The Urban Vestibule Zack Miller
URBAN VESTIBULE
Project Introduction In the St. Clair - Superior neighborhood, it is quite evident that one of the many urban issues within the area is a lack of quality and permeable public space. In addition to the many vacant lots and buildings seen in the neighborhood, so too is the area lacking in spaces for its residents. As seen from a thorough urban analysis, the neighborhood’s central business area is along St. Clair Avenue, and a number of residental streets stem off in mostly the southern direction. This project aims to repurpose specific entryway spaces within buildings on St. Clair Avenue into quality public spaces.
Undervalued Spaces of Humanity Upon physically examing the neighborhood at a human scale, it is evident that most commercial buildings along St. Clair Avenue possess a common typological attribute -- the “urban vestibule.” I have coined this term to encompass spaces such as stoops, alleyways, decks, patios, porches, or street corners -- any sort of architectural element that bridges the gap between private and public space. As seen in the images to the right, there has been tremendous yet undervalued use in these spaces, and these spaces naturally create a meaningful environment for socialization/dwelling.
Mapping and Grafting Public Spaces
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Neighborhood Grafting
ZDM - VESTIBULE ANALYSIS 1 3/8/2021
INDUSTRIAL CORRIDOR
OVERHANG FEATURE
LAKE ERIE
AFRICAN AMERICAN ENCLAVE
RECESSED FROM SIDEWALK EXISTING BUILDINGS
STREETSCAPE
ELEVATION CHANGE
POPULATION MIGRATION
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Urban ComponentsURBAN VESTIBULE (OUTLET)
THE STOOP
THE FLATIRON CORNER
URBAN COMPONENTS (PLUG-IN)
NEW SEATING, BENCHING
NEW SEATING, BENCHING THE PORCH
THE ALLEY
NEW TILE, FLOORING, LIGHTING
THE OVERHANG
THE INVERTED FOYER
Concept and Components In assessing the general concepts seen in the neighborhood, I diagrammed and concieved the graphic shown below: an abstracted, geometric map of the St. Clair neighborhood in its fragmented and fractured nature, and how these fragments have related to its inherent relationships with the lakefront, the streetscape, and the human activity in the neighborhood.
SITTING/DWELLING SOCIALIZATION
OUTDOOR EATING/DRINKING
Urban Analysis The sketch above provides a glimpse at one of many “urban vestibules” that oftentimes give way to activites such as relaxing, standing, leaning, smoking, talking, socializing, or eating. Though architecturally unprogrammed, these spaces are commonplace in neighborhoods like St. Clair, and have tremendous potential to be easily transformed into quality public spaces. The urban landscape is linear along St. Clair Avenue, and these urban vestibules populate just about every block.
INSERT DESIRED TREES OR BUSHES
PLANTER ASSEMBLY
2X6 DECK FOR TOP OF BENCH VERTICAL BRACING FOR BENCH FRAME
2X6 BENCH FRAME
2X6 DECKS; EACH BOARD 1/2” APART
2X6 BOX W/ VERTICAL BRACING
Site Selection Criteria To qualify as an “urban vestibule,” a space must be unprogrammed and undervalued. Oftentimes, it is assumed that parks, restaurants, trails, pathways, etc. are the only forms of public space, but as made evident by human interaction and behavior, the street and sidewalk are also utilized as public space in many instances. Programmatically and at face value, a sidewalk or storefront entryway has been used as a means of parallel transportation to a street or road. However, human behavior has recontextualized the street into public space in many instances.
Prototype - Large Scale
2X6 BOTTOM MEMBERS, PARALLEL TO OTHERS
2X6 BOTTOM MEMBERS FASTENED TO CONCRETE W/ L BRACKETS
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As seen by the images on this spread, I chose to fully immerse this proposal into an actual prototype, and connected with KAFELA, a local restaurant on St. Clair Avenue. After seeing their spaces and consulting with their personnel, a semi public outdoor seating space was proposed within an alleyway adjacent to their restaurant. This space would allow for customers to eat, drink, and socialize within a properly and thoughtfully defined domain of space -- something that the neighborhood is lacking.
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Prototype - Medium/Small Scale However, the urban vestibule prototype can be implemented at different scales. Seen here is a medium-sized proposal for another local restaurant: Latino Taste To-Go. In this proposal, more outdoor seating was proposed to take advantage of both the sidewalk space and alleyway adjacent to the building. At an even smaller scale, the idea of the urban vestibule can populate even just an entryway PROPOSED AREA or exterior foyer/platform, as seen by the drawings to the right. Each exterior vestibule naturally provides an enclosed dwelling space -- and does so at an intimate scale.
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Selected Test Site Area Plan + Section As an example of the small scale test site area, an abandoned building at 6530 St. Clair Avenue was analyzed and drafted to propose what a possible renewal project may look like. As seen by the section drawing below and the elevation to the right, components such as new platforms and seating can be constructed to truly “re-activate” these urban spaces.
EXISTING STRUCTURE
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TYP. 2X4 FRAMING W/ BOTTOM PLATES FASTENED TO EXISTING CONC. SIDEWALK
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Latino Taste To-Go Rendering
Experiential Vignettes
KAFELA Rendering
Map Collage
Map Model
As an early exercise in understanding the urban dynamics of St. Clair, I constructed this collaged map with numerous layers of information, such as building type (residential, commercial, industrial, etc.), as well as main circulation hubs, ethnic enclaves between primarily Slovenians, Croatians, and African Americans, and vacant lots/buildings.
This map was then translated into a 3D model, again highlighting building footprints, circulation, and ethnic enclaves. In studying the urban landscape, it is clear that St. Clair remains a divided and fragmented neighborhood, but tactical urbanism, racially sensitive design, and human-scale proposals can clearly change the neighborhood dynamics for the better.