEPARATION BETWEEN PEOPLE AND CARS

PARKING

OUTDOOR SPACE

RETAIL 1111 LINCOLN ROAD

PARKING

EVENT SPACE

PARKING PARKING

PARKING

RETAIL

EVENT SPACE

PARKING

PROPOSAL

EMBRACING SOCIAL INTERACTION WHILE CREATING HARMONY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PEOPLE AND CAR.

CHAPTER 3: THE DESIGN

PRELIMINARY DESIGN The Design explores the balance, harmony relationship between people and car by emphasizing characteristics of both entity.

RAMP MOVEMENT CHAOS

VS

FLOOR/SLAB STATIONARY ORDER

CONCEPT MODELS These study models mainly focus on spatial relationship between ramps and programs inside parking garage.

This first model comprises an typical internal ramp that dedicated for cars and a series of program volumes are integrated in every floor.

In the second model, the concept of creating movement for the building are established. The ramp is fully exposed on the exterior in order to create movement. Moreover, the volumes are expressed more dynamic.

This model starts to integrate public space into parking garage. The ramp is still expressed in the exterior.

However, the ramps starts to shift in “x” and “y” direction in order to emphasize movement.

The last model is pushed to increase the height while the footprint is significantly reduced. In addition, the extreme movement of the ramps resulting from the drastic shift of floor slabs

In order to answer the questions “how do people move from one place to another?” And “what is the relationship between automobiles and people in this parking structure?”, This next generation of study models focuses on the circulation inside parking structure. These models establish five (5) architecture elements that can be used to develop tectonic approaches for this project: (1) the shift of floor slabs, (2) The hierarchy of volumes, (3) the exposed ramps, (4) the relationship between passive and active spaces, (5) green spaces

SECTIONAL ANALYSIS The main goal of this study is to explore the role of this new parking typology in creating connection between water and existing urban fabric. Moreover, this study IS aimed to understand how topography changes can affect the design of the building and how to take advantages of this changes. This study begins with superimposed sections from three different precedents. Next, these sections are analyzed in term of movement (diagonal lines), stationary (straight lines), and passive vs. active spaces.

The precedents of this study are selected based on five architecture elements of this project as mentioned before. Therefore, they should be dynamic in section and volumes. • THE PRECEDENTS 1. Seattle Library by OMA This section shows the dynamic and flexibility of space and programs inside the building. The movement was created by the glass, metal skin.

Image courtesy of OMA.eu

Image courtesy of OMA.eu

2. Columbia University Medical Building by Diller Scofidio + Renfro The movement of this project created by the oblique floor slabs that integrated programs in the building. These floor slabs are exposed to the exterior creating a unique form for the project.

Image courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Image courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro

3. Museum of image and sound by Diller Scofidio + Renfro In contrast with the Medical Center in Columbia University, the movement of this project is created by circulation. Ramps and stairs are exposed to the exterior

There are three different diagrams for each precedent.

1. The first diagram will explore stationary/fixed elements of the section (flat floor slabs, straight lines).

2. The second diagram will emphasize movement of the building in section (oblique floor slabs, diagonal lines...).

3. The third diagram highlights the passive spaces (enclosed volumes that have programs) and active spaces (unenclosed volumes that connecting to each other and flow throughout the building).

• SEATTLE LIBRARY BY OMA

Straight lines

Diagonal line

Passive vs. active spaces

2. Columbia University Medical Building by Diller Scofidio + Renfro

Straight lines

Diagonal line

Passive vs. active spaces

• SEATTLE LIBRARY BY

Straight lines

Diagonal line

Passive vs. active spaces

THE CONCEPT Throughout the research and preliminary design, the core concept of this thesis is established based on the site condition, the proposed programs, and the architecture elements that can be applied to this project. In conclusion, this project focuses on integrating social interaction inside the parking garage. Moreover, the project emphasizes on creating the harmony relationship between automobiles and people. The form and exterior of this new parking typology aim to express the characters of both entities.

