BAC Thesis Proposal - The Bikeline

THE BIKELINE A NETWORK OF HEALTH AND CONNECTIVITY FOR METRO BOSTON

student: seminar: studio:

PAVEL REGUS JAMEZ NUZUM CHRIS HILLEBRAND

This work, as all my work is dedicated to my family whose support has been unmeasurable in my successes.

TABLE OF CON

NTENTS

executive summary

02

abstract

03

thesis content

06

m.o.i.& t.o.c.

08

building systems

10

site statement

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program statement

28

case studies

32

sketch problem

40

health and wellness

42

thesis client & advisor

44

resume

46

annotated bibliography

48

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The Bikeline Pavel Regus

Executive Summary

CONTACT: Pavel Regus 4 Bishop Street, #305 Framingham, MA 01702 (c) 203.300.0863 (e) pavel.regus@gmail.com THESIS TITLE: The BikeLine: A Network of Health and Connectivity for Metro Boston THESIS STATMENT: This project is a direct critique to how cyclists are predominantly treated in our urban settings. The BikeLine creates an infrastructure that is detached from vehicular roads in areas where possible, provides a safe buffer for areas where it is not, and strategically places bike lanes on roads, where inevitable, to minimize the dangers both to cyclists and cars as well.

Boston, like many other urban cities, is increasing in population, yet transportation infrastructure has remained the same; thus trains and roads alike are experiencing overcrowding. The BikeLine will be an added means of transportation to help alleviate this current issue. Bikes as a means of transportation offer inexpensive infrastructure and require no outside energy source other than the user. Concurrently, it provides an alternative to a sedentary lifestyle by providing safe and easy means to travel and thus encouraging users to ride their bikes. Boston has a growing cycling community, which is evident in its expanding biking infrastructure that has more than doubled since 2008, growing from 55 to 120 miles. There are also future plans to add 230 miles of cycling infrastructure over the next 30 years. As the late Mayor Menino said “the car is no longer king in Boston.�

METHODS OF INQUIRY

1.

Inquire to current programs and/or activist groups that aim for similar outcome.

2.

Research Boston bike lane criteria.

3.

Case study other major cities where biking is very common.

4.

Diagram past successful circulation projects.

5.

Research and document similar precedents.

6.

Explore the idea of aesthetics of motion through modeling, both physical and 3-dimensional.

TERMS OF CRITICISM

1.

Does the project thoroughly investigate and realize the idea of the aesthetics of motion that is influenced by cycling?

2.

Does the network bridge gaps in the Emerald Necklace as well as in Boston?

3.

Is the program revolved around cycling, and the needs of the cycling community?

4.

Does the project offer an all-inclusive design towards cyclist?

5.

Does the project act as a catalyst for changing its surrounding contexts?

6.

Is it safe for users of all ages and skill level?

BUILDING TYPOLOGY The building will be a transportation hub (approximately 180,000 SF) with different programmatic typologies that promotes the use of bikes in hopes to elevate cycling as a major means of transportation.

SITE AND LOCATION The building site is to be located at the Charlesgate Park, which is right off of the Back Bay Fens and stretches to the greenway along the Charles River. Charlesgate Park is far from inviting as the land is unusable due to the highway overpass above. The location gives site has the potential to be a major infrastructural node which this project helps to realize.

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ABSTRACT

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Overview: This thesis explores the ways in which we, as designers, can integrate architecture, infrastructure and transportation by designing a project which focuses around the bicycle. This project will act as a framework, catalytically changing the transportation dependence from the car to the bike. Through bike safe trails and lanes, the vast networks will extend throughout Boston and surrounding towns, promoting the use of bikes. Each neighborhood and town will be able to tap into the framework, adjusting and adding to it as needed by each. In this way, the framework/network will keep growing and spreading, realizing the catalyst idea.

The building itself will be the central nucleus of the framework. As a major central hub of the network, it will undoubtedly promote biking through program, features, and architecture. The building itself will be all inclusive to cyclists. Through an investigation of the aesthetics of motion, the architecture will accept and encourage users to ride their bikes into, through, over, and around the interior and exterior of the building. It is my hope that this project will get more people on their bikes, boosting livelihood overall, influencing others to ride as well. This influence will sprawl throughout the Greater Boston area and the building will be at the epicenter of all these changes.

