Defining a Problem: Review Two and Process

Leading up to this review there was a culmination of information that began to inform the project. Site diagrams of different scales began to show specific areas of interest within the site itself. Diagrams were at a large scale at first to make site decisions, areas of demographics, site services, layout and connections were explored. Then, it became apparent that there was one area of the site that was more disruptive to the community as a whole. This became the location of future interventions. A series of diagrams addressing this area was created. User interaction diagrams then showed the specific interaction problems within the site. This all led up to the series of diagrams below, the plan diagram indicates the problem area, and an intervention, and the perspective shows how the problems affects users.

Problem: no connectivity from transportation to center of site through use. The area needs mixed use or commercial influences within the site to break up its visual and presumed "wall" that keeps people out.

Problem: lack of green space between buildings. The area needs less paved space and more passive shade space to invite the user to interact at the street level and "own" the space.

Problem: Division of buildings by parking and excessive paved space. The buildings need some kind of connection to create interactions within the user groups and the buildings to create a neighborhood atmosphere. a raised connective green space or roof could provide this kind of connection.

Problem: Dead ended interior streets create a feeling of isolation or being trapped within the site. This makes outside users not want to enter the site for fear of being stuck or lost within the vast site itself. Creating through streets to the main exterior streets could help to demolish the idea of a dense impenetrable space.

Problem: Areas that are designated as public park or green space are over paved and lack green spaces and plants. Addition of landscaping elements new paths and textures can create a welcoming space to serve as a gateway to the site.

Problem: areas of housing on main street are overbearing and overshadow the neighborhood, while crowding the side walk, making them appear even more out of scale. By selectively demolishing the ends of the building the area will become less crowded and give space to invite people in.

This complex site topography allows us to see how the roads and surrounding context works in relation to the site.

 This review was helpful in getting the idea that there are two paths that can be taken from here, the idea of a soft or hard approach to intervention. Passive site design methods can prove the thesis, or more involved building selection and reworking and help create the ideal intervention to make the community more integrated.