TYPICAL PARKING GARAGE

STACK REDUCING FOOTPRINT INCREASE HEIGHT

LIFT AND

LIFTING BUILDING ABOVE THE GROUND TO CREATE MORE OPEN SPACE AND CONNECT GROUND FLOOR TO EXISTING BOARDWALK

SHIFT

EXTERIOR MOVEMENT

INTERIOR MOVEMENT

HIERARCHY VOLUME

SHIFTING THE FLOOR SLAB TO CREATE VERTICAL GARDEN AND MORE PUBLIC SPACE

RAMPS THAT DEDICATED FOR CARS ARE EXPOSED

INTERIOR RAMPS ARE INTEGRATED WITH DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS

The dynamic change of volumes is articulated sectionally

THE COLLAGE This collage comprises many different programs and architecture elements In order to visualize how this new parking typology looks like in the overall context.

CHAPTER 4: THE PRESENTATION

TYPOLOGIES

TRANSFORMING A LOT NGUYEN NGUYEN THESIS I

THE FIRST SURFACE PARKING LOT ESTABLISHED FROM A VACANT LOT AS TEMPORARY LAND USE O FINANCE PROPERTY TAX BEFORE NEW CONSTRUCTION. THESE LOTS BECAME PROFITABLE SO THE OWNERS BEGAN TEARING DOWN UNSUCCESSFUL BUILDINGS FOR MORE PARKING LOTS

2 ATTITUDES TOWARD AUTOMOBILES: • -IT’S JUST A MACHINE • -THE FEELING OF FREEDOM WHEN DRIVING OR BEING MOBILE

MID 1930, "CASE GARAGE" REPLACED MECHANICAL PARKING BECAUSE IT HAD NO ENVELOPE AND THE CONSTRUCTION COST WAS LOW

AUTOMOBILES THEMSELVES GOT BIGGER LIFE OF A PARKING GARAGE: 40 YEARS LIFE OF A CAR: 8 YEARS PARKING GARAGE GOT BIGGER TO ACCOMMODATE NEW AUTOMOBILES

TWO TYPES OF GARAGES: • -SELF-PARK GARAGE • -MECHANICAL GARAGE

SURFACE PARKING LOT

MOST EXISTING MULTI-STOREY PARKINGS HAVE BEEN BUILT SINCE 1940 AND THEY ARE PREDOMINANTLY OF REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION. MANY ALSO HAVE A HISTORY OF EARLY DETERIOATION STRUCTURAL DEFECTS AND SHORTCOMINGS IN SAFETY

TRANSFORMING A LOT Problem: Car Parks have been fragmented urban structure. The advent of Car Parks is considered as urban eyesore since many of them were designed as stand-alone structures, disconnected with surrounding environment.

MULTI-STORY PARKING

MECHANICAL GARAGE AND SELF-PARK GARAGE WERE COEXISTING FROM 1925 TO MID 1930S

Description: Since the turn of 20th century, automobiles have dominated our society. Car was once a symbol of freedom- a way to achieve personal independence. Cars made our life become more convenient. They brought us to our destination faster, and we didn’t need to abide by a schedule or rely on anybody else to become mobile. However, things have changed. The freedom of mobility that made automobiles so desirable is exactly what now makes cars unpleasant. We are more and more reliant on the personal automobiles as a main source of transportation. Since we became hooked on cars, we have neglected how bad cars have been shaping our built environment. One of negative impacts that automobiles has on urban environment is car parks.

Many car parks have been built as a solution for the lack of automobile storage. They have been always designed for one single purpose: vehicle storage. Because of their inhabitability, car parks negatively impact on social interaction which is one of important factors to maintain urban vitality. In addition, many surface parking lots create void in urban fabric due to the absence of building structure. Consequently, they negatively affect both urban growth and urban experience.

1925 MECHANICAL SOLUTION FOR CONGESTION OF PARKING LOT

BENEFITS OF AUTOMATED GARAGE more secure since there is no public access to parked cars damage such as scrapes and dents are eliminated safer not having to walk through parking lots or garage reducing engine

• The parked cars and their contents are

MECHANICAL PARKING

• Minor parking lot

• Drivers and passengers are

• Driving around in search of a parking space is eliminated, thereby

emissions THE AESTHETIC ASPECT OF PARING STARTED TO BE CONSIDERED. RETAILS ARE INTEGRATED TO PARKING STRUCTURE.

