First, I have to apologize for not keeping my promise. I was to busy discovering the neighborhood that I was not able to update the website as I will like to. I did write my findings, but did not post them. With that said…now, I am going to give you a summary of the last 5 weeks. Therefore, it is going to be long; sorry, comprehensive.
After writing my previous reflective essays I moved to work with the units and their relationship to accessibility. I went around the neighborhood and took pictures of different units’ thresholds. Then, I started looking at those using sections, but the information I collected was minimal. The results were incomplete because I was just staying in the main entrance without taking into consideration what happens after the thresholds. Looking to gain better information for my design process I worked with diagrams to establish the relationships I needed. I looked at activities and spaces to determine a better path of action. I found that in order to design functional thresholds I had to design the whole transition between the spaces beyond them. I took the decision of rearranging my proposal once again and work with lots and units in conjunction.
I observed that the connection between the unit and the lot creates a space that needs to be defined. I called those “access spaces” in other words areas that allow connectivity between the main parts. The access spaces are the areas in my investigation that need to be re-designed in terms of accessibility. Another characteristic I discovered was that access spaces are often semi-private (semi-public) areas. Therefore, activities will occur with and without the need of planning. In the lot/unit access space the most common activities are (1) in/out of residents, (2) mail collection, (3) trash collection, (4) announced visitors, (5) casual meetings, and (6) leisure. These activities created a relationship for me to focus my work more because they serve as markers for the areas to design.
After one week of ups and downs I understood the challenges of Design as Research and the importance for flexibility in the process. Ideas normally come when we are not expecting them and we need to be willing to incorporate them in the process. I finished the week with a concrete area of investigation called “access spaces” and the activities that happen in terms of lot and units.
I started the second week of design at the library. I found a book called Between the Edges written by Milos Bobic. In which he discussed the relationship between street and block and the interaction between house and street. It helped me to see ways to show my findings diagrammatically and with a sense of reference. After this, I went back to the neighborhood and took pictures of the different units concentrating in main entrances and front yards. I collected over 100 pictures and I divided them into five groups with their correspondent subdivisions (based on pedestrian and vehicular paths) in order to create a design typology. The first group was ground level entrances and it had 5 subdivisions. Group two was ramp entrances and had 3 subdivisions. Group three was front porches and had 9 subdivisions. Group four was stepped entrances and had 6 subdivisions. And the last group was multi unit entrances and had 3 subdivisions.
With this system in place I started creating diagrams to represent their plan views, view from the street, thresholds and paths. I ended up with 26 categories with 4 diagrams each. I found similar patterns and took design decision that will affect my end product; like, the need for connective paths. Unfortunately, after this process, I concluded that I need to find a way to bring my research back to a more manageable scale and a new way to re-design the existing pedestrian and vehicular paths. The plan I presented during material investigation (peer review) for the following week was to create proposals to develop accessible entrances for all twenty six subdivisions. I can only say, it did not happen.
The third week started with divine intervention. It was suggested to create a chart looking diagram to redefine my findings. It really helped me understand the discoveries I did during the previous two weeks. I kept four groups (1) ground level entrances, (2) ramp entrances, (3) front porches, and (4) stepped entrances, but I reduced the subdivisions to four per group. The four charts had the same type of diagrams (a) unit in lot, (b) paths, (c) view from the street, and (d) thresholds. After all this diagramming I needed a creative break. I went out and took pictures of the sidewalks and streets I will be using for week number five. I also found the neighborhood lot map and the redevelopment plans for Military Highway; which includes the Norvella Heights area.
Then back to diagramming…I created three design patterns out of the groups’ charts. The first one was accessible main entrances “zero-step”. I proposed two ways to achieve level terrain and landscape integration. The second pattern was separate, but connected paths. In which I integrate the ramps and paths to the parking areas. The third pattern was path and sidewalk connections in which an activity area serves as a connector. I will set all patterns together to create the accessible neighborhood concept around week nine.
Another area I worked during this week was the lot distribution. I selected two block types that helped me developed the patterns above. I kept the main entrances in relation to the main street and decided not to create a mew or alley. I found out that these decisions will need more process to be justified and maybe incorporate in a modified way. With this I can say that week three was a long and creative week. I was able to start establishing the patterns to use and bases for my final concept.
Week four started at week five. I had to create a section related to my thesis for a theory class. So, I started working in what I had schedule for week five. I created a cross section in which I created an accessible street gutter. It allowed for water infiltration in the driveway areas and easy transition from the street to the driveway apron. I did multiple diagrams to investigate and design this section. I also, went out and took the measurement of the current gutters, depth and overflow. Then, I moved back to week four to work in the development of models for my patterns proposals.
I started measuring one unit and lot to have a starting point. I created various digital models to show the level terrain pattern. I was able to create a ramp/landscape integration model in which I develop the three previous patterns. I then moved to physical models. I decided to use foam core and clay in order to transfer the digital models. Everything worked fine until the model dried up. The foam core absorbed the humidity of the clay and the base ben. At the same time, the clay cracked and the paths were no longer defined. I tried to create all clay models, but they were not to successful. I concluded that the scale needed to be at least 50 % of the original in order to make a visible reference.
I set the physical modeling work aside and started working on a suggestion I received from two different sources. I selected three blocks in the neighborhood and took pictures of them. Then I mapped them in relationship to their entrances and paths. This opened the opportunity for block development and community interaction. I created different ways to increase the interaction of the neighborhood based on their pedestrian and vehicular paths. I even integrated the use of alleys/mew in one of my solutions. The restructuration of these blocks allowed me to create accessible areas that are independent and active too.
With four and half weeks of work I can say I am half way through my design development. Now, I am going to continue working with the sidewalk/street relationship. I will be using a similar method that the one presented above. The good part is that now it is going to be more refined and will allow me to move quicker and precisely. The two weeks after that I will put together all these design patterns to create the accessible neighborhood that is needed to adequately house the elderly in an intergenerational community. And, I promise (once again) that I will keep you posted.