The land in which the building will be located is the highway entrance/exit ramp from Storrow Drive into Fenway/ Kenmore/Back Bay right off of the Back Bay Fens because it is located on the Emerald Necklace and is at a major intersection of bike friendly paths and roads. The plot itself is currently used just as a highway entrance/exit ramp and is a major interruption to the continuity of the Emerald Necklace and acts as a transition between the contexts of the area.

Thesis Seminar

THESIS CONTE

ENT

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THESIS CONTENT

Statement: Our main means of transportation as of today is by car and as such, the majority of our infrastructure is designed for the car. The car however, is not a sustainable means of transportation due to its consumption of oil, the amount of space it requires, the vast infrastructure which it needs to maneuver and maintenance to said infrastructure.

These negative aspects of the car are exponentially worsened when one takes into account the growing population in our country, resulting in more cars on the road which take up more space (for use and storage) and depletes our infrastructure much faster than we can fix it. The most heavily affected communities are metropolitan areas which are already facing issues due to lack of space, growing population and demand for more infrastructure. These areas have introduced alternative means of transportation to dilute the situation but with growing trends in recent times, the effects of such strategies will hardly be felt. Today, these metropolitan areas need to look at implementing a biking strategy to help mitigate the transportation problems our cities face today and will continue to face.

It is easy to see why other cities, such as Copenhagen and Amsterdam are using cycling as an alternative means of transportation as it is a less expensive form of travel. The bicycle is much more sustainable than the car in that the only energy required of the bicycle comes from the user. Also, it is relatively inexpensive to provide infrastructure for the bicycle and does not require much more space than a pedestrian. It is flexible enough to use existing infrastructure in place for vehicular traffic or for pedestrian walkways and has the added benefit of promoting good health habits as a fun and healthy way to exercise. The benefit of a project like this has the potential to cause a ripple effect of positive changes.

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Due to the many benefits of cycling, its popularity has risen substantially over the last few years and it seems irresponsible not to begin adapting our cities toward the bicycle as a form of transportation. As Dr. Steven Fleming says in his book Cycle Space, “we know this ascension (the rise of cycling) will happen, because cycling addresses so many challenges facing humanity” (Fleming 43) I would like to explore ways in which we can integrate architecture, infrastructure and transportation by designing a building which focuses entirely around the bike. This project will be a framework, catalytically changing the transportation dependence from the car to the bike. Through bike safe trails and lanes, the vast networks will extend throughout Boston and surrounding towns, promoting the use of bikes. Each neighborhood and town will be able to tap into the framework, depending on their need and existing bicycle culture as well as future plans. This way the network will grow as exactly as needed so that it is not over- or underdeveloped.

The reason behind the network is that many citizens of Boston do not ride their bicycles in the city due to the lack of safety for cyclist. In part it’s due to the lack of infrastructure provided for cyclist only. The majority of cycling infrastructure in Boston consists of bike lanes tacked onto roads which make many beginner cyclists uncomfortable.

The winding and confusing roads, rotaries, 6-way intersections and aggressive drivers are enough to keep most cycling enthusiasts from riding their bikes within the city. What the network provides is infrastructure that detaches cyclist from vehicular traffic as much as possible and only allows shared bike lanes on roads where it is viable to promote biking that is safe for all. In essence, it allows cyclist to ride within bike safe areas and minimizes the amount of time they are on streets which then builds their confidence until they can ride on roads. As their confidence rises, more cyclists will be willing to ride on the roads, which will raise drivers’ awareness of cyclist, taming driver habits and ultimately making riding on the streets much safer. The goal is to make Boston comparable to Dutch cities in that “rarely, if ever, must a cyclist stop and give way to cars” (Fleming 59).

The building itself will be at the epicenter of the framework, acting as a destination for users. The design will go further than just bike racks or the first floor only accessibility to bikes as we see in many cycling friendly projects. The program, features, and complete architecture of the building will be revolved around the needs of the cyclist, helping to Through an investigation of the aesthetics of motion, the architecture will accept and encourage users to ride their bikes into, through, over, and around the interior and exterior of the building. The architecture will challenge everyday activities by integrating them with the bike in an effort to influence users to continue to ride their bikes. It is my hope that this project will get more people on their bikes, boosting livelihood overall, influencing others to ride as well. This influence will sprawl throughout the Greater Boston Area and the building will be at the epicenter of all the changes.

* images on spread provided by: www.vox.com

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The Bikeline Pavel Regus

Methods of Inquiry

1. Inquire to current programs and/or activist groups that aim for similar outcome.

There are many activist groups just within Boston that look to promote cycling as a main means of transportation.

