back to classes
" ....cities
or parts of cities still serving the more traditional
functions as centers of cross-cultural trade, artisanship,
and creativity--San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Manhattan,
and West Los Angeles--have performed markedly better.
One critical element, understood instinctively by the
Renaissance Italians, is the creation of the city as a
work of art...
The appeal of cityscapes, interesting
neighborhoods, museums and cultural attractions to such
workers are among the reasons why San Francisco's South
of Market district, West Los Angeles, lower Manhattan,
or downtown Seattle have nurtured burgeoning industries."
Joel Kotkin.
PROJECT GOAL: Specific Plan for the Upper Market
& Octavia Area and the 1/4 radius area around it.
INTRODUCTION: Our Cal Poly San Francisco Urban Design
Collaborative Studio has been invited to participate in
a timely and exciting project for Spring quarter as part
of the city's "Better Neighborhoods" Program.
The San Francisco Department of City Planning is currently
working on a Specific Plan for this area. Our efforts
will parallel theirs.
This major rethinking is caused by the impact of the 1989
Loma Prieta earthquake and current plans for a new freeway
touchdown at the east side of Market Street. The west
side will be converted into Octavia Boulevard ?? an on?grade
replacement for the old elevated freeway. The new parcels
freed up adjacent to the on?grade Boulevard will be converted
to housing. The city is looking for a new vision to fulfill
the potential these changes will bring to the neighborhood.
Summaries of the Neighborhood Workshops #1 and #2 are
included with this packet. What makes a city truly liveable?
enjoyable? What makes this neighborhood special and unique?
What should be preserved? enhanced? What problems need
to be solved? Does the city need to rethink its relationship
to the car? Some of the neighbors voiced a willingness
to have the neighborhood planned without relying on any
parking at all! This is an opportunity for you to think
about the "macro scale" and across disciplines.
Through this collaborative studio with the San Francisco
Department of City Planning we will be "learning
by doing" how architects can take an active part
in shaping the environment and in fact "become leaders"
in the community. The interdisciplinary value of this
effort will be extremely helpful to you understand which
other design disciplines and values are vital to a comprehensive
approach to urban design. This is a unique opportunity
for you to contribute to an important prototype design
effort.
Architects must learn to both support and lead efforts
to make our communities and cities better places in which
to live. This is the purpose of the Urban Design Internship
in your education.
RESOURCES FOR THE PROTECT:
Similar Specific Plans & Case Study Examples
o Van Ness Plan
o North Waterfront Plan
o Trans Bay Terminal "" Trans Bay Specific Plan
SPECIFIC RESOURCES:
www.betterneighborhoods.org
Workshop #1 and #2 Summaries
Drawings and background information : Pdf files on Cal
Poly Server
BOOKS:These need to be read entirely
1) Kevin Lynch, The Image of a City
2) The Urban Design Element - general reference
3) Anne Vernez-Moudon, Built for Change
PROTECT PROGRESS:
WEEK 1 o Orientation to the City Reading & Research
& Fieldwork & Tours
WEEK 2 o Analysis & continuing Reading, Research, Fieldwork,
Tours
WEEK 3 o Vision & alternatives (Synthesis)Mid-Ouarter
Reviews
WEEK 4 o Refine & develop design
WEEK 5 o Final Review. Be prepared for changes!! This is
a "real world" fact of life!