Solution:

new typology that can transform car parks from utilitarian structure into multi-functional public spaces, into infrastructure platform that not only stores automobile but also provide urban amenities

TECHNOLOGICAL ISSUE: • -IF THERE WAS MECHANICAL FAILURE, NO WAY PEOPLE COULD GET THEIR CARS • -BIGGER CARS WOULDN'T FIT • -WAITING TIME • -COST OF INSTALLATION WAS TOO HIGH

ventilation and lighting systems are needed volume and visual impact of the parking structure is minimized construction time

• Only minimal • The

• Shorter

This thesis proposes a

that response to the need of the city, enhance the character and vibrancy of urban area.

MULTI-STORY PARKING

EXPANSION EXPANSION EXPANSION EXPANSION

COMPRESSION

PARKING GARAGES HAVE BEEN CONVENIENCE NOT DESTINATION

BUILT

COMPRESSION COMPRESSION

FOR

-RESULT OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT -EXTENSION/TRANSITION OF PUBLIC LIFE ON THE STREET

THE GARAGE’S VARIED CEILING HEIGHTS (STANDARD PARKING HEIGHT, DOUBLE, AND TRIPLE)

NEW TYPOLOGY 1111 LINCOLN ROAD

BY HERZOG AND DE MEURON

CURRENT CONDITION

TYPOLOGICAL MATRIX

“In the Pantheon of Building Types, the parking garage lurks somewhere in the vicinity of prisons and toll plazas.”

- Architectural Record

CONNECTION 100-150 PARKING SPACES

18’-20’

STORAGE

SPECIFIC USE

PARKING OF VEHICLES

NON SPECIFIC USE

144-200 FT2

SEPARATION

WORK SPACE

8’-10’

REPAIR, MAINTAIN VEHICLES ACTIVITIES THAT NOT SUITABLE IN HOUSE

ONE-ACRE LOT

RECREATIONAL AREA PET SPACE SOCIAL EVENTS OTHER PURPOSES PUERTO RICO

0%

20%

40%

60%

CLEAR

UN CLEAR

80%

PERCENTAGE OF GARAGES USED FOR SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES

BY Ed Hudson, “To Park or Not To Park: The Real Value of Garages”

CAR PARKS THAT CAN BE SEEN AS A CLEAR FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURE THAT SERVES A SPECIFIC BUILDING TYPE: SHOPPING MALL PARKING, OFFICE BUILDING PARKING, OR SCHOOL PARKING

105 MILLION TO 2 BILLION PARKING SPACES 3590 SQUARE MILES UNITED STATES of AMERICA STATISTIC

BY BEN-JOSEPH, “RETHINKING A LOT”

DOWNTOWN PARKING LOT MAPS

BY SKYCRAPERPAGE.COM

PARKING CRATERS: A DEPRESSION IN THE MIDDLE OF AN URBAN AREA FORMED

BY THE ABSENCE OF BUILDINGS

AUTONOMOUS PARKINGS THAT CAN BE SEEN AS A CLEAR FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURE THAT SERVE GENERAL USES, SUCH AS PUBLIC PARKING

AS RESULT OF FEDERAL BULLDOZER. CITIES KNOCKED DOWN WHOLE BLOCKS OF BUILDINGS, MANY THAT WERE IRREPLACEABLE, AT THEIR CENTER FOR THE PROMISE OF A MASSIVE REBUILDING EFFORT THAT DIDN’T MATERIALIZE AS PLANNED

CAR PARKS DON’T HAVE CLEAR. DEFINED SPACE BUT SERVE A SPECIFIC USE, SUCH AS 7ELEVEN PARKING

DALLAS

DENVER

CAR PARKS DON’T HAVE CLEAR, WELL DEFINED SPACE AND DON’T SERVE ANY SPECIFIC USE

HOUSTON

WASHINGTON D.C

PROBLEMS

PROGRAM ANALYSIS “To move forward, and in an attempt to improve this largely unrecognized building type that causes so much tension, there is a need to exceed the initial demand to create a place of social and urban potential.”

-SHANNON McDonald

“The public sees parking lots as ugly. The surface parking lot has become a fact of life and an accepted eyesore.”