Having some of these activist groups backing or using them as a resource will really help anchor my project into context and make the project that much more realistic.

2. Research Boston bike lane criteria.

This project is not an urban planning project. I will not be designing the entire network. I will however design certain areas and problematic intersections to showcase various strategies for dealing with such issues. Knowing Boston rules and regulations for bike lanes will help me design these.

3. Case study other major cities where biking is very common.

Researching other cities where biking is very common will help strategize the design of the network and could influence the design of the building. There are various reasons why these cities’ bicycling culture have been successful and using some of the similar ideas would really help push the ideas further.

4. Diagram past successful circulation projects.

Circulation will be a key central point to the project due to the fact that cyclists are always in motion to remain in balance. Making sure circulation is fluid and continuous will ensure that cyclist can ride through the entire building, a key central design feature.

5. Research and document similar precedents.

Researching other cities where biking is very common will help strategize the design of the network and could influence the design of the building. There are various reasons why these cities’ bicycling culture have been successful and using some of the similar ideas would really help push the ideas further.

6. Explore the idea of aesthetics of motion through modeling, both physical and 3-dimensional.

It is my belief and part of my thesis that using the idea of the aesthetics of motion will help tie in all the central themes of the project. It will help keep the fluidity of the circulation, tie in the network to the building, and visually represent cycling as an icon of cycling.

Terms of Criticism 1. Does the project thoroughly investigate and realize the idea of the aesthetics of motion that is influenced by cycling?

2. Does the network bridge gaps in the Emerald Necklace as well as in Boston?

3. Is the program revolved around cycling, and the needs of the cycling community?

4. Does the project offer an all-inclusive design towards cyclist?

5. Does the project act as a catalyst for changing its surrounding contexts?

6. Is it safe for users of all ages and skill level?

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BUILDING SYSTEMS

In the book, Cycle Space, Dr. Steven Fleming introduces the word “bicycletecture.” It’s the term related to the “carchitecture” craze that inspired new thoughts on architecture and new design principles that otherwise would not have come to be without the car. Very similarly, bicycletecture is a design phenomenon that uses the bike as a fuse for new principles of design for the design fields. Much like car was elevated as an icon through carchitecture; it is believed that architecture could elevate the image of the cycling as a major means of transportation (Fleming 87).

KayaKing

An icon for cycling, the building of the project will foster the culture of cycling in Boston. As mentioned previously, it is important for the building to promote cycling through the various systems within the architecture: program, services, structure. Only through an investigation of the aesthetics of motion will I be able to not only to design an iconic building for cycling but also integrate all the various systems into one coherent project that emphasize cycling from the overall building language to the small fine details.

Swimming

An initial investigation of aesthetics of motion has repeatedly shown constant themes throughout the visual representations of different activities and motions: fluidity and repetition. While this may be easy to embody as an architectural language, only through the integration of the different systems, aesthetics, structure, lighting, glazing, and circulation to name a few, will this project be successful in promoting cycling.

SKating

Ballet

* top image on page provided by: www.thisiscolossal.com * bottom three images on page provided by: Jellyfish Act Blog

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TWA Flight Center by Eero Saarinen is a perfect example of an architectural representation of motion. This building, an airport terminal for JFK International Airport, was modeled after a bird in flight with two massive concrete curved wings to “capture the spirit of flight.” The interior of the building also uses many curves to create flow from one space into another. The completion of this project and its form is said to “embrace flyers into the jet age.”

This same architectural embrace for a method of transportation is what this thesis aims to do. This embrace will be revolved around the circulation system due to the bike’s small size and ability to be integrated within the building as compared to other means of transportation. It is in this way that the building will both symbolically and literally lift cycling to new heights as an extension of the street in the sky. The success of this unique demand will dependent on rigorous and thorough designed integrated system.

To hold up the structure of the building and to leave enough space for cyclist to ride through, I envision the structure to be made of steel, similar to the structure seen at King’s Cross Station. King’s Cross has long been a model of structural efficiency and aesthetics. These exact same principles are what make the bicycle so popular today. It is the goal of my thesis to make a building that symbolizes the bicycle’s efficiency and sustainability through its structure and aesthetics.

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I started out investigating ways to visually represent motion through sketching. Once I had an understanding of the aesthetics of motion idea, I sketched and modeled out some diagrams which were focused around cycling. Provided are some of those sketches and models.

