22@ SMART CITY \ CRISTOBAL DE MOURA DISTRICT
barcelona, spain \\ spring 2013 \ partnered with ellen hart
FLEXIBLE REGULATION
The investigation of Barcelona began by mapping historical traces of industry and agriculture as an underlying grid contrary to the Cerda development. The neighborhood of Poblenou is examined by mapping patterns within the city of linear networks, passages, and developments that follow horizontal and vertical organization. Surrounding blocks have tendencies to follow linear framework, such as the Llacuna Axis development (a vertical development), and a recent (horizontally inclined) housing development just south of our site. These lines of development are pulled into our site toward an existing vertical opening, creating a central green axis, or spine. These lines start to determine the organization of building development within the blocks.
The lines of the city begin to determine plot separations. To aid in flexible development there is a system of regulated corners, edges, and plots to allow development of strips within a specific set of guidelines regarding spaces, building heights, set-backs and landscape. Potential developers and architects can work within this set of guidelines to develop these blocks while maintaining the overall vision and intent of the urban design.
The green spine is affected by this imposed grid and green spaces begin to exist within the patterns of the grid organization. Each plot has an extension past the building edge, creating a front landscape, patio, and threshold. Lower level retail programs can utilize this space for exterior program and extend into the public realm. Green space extends to low terraces which interact with the social green spine. Courtyards are private or privatized extensions of the green spine and retail program. Parking slips behind and underneath courtyard spaces and can create a sloped courtyard. Edges that interact with Cristobal de Moura can be sloped up to provide access to terraces, bringing pedestrians up to lower terraces and into the green spine. Cristobal de Moura becomes slower and more pedestrian as a wide median separates two lanes of traffic, creating spaces for people to walk, eat, and rest. This modification of the street allows pedestrians to cross easily and safely at the green spine.
This set of guidelines is utilized to create a variety of possibilities in development. Our fully developed scheme is an example of a proposal that works within these guidelines.
The lines of the city begin to determine plot separations. To aid in flexible development there is a system of regulated corners, edges, and plots to allow development of strips within a specific set of guidelines regarding spaces, building heights, set-backs and landscape. Potential developers and architects can work within this set of guidelines to develop these blocks while maintaining the overall vision and intent of the urban design.
The green spine is affected by this imposed grid and green spaces begin to exist within the patterns of the grid organization. Each plot has an extension past the building edge, creating a front landscape, patio, and threshold. Lower level retail programs can utilize this space for exterior program and extend into the public realm. Green space extends to low terraces which interact with the social green spine. Courtyards are private or privatized extensions of the green spine and retail program. Parking slips behind and underneath courtyard spaces and can create a sloped courtyard. Edges that interact with Cristobal de Moura can be sloped up to provide access to terraces, bringing pedestrians up to lower terraces and into the green spine. Cristobal de Moura becomes slower and more pedestrian as a wide median separates two lanes of traffic, creating spaces for people to walk, eat, and rest. This modification of the street allows pedestrians to cross easily and safely at the green spine.
This set of guidelines is utilized to create a variety of possibilities in development. Our fully developed scheme is an example of a proposal that works within these guidelines.
development plan + guidelines
pedestrian green spine + guidelines
first floor plan
Section progression through pedestrian street expressing the variety and diversity along the spine.
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Virtual walk-through of a sample of the proposed new pedestrian street.
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