- John A. Jakle and Keith A. Schulein Lots of Parking.

P R O P O S E D P R O G R A M S BASED ON SITES SUBURBAN (RESIDENTIAL)

SUBURBAN (COMMERCIAL)

URBAN

MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPACE

URBAN: - Car Parks create voids due to the absence of building structures => Fragmenting urban fabric.

- Don’t represent the identities/characters of local environment.

- They create negative impact on urban vitality -> Lifeless space

PARKS, OUTDOOR AREAS

SMALL RETAIL

LARGE RETAIL

RECREATION CENTER

OFFICE

HOUSING

DAYCARE

ARCHITECTURE - “To come and go” notion -> we neglect aesthetic aspects.

- Building structure becomes eyesore.

Architectural Record has noted, “In the Pantheon of Building Types, the parking garage lurks somewhere in the vicinity of prisons and toll plazas.”

P R O P O S E D P R O G R A M S BASED ON SCALE SMALL SEDAN, 4-5 SEATS

SMALL

SMALL MULTI-FUNCTIONAL SPACE

PARKS, OUTDOOR AREAS MEDIUM SUV, 5-7 SEATS

MEDIUM

SMALL RETAIL

LARGE RETAIL

RECREATION CENTER

HUMAN Because of their inhabitability: - Car parks decline social interaction -> one of the most important factors contribute to urban vitality.

- Safety issue

LARGE VAN, 7+ SEATS

LARGE

OFFICE

HOUSING

DAYCARE

MEDIUM

LARGE

LOCATION

SITE ANALYSIS

PARKING: 100%

P

P

P

PARKING: 95% RESIDENTIAL: 0% RETAIL: 5%

PARKING: 30% RESIDENTIAL: 60% RETAIL: 10%

PARKING: 90% RESIDENTIAL: 0% RETAIL: 10%

ON

P

P

P

P

P

P

P

MOUNTAIN DWELLING/ B.I.G

MARINA TOWER/ BERTRAND GOLDBEG FOLLOW THE CONCEPT OF AMERICAN DREAM THAT EVERYBODY OWNS A CAR => SHOW CASE THE CARS WITH EXPOSED PARKING STRUCTURE.

2/3 PARKING AND 1/3 LIVING SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PARKING ANDH HOUSING

P

ABOVE

P P P

1111 LINCOLN/ HEZOG DE MEURON COMPLEMENTING A PEDESTRIAN PROMENADE. NOT ONLY DESIGNED FOR CONVINIENCE BUT ALSO DESTINATION

P

P

P

P

FAENA PARK/ OMA MECHANICAL PARKING GARAGE PAVILLION ON THE ROOFTOP FOR PARAMETRIC VIEW

P

MIDDLE

GEORGETOWN PARK

P

P

P

P

P

UNDER

FOUR LEVELS OF BELOW GRADE PARKING BENEATH THE MALL STRUCTURE

P

STRUCTURE

SITE ANALYSIS

SELF PARKING 1

•CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE ADVANTAGES • Monolithic construction so fewer sealant joints • Positive drainage is easier to achieve • Post-Tensioning forces reduces slab cracking • Floor vibration imperceptible • Flexible column spacing (20’ to 27’) • Generally no shear walls • Lower maintenance cost • Wide beam spacing creates more open feeling with perception of higher ceiling • Accommodates parking structures on irregular sites, beneath buildings, and underground

DISADVANTAGES • Potentially higher construction cost • Quality control is more difficult to attain due to exposed weather conditions • May require architectural cladding to improve • exterior aesthetics • Less adaptable to winter construction in cold climates • Longer on-site construction schedule • Closer expansion joint spacing • Congestion of tendons and rebar at beam • column joints • Larger on-site staging requirement

ADVANTAGES • Quality control because members are fabricated at a plant • Potentially lower construction cost in some regions • Shorter on-site construction schedule • Greater expansion joint spacing (up to 300 feet) • More adaptable to winter construction • Architectural façade spandrels also serve as structural load bearing elements