Investigative sketches representing motion

Sketches representing the motion of cycling Initial concept sketch of the aesthetics of motion of cycling

Concept models of the aesthetics of motion of cycling Fall 2014

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SITE STATEMENT

EMERALD NECKLACE The vision of this project is to be located in Boston, an urban setting that is already facing the worst of this transportation crisis with limited space. The network will sprawl through Boston Neighborhoods and reach out into surrounding towns such as Cambridge, Quincy, Newton, and Brookline. These surrounding towns have the best potential for the networks since they already have a big biking culture and community.

Note: This project is not to be designated only for those of the biking culture but rather for all to enjoy and partake.

Those belonging to the biking culture already use their bikes on a day to day basis and so a project solely for their use will not change the current infrastructural problems faced in Boston.

The “network� that I envision the building to be located in is the Emerald Necklace which connects various neighborhoods with continuous open green spaces. This move would give the Emerald Necklace a deeper identity from just a network of open green spaces to a network of green spaces that promotes health, sustainability, livelihood, and the spine of the entire cycling network.

Cambridge

Charlestown

North End West End Downtown Beacon Hill Chinatown Bay Village Back Bay

East Boston

Financial District

Allston/Brighton Fenway/ Kenmore

South End South Boston Mission Hill Roxbury

Brookline

Jamaica Plain

Dorchester

West Roxbury

Roslindale Mattapan

Hyde Park

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THE BIKELINE PAVEL REGUS

COMMONWEALTH AVE CHARLESGATE PARK BOSTON COMMONS

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Park info Provided by Emerald Necklace Website

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26 James P. Kelleher Rose Garden: Designed by landscape architect Arthur Shurcliff in the 1920s, this garden was restored by the City of Boston and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy. Combining the best of old and new roses, today’s garden includes over 1,500 plants representing 200 different varieties.

ARNOLD ARBORETUM 27

22 Bellevue Street Bridge

Chapel Street Bridge Area/Historic Bridle 23 Paths: Bridges played a key role in all of Olmsted’s work, not only along rivers, but everywhere that he sought to separate different modes of transportation. The Chapel Street Bridge separated walkers above from the bridle path below.

Thesis Seminar 24 Round House Shelter

War Memorials

28 Japanese Bell: Found on a scrap heap in Yokosuka, this beautiful bronze 17th-century temple bell was brought back by sailors on the USS Boston in 1945. In 1953, the Japanese government announced that the bell should remain in Boston as a gesture of peace.

Shattuck Emerald Necklace Visitor Center:

MASSACHUSETTS STATE HOUSE

46 45 FRANKLIN PARK

SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY

PARK STREET CHURCH

PARK ST. ORA

NGE

Victory Gardens: Victory Gardens were 30 Fenway cultivated during World War II to ease demand on wartime food supply. The Fenway gardens are among the few to remain in continuous cultivation.Today, 500 plots are tended by community gardeners and feature a bounty of flowers and vegetables.

31 Boylston Bridge: Designed by prominent 19th-century

architect H. H. Richardson, this bridge is constructed of Cape Ann granite. Projecting bays offer sweeping views across the Fens.

35 William Lloyd Garrison Statue: Publisher of

“The Liberator” and founder of the New England AntiSlavery Society, Garrison was a powerful voice in the abolitionist movement. Olin Levi Warner, Sculptor

36 Alexander Hamilton Statue: Hamilton, a Founding

Father who also started the central banking system, welcomes visitors to the Mall between Arlington and Berkeley streets. Dr.William Rimmer, Sculptor

37 9/11 Memorial

32 Leif Eriksson Statue

38 George Washington Statue: Thomas Ball, Sculptor

Boston Women’s Memorial: Mayor Thomas M. Menino 33 reserved the site for a women’s memorial in 1992. The

Swan Boats: These iconic pedal boats first appeared on 39 the Lagoon in 1877. Designed by Robert Paget, they are

Boston Women’s Commission selected Abigail Adams,

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CHINATOWN

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of Olmsted’s skill combining landscape, water, and structure into his designs. Islands were created to provide both visual interest and waterfowl breeding area.

BOSTON COMMON 44

BOYLSTON

1 Mile NEW ENGLAND MEDICAL CENTER

21 Leverett Pond: Leverett Pond is a fine example

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Arnold Arboretum, Hunnewell Bldg. 13 to Peter’s Hill Summit 10 : roundtrip 3.5 miles Franklin Park Walking Loop: 2.5 miles

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26 JAMAICA POND 30 28 27 31

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WENTSWORTH INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

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Leverett Pond Loop (Good for families with small children): roundtrip .7 mile

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Riverway Loop (Fenway T Station to Netherlands Road): roundtrip 1.5 miles

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Public Garden, at Charles St., to Charlesgate East: roundtrip 2.5 miles

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If you would like to add physical activity to your daily life, the Emerald Necklace offers beautiful paths that are convenient to different neighborhoods. Here are a few suggestions.

