Studio Blocks, infrastructure, and stalled construction sites of New York City: The focus for the UG4 Newell studio for the University of Michigan's Architecture Program.
We are currently investigating the complexity of having to create a system of inter connectivity between each assigned studio block. Mimicking the complex nature of a dense urban situation such as New York City. The ultimate goal of the project is to attack the dilemma of stalled sites. In particular, the number of such cases in and around the New York Metropolitan area. The possibilities became more apparent after our first project. The creation of this studio block gave us insight and possible solutions.
Our first exercise involves having marbles transit within our assigned studio blocks and the option of entering our neighbors. Representing the way utilities en
ter, invade, and create much of what is unseen in structures was a challenge in design, communication, and co-operation.
The idea behind my studio block rests on its location. Being centrally located and part of a core block, the idea of it allowing multiple marble transits between neighbors became apparent from the beginning. I could have opted to isolate my block but felt that punctures would provide for lighting to enter the bowels of my block.
Connectivity with neighbors. Design initially compromised but evolving
into a life of their own. Accidental, unintended satisfaction in the final iteration.
Moral learned: cooperation leads to profoundly beautiful things.
The individual studio blocks served to remind us that infrastructure has a key role in the urban design. The fun exercise served to educate us about the intricate nature of the tangled webs utilities, roads, and pedestrian lanes create in planning for a site as whole. They play a much larger role in architecture as previously experienced by myself. We begin to venture into a much larger scope of focus. From dealing with our own individual sites and projects to a more involved and complex system of interconnected infrastructures.
The first project thus demands us to look into the systems that binds
many buildings, and cities together.
Designing a system to link the individual, unique blocks required intrusions into their spaces.
A unifying system required a greater deal of thought and some inconvenience as concessions are required to one's architecture.
Separation of each studio block from each other gives the model an oppurtunity to "stand alone" (so to speak) and emphasize the uniqueness of the architect's ideas without getting lost in the massed studio block.
Infrastructure links the studio blocks together, unifying them as a whole and letting the system of interconnectivity once again resolve the dilemma.
Taking the lessons from the abstracted exercise gave me insight on how
and what could be possible for the stalled construction sites in NYC.
Commuter rails, elevated pedestrian lanes as infrastructure, and maybe
a totally new way of thinking about the urban condition.