DISADVANTAGES • More propensity for leaking at the joints • Higher maintenance cost for sealants • The close spacing of thee tee stems creates the perception of lower ceiling height • Tee stems can block signage and interfere with • lighting distribution • Shear walls affect architecture at the exterior • and reduce visibility at the interior • Reduced drainage slopes • More bird roosting ledges • Might not be performed by local subcontractors

ADVANTAGES • Flexible column spacing of 18’ to 22’ • Generally no shear walls • Can be performed by local subcontractors • Shorter on-site construction schedule • Potentially lower construction cost • Easily accommodates vertical expansion

DISADVANTAGES • Erection concerns due to mixing foundation, steel, and precast subcontractors • Not recommended where the steel is required to be fire rated by the building code • Depending upon code requirements, steel structure may need to be fireproofed • Steel painting for corrosion protection • Maintenance of steel paint system • Steel delivery times can fluctuate • Extensive bird roosting ledges on the beam flanges

•PRECAST CONCRETE

•STEEL FRAMED

2

3

AUTOMATED PARKING ADVANTAGES • increase capacity ; high space utilization due to lower ceiling height, dense parking, and reduce space width • no ventilation or HVAC required; saving utility costs • eliminates stairs, elevators and fire exits • enhance safety and security • typically requires less building volume and less ground area than a conventional facility with the same capacity

PRECEDENTS

DISADVANTAGES • cost • operation and maintenance • bigger cars don’t fit • relying on mechanical system

3

4

4 1

2

SITE ANALYSIS

MULTI-STORY PARKING

CAR PARK PROPOSAL/

MOZHAO STUDIO

section detail

CAR PARK PROPOSAL/

INTERFACE STUDIO

CAR PARK PROPOSAL/

FC2STUDIO

EXPANSION EXPANSION EXPANSION EXPANSION

COMPRESSION COMPRESSION COMPRESSION

1111 LINCOLN ROAD

HERZOG AND DE MEURON

site section

PARKING: 80% RESIDENTIAL: 15% RETAIL: 5%

SITE ANALYSIS

CONCEPT

TYPICAL PARKING GARAGE

ALL DAY 3 PM-7 PM

STACK 6 PM - 11 PM

REDUCING FOOTPRINT AND INCREASE HEIGHT

m-x-t r-r ZONING M-X-T (MIXED USED-TRANSPORTATION ORIENTED)

ACTIVITY USE GROUP

PUB/BAR DINING

21443 FT2

LIFT LIFTING BUILDING ABOVE THE GROUND TO CREATE MORE OPEN SPACE AND CONNECT GROUND FLOOR TO EXISTING BOARDWALK

98625 FT2

RETAIL 135724 FT2 COFFEE SHOP

15936 FT2

OUTDOOR SPACE

PARKING

SHIFT

600000 FT2

SHIFTING THE FLOOR SLAB TO CREATE VERTICAL GARDEN AND MORE PUBLIC SPACE

SITE ANALYSIS

EXTERIOR MOVEMENT RAMPS THAT DEDICATED FOR CARS ARE EXPOSED

INTERIOR MOVEMENT INTERIOR RAMPS ARE INTERGRATED WITH DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS

FIGURE-GROUND

GREEN SPACE

SUN PATH

TRAFFIC CIRCULATION

SU NR ISE

NS

SU

ET

HIERARCHY VOLUME

COLLAGE SECTION

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. McDonald, Shannon Sanders. The Parking Garage: Design and Evolution of a Modern Urban Form. Washington, D.C.: Urban Land Institute, 2007.

Print.

2. Jakle, John A., and Keith A. Sculle. Lots of Parking: Land Use in a Car Culture. Charlottesville: UNIVERSITY of Virginia, 2005. Print 3. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Heat Island Home,” Heat Island Effect, http://www.epa.gov/hiri/index.htm (accessed April 19, 2017).

4. “Study on the Urban Heat Island Mitigation Effect Achieved by Converting to Grass-Covered Parks.” Cool Roofs and Cool Pavements Toolkit. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 May 2017.

5. “Mixed Use and Planned Community.” Prince George’s County Planning Department. Accessed May 6, 2017. http://www.pgplanning.org/Resources/ Guide_to_Zoning_Categories/Mixed_Use_and_Planned_Community.htm.