Distances are approximate.

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STATE

Central Burying Ground: Purchased in 1756 and 41 added to the Common in 1839, this is the final resting

place for Revolutionary War soldiers and many others.

Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument: 42 Martin Milmore, Sculptor Frog Pond: Site of 1848’s “Water Celebration”inaugurating 43 the city’s public water system, today the pond serves as a skating rink in the winter and a supervised wading pool in the summer.The Tadpole Playground is nearby.

Memorial: This honors the 54th Regiment of 44 Shaw the Massachusetts infantry. Led by Colonel Robert Gould

Shaw, the 54th was the first free black regiment in the Union. Bronze relief by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Granite frame and terrace by Charles F. McKim

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CHARLESGATE PARK The building site is to be located at the Charlesgate Park, which is right off of the Back Bay Fens and stretches to the greenway along the Charles River. Contrary to its name, Charlesgate Park is far from a park as much of the usable space is interrupted by the Bowker Overpass exit/entrance ramp for Storrow Drive into the Fenway/Kenmore/Back Bay area. There are pedestrian walkways underneath the overpass but nothing about the site attracts users.

In every aspect of the site, it is a transition zone. The site is a transition zone for cars from the Storrow Drive roadway into Boston, for pedestrians crossing from Back Bay into Fenway/Kenmore and vice versa and for cyclist getting from the greenway along the Charles River into the three neighborhoods as well. It is also divides not only the Back Bay from Fenway/Kenmore but also demographics in the area. Charlesgate Park is an abrupt divide of median household income between Back Bay, which is one of the higher median incomes areas, and Fenway/Kenmore, which is one of the lower median income areas. This correlates to the divide in user demographics where Back Bay is mainly residential whereas Fenway/Kenmore is mainly students.

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H-4 H-1 H-1 District H-1 H-4

Commonwealth of Mass Commonwealth of Mass Metropolitan District Commonwealth Type of Use 1-2 Family row Any Dwelling Any Dwelling Other Use

Lot Size (min) SF 2,000 5,000 None None

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H-4 H-1 H-4

Metropolitan District Commonwealth Metropolitan District Commonwealth Mass Turnpike Authority

Max Height (Stories) None None None None

Max Height (feet) None None None None

F.A.R. 1.0 1.0 4.0 4.0

HISTORY: in 1878, Frederick Law Olmsted designed a “necklace� of parks which extends from Franklin Park in Dorchester through the city to the Public Gardens. The Charlesgate Park was supposed to be the epicenter of the necklace.

BOWKER OVERPASS Ultimately, due to increased vehicular activity, the Bowker Overpass was built in 1967 to connect Storrow Drive to Boylston Street and Park Drive. The terrible condition of the bridge has given the opportunity to take down the bridge and reclaim the park for the area. This thesis takes that opportunity and turns it into a new transportation hub. * Information and images from Friends of the Charlesgate website (cgatepark.com)

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Site Use - B.R.A Fall 2014

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Demographics Ages 0 -17 - B.R.A

Population Density - B.R.A

Top 10 Counties for Foreign-Born Population - B.R.A

Median Household Income - B.R.A

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tranSportation and pathS

nodeS

landmarKS Fall 2014

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hUBway Station BiKe path FrameworK area Thesis Seminar

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Existing Bicycle Facilities - City of Boston Website Fall 2014

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30 Year Plan - City of Boston Website Thesis Seminar

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PROGRAM STATEMENT

The building will be the central hub of the networks. The program evolves from the needs not only of the cyclists, but also of the general health needs of Boston. The program is divided into three separate entities, the Hub, the Health Center, and the Headquarters.

The Hub: The Hub is the most key component of the program. It will be the most open and public section of the building; housing large communal gathering spaces, a concourse, a food court, shops specific to cyclist, bike repair shops, bike wash areas, locker-rooms and restrooms/ and a parking facility. The bike shop will sell all things cycling from all types of bikes, to gear, clothes, and parts. The shower facility is in place so that users who commute into Boston on their bikes will have a place to freshen up before getting to work. Many users who’d like to ride their bikes into work don’t do so because they have no place to get clean before getting into work. They will then be able to lock up their sweaty clothes in the locker room and store their bike in the parking facility. The close proximity to the Kenmore T Station on the Greenline will allow users to then take the Subway to their final destination since they left their bike parked.

The Health Center: The Health Center will be an all-around health and wellness facility for the project. It will house classrooms, a community center, and a gym. The classrooms, which promote learning, will be used to teach users how to ride a bike, safety procedures for riding on roads, and how to fix and maintain a bike. It will also be useable for other classes in general. The community center, which promotes community and leadership, will be a space for community meetings, HEADQUARTERS hearings, and exhibitions. Cyclist advocate groups and members will be able to hold their meetings and hearings here to be able to voice their opinions and concerns on all things cycling in Boston. The gym, which promotes fitness, will THE HUB be an area where one can come to work out.

LEARNING CENTER

The Headquarters: The Headquarters is an institutional program element that anchors the building into its context as there are many institutional buildings in Fenway/Kenmore area. The project typology warrants that some sort of cycling company locates their headquarters in this building. Examples of prospective clients would be Hubway, Livable Streets, and Boston Cycling Group. These advocate groups would be perfect clients has they have deep roots in Boston. In the case that these groups would not be able to (re)locate their headquarters here, there is potential in having a biking manufacturer as well, such as Cannondale or Schwinn, which will also be selling their products in the shops of the project. This will be a great branding/marketing technique for which ever client decides to locate here.

HEADQUARTERS

THE HUB

LEARNING CENTER

These three programmatic entities, born of the needs of cyclist in Boston, will not only promote cycling but will be a complete oasis of health, community, and connectivity for the city to thrive on.

OFFICES

HEADQUARTERS

CONFER.

RE SEARCH

FOOD

GYM

AUDIT. LAB

THE HUB

PUBLIC SPACE

LEARNING CENTER

CLASS

CONCOURSE

BUILDING SERVICES SHOP REST

PARK

COMMUNITY CENTER

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Programmatic Breakdown - The Hub

PARKING SHOPS SHOWERS

3,000 sf 3,000 sf 3,000 sf

PUBLIC SPACE 18,500 sf

CONCOURSE 23,800 sf

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60,000 SF

FOOD COURT 23,800 sf

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Programmatic Breakdown - The Health Center

CLASSROOMS 8,000 sf

60,000 SF

COMMUNITY CENTER 26,000 sf

GYM 26,000 sf

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Programmatic Breakdown - The Headquarters

CONFERENCE ROOMS 8,000 sf LABS 8,000 sf BUILDING SERVICES 14,000 sf

AUDITORIUM 14,000 sf

Thesis Seminar

60,000 SF

RESEARCH 8,000 sf OFFICES 8,000 sf

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Chongming Bicycle Park JDS Architects China

CASE STUDY 1 JDS Architects designed this extraordinary spiraling Chongming Bicycle Park for a competition to create the future Bike City in China. The museum, multi-purpose hall, and visitor center comes complete with an exterior helix for cyclists to ride down. If built, the incredible Bike City is expected to attract people from all over the world and it could become the country’s newest landmark design. The campus is all inclusive to cycling and is revolved around the movement of a bike.

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STRUCTURE AND SYMMETRY

CICULATION - PLAN AND SECTION

MASSING

NATURAL LIGHT

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The High Line Diller Scofidio + Renfro New York City

Case Study 2 The High Line is a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the Meatpacking District to West 34th Street, between 10th and 12th Avenues. Originally an abandoned line of rails, it now boasts a mile and a half of open walking baths, detached from the street, giving pedestrians a completely new experience of walking the streets of New York. As a tourist attraction, the design of the High Line has revitalized the area. This is what my thesis intends to do, repurposing an existing infrastructure for modern needs.

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HUDSON YARDS - 2018

WHITNEY MUSEUM - 2015

520 WEST 28TH -????

HL 23 - 2011

IAC BUILDING - 2009

450 W. 14TH STREET - 2011

HIGH LINE HEADQUARTERS - 2014

THE STANDARD HOTEL - 2010

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Seattle Art Museum: Olympic Sculpture Park Weiss / Manfredi Seattle, Washington

CASE STUDY 3 Envisioned as a new model for an urban sculpture park, the project is located on a industrial site at the water’s edge. The design creates a continuous constructed landscape for art, forms an uninterrupted Z-shaped “green” platform, and descends 40 feet from the city to the water, capitalizing on views of the skyline and Elliot Bay and rising over the existing infrastructure to reconnect the urban core to the revitalized waterfront. The design not only brings sculpture outside of the museum walls but brings the park into the landscape of the city. Another example of repurposing old space for modern times.

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SKETCH PROBLEM

Conceptual Program Diagram

3-D Conceptual Model

Conceptual 3-D Model and Circulation Fall 2014

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Section Sketch

Approach Sketch Thesis Seminar

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Health and Wellness

Health and Wellness: Cultural Contribution This project is a direct critique to how cyclists are predominantly treated in our urban settings. In all fairness, cycling as a means of transportation is a recent trend with the rise of population and over-crowdedness in our cities. The BikeLine does more than just tack on bike lanes to existing roads; it creates an infrastructure that is detached from vehicular roads in areas where possible, provides a safe buffer for areas where it is not, and strategically places shared lanes on roads, where inevitable, to minimize the dangers both to cyclists and cars as well. Redesigning cities to accommodate the cyclist is a global movement as an aim to lessen the dependence on oil, alleviates crowded roads from the use of cars, encourages healthy habits, and promotes the use of cycling as its all some people can afford.

This project elevates Boston to be on par with the handful of cities that have decided to cater to the bicycle.

Boston is very much a growing city and roads and trains are getting overly crowded. Although the population is increasing, the transportation infrastructure is not sustainable at all. The BikeLine will be an added means of transportation to alleviate this current trend. At the same time, it provides an alternative to a sedentary lifestyle by providing a safe and easy means to travel by bike. A major reason Bostonians do not bike is a lack of confidence around issues of safety that current cycling infrastructure provides. Boston has a large cycling community that will continue to grow and it is easy to see that city leaders recognize this as there are future plans to add 230 miles of cycling infrastructure in the next 30 years. As the late Mayor Menino has said “the car is no longer king in Boston.�

As a designer, I believe architects have a responsibility to address health issues and quality of life in all parts of design. It is true architecture is a client-based industry and what the client wants, a client gets; but as a designer there should always be a push to make sure these issues are not ignored. We live in a health conscientious society and to ignore these issues would be the same as going back to using asbestos in our construction methods. As designers, we lead the innovation of health choices and only through our work will people begin to realize that it is something worth taking the time and effort as it will pay off in the long run. To simply ignore this, is simply ignoring our natural instincts of growth, development and progress. This is why I chose this thesis project, because of how it aims to redevelop our perception on transportation so that ultimately it will provide a better city for our citizens.

This is why the Emerald Necklace was chosen to be the spine of the network. In its current state, the Emerald Necklace is a network of open green space that would otherwise have no identity. It is supposed to be a continuous network but has many parts that do not connect. The project aims to take an existing infrastructure that is currently lacking in its function and redesign it towards Boston’s current transportation needs. The Emerald Necklace will now promote health, connection, and community while providing a necessary need for Metro Boston.

The BikeLine, as a network of cycling safe infrastructure that elevates cycling as a main means of transportation, will also elevate Boston as an innovative cycling city on a national and international scale. It will put Boston on par with cycling enthusiast cities such as Portland, Amsterdam, and Copenhagen, to name a few.

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THESIS CLIENT ADVISOR

Thesis Client Advisor or Representative: Livable Streets: Livable Streets is a non-profit organization that aims to challenge current urban transportation through the use of bikes. They believe that through creative and realistic approaches to urban transportation, we can help make Boston more connected. Their mission statement is as follows: LivableStreets Alliance is a non-profit organization that believes urban transportation has the power to make Metro Boston more connected — and more livable. We challenge people to think differently and to demand a system that balances transit, walking, and biking with automobiles. We promote safe, convenient, and affordable transportation for all users in urban Boston. Streets that are enjoyable to use will better support neighborhoods and business districts This project directly relates to the central themes of what LivableStreets mission is.

Other prospective clients might be Hubway, Boston Cycling Group, or Mass Bike.

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RESUME

contact education

P AV E L R E G U S

4 Bishop street Apt. 305 FrAminghAm, mA 01702 • 203.300.0863 pAvel.regus@the-BAc.edu • www.pAvelregus.com • BOSTON ARCHITECTURAL COLLEGE Candidate for Master of Architecture • UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Bachelors of Fine Arts - Architecture (cum laude) Minor in Business Construction Technology

[ sept 2011 - present ] [ 2007 - 2011 ]

career

SHEPLEY BULFINCH RICHARDSON & ABBOTT Project Support [ january 2014 - present ]

• Build and maintain 3-D models in Revit for numerous projects • Assist with CDs and CA support for our Yale New Haven Hospital Projects • Diagram infographics for marketing book of Papa New Guinea Project • Research materials and equipment for project specs for various projects Office Support [ march 2012 - january 2014 ] • Organized and scheduled project meetings and conference calls on firmwide basis • Submit transmittals, submittals, and bulletins as requested per projects • Design graphics and presentations using Adobe Suite • Scheduled lunch and learns for the firm

DOYLE COFFIN ARCHITECTURE, LLC. Intern Architect [ may 2011 - september 2011 ]

• Prepared construction documents and detailed drawings in CAD • Built 3-D models in Google Sketchup and physical models • Created sketch renderings and graphics for presentations using Adobe Suite • Handled deliveries and transmittals

community work experience

MISSION HILL K-8 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Team Leader [ january 2012 - May 2012 ]

• Oversaw and directed design work • Mentored team members with building and code researching • Researched and contacted various vendors for paint samples • Organized monthly client progress meetings and presentations

FAIR HOUSING CENTER OF GREATER BOSTON Team Leader [ september 2011 - december 2011 ]

• Evaluated team performance and dynamics with superviosr on a weekly basis • Mentored team members with Adobe Suite programs • Supervised team members and assigned tasks

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Teaching Assistant (TA) [ january 2012 - May 2012 ]

sketchup

photoshop

revit

illustrator

cad

indesign

rhino

muse

vray

flash

photography graphic design interest

skills

• Provided support to Architectural Software Class • Generated tutorials of software interfaces, tools, and practices • Lectured students on programs and techniques • Tutored students on a one-on-one basis

weB design cycling baseball swimming computers

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Annotated Bibliography

Print 1.

Fleming, Steven. Cycle Space: Architecture & Urban Design in the Age of the Bicycle. Rotterdam, Netherlands: NAi010, 2012. Print.

This book is a great source as Steven Fleming, a designer and cycling enthusiasts makes his case for why urban planning and design should accommodate for the bicycle. Many of his references directly relate to the kinds of design ideas I may pursue. Having this book back my project, makes the thesis that much stronger.

2.

Creating Walkable and Bikeable Communities: A User Guide to Developing Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plans. Portland, OR: Portland State University, 2012 This report was published as a guide in creating integrated walkable and bikeable path ways for communities. It offers appealing solutions that a community might use to promote these pathways so that more people would want to bike. A big issue people have for walking and biking within communities is safety. This report tries to remedy this situation so that there will be less vehicular traffic.

3.

Boston Bike Network Plan : Bostonians young & old, get out and ride. Boston, MA: City of Boston, 2013. 1-20.

Print.

This report made by the city of Boston documents the growing population and culture in Boston. It lays out the current infrastructure for cycling as well as the plan for adding more in the next 30 years. This document will be an integral piece of evidence as to the need for a project like mine. I will use this document to see if there are any similarities in vision between both projects. It might be interesting to compare my proposed network with what the city of Boston has in mind.

4.

Hamill, James, and Wise, Peter. Planning For the Bicycle As a Form of Transportation. Washington: PanTechnology Consulting Corp., 1974.

While this source is older than most, it is a detailed manual for assisting public official and cyclists in designing safe and economic bikeways for communities to use. This comprehensive overview provides a practical approach to the issues that need to be addressed in planning and constructing a bikeway.

Videos 1.

Deimann, Felix, dir. Olympic Inspired Experimental Tracking. 2014. Film. 30 Sep 2014. <felixdeimann.com>.

2.

“Human Motion Tracking Particle System.” The Jellyfish Act. Universal Everything, n. d. Web. 30 Sep. 2014. <http://blog.thejellyfishact.com/thejellyfishact/human-motion-tracking-particle-system-made-by>.

The above referenced videos are visual representations of various motions such as swimming, dancing, running, and basketball. I’m using it as inspiration to design a building that represents the motion of cycling. This idea of the “motion of aesthetics” is one that really intrigues me.

Websites 1.

Deimann, Felix, dir. Olympic Inspired Experimental Tracking. 2014. Film. 30 Sep 2014. <felixdeimann.com>.

2.

“Human Motion Tracking Particle System.” The Jellyfish Act. Universal Everything, n. d. Web. 30 Sep. 2014. <http://blog.thejellyfishact.com/thejellyfishact/human-motion-tracking-particle-system-made-by>.

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