Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Research Topic #1
Kenneth A. Ballard
Thesis Instructor Ian Taberner
Thesis HT7295/TS7610
31 May 2008
How can Las Vegas, a city of constant change and endless possibilities, provide an architectural language that will be as dynamic as the Las Vegas nightlife with regards to dwellings for the homeless?... The concept of a self-built self-owned community is not a new concept, in the 1940's, Hassan Fathy studied the culture and lifestyles as well as the local economy of the residents of Gourna while commissioned to design a new city for a peasant class population. In his studies, Hassan Fathy explored many concepts that speak directly to the potential success of a self-built, self-owned homeless community.
Fathy knew that it was crucial that a good understanding of the climate, material selection, protection from the sun, site orientation, human scale, life-style, and hands-on participation would result a better community. Leading to a better, more satisfying life while teaching a skill that would benefit the resident's social and economical status. In the book, Architecture for the Poor, Fathy sets out to establish a tone that supports the process in which decisions are made and will ultimately define the solutions used in designing New Gourna. Fathy believed that more than architecture alone would be needed to achieve the greatest impact in the lives of the people of Gourna. I believe that in order to design, be it a retail store, school, house, public building that there must be a clear understanding of what and how things are designed for particular groups of people. In this case, designing a community/village for a certain population of the homeless community within Las Vegas, it is crucial to allow their lifestyle to inform the building materials and architectural character. I feel it is safe to say that it is commonly accepted that 'great' architecture has evolved into 'architecture' for the architects; however, principles used by Hassan Fathy encourages architects to bridge the gap between 'folk' architecture and the architect's 'architecture'.
In terms of vernacular architecture Fathy provides examples that can be translated into driving principles that I will use to develop the site and the sitting of the dwellings as well as help inform the architectural character of the dwellings.
The Encyclopedia of Vernacular Architecture of the World defines "vernacular architecture" as:
"As yet there is no clearly defined and specialized discipline for the study of dwellings or the larger compass of vernacular architecture. If such a discipline were to emerge it would probably be one that combines some of the elements of both architecture and anthropology with aspects of history and geography"
Fathy's design principles that were incorporated in the design of New Gourna include:
- the Mashrabiya (a wood lattice or trellis used to control the air flow, reduce the air temperature, increase the humidity of the air current, as well as provide privacy
The concept of the Mashrabiya works well in the absence of windows, windows are not extremely available as construction waste (local materials). A lattice type covering will offer privacy as well as allow air into the space for cooling purposes while blocking the majority of the direct sun light.
- the Malqaf (a device used to capture wind at a high point of the dwelling)
Conventional HVAC will not be an option for this community and using natural energy techniques to cool the dwelling works well with the economical constraints while also providing solutions to cooling with green strategies in practice.
- the Loggia (an arcade on the side of a building used to provide comfortable breezes)
Most likely the best way to make outdoor spaces more comfortable in hot arid climates, the techniques used can not only be applied to the walls of the dwellings but the sitting ob buildings can great the same affect for common outdoor gathering areas rendering these spaces more susceptible to greater, more productive use.
- Orienting the dwelling based on wind patterns and sun angles
The wind patterns noted on the site study along with the angle of altitude of ~58 degrees will allow me to develop and test plans, sections, and site orientation that will provide the optimal orientation for each dwelling. This will also intact help provide a more acceptable climate without the aid of mechanical assistance.
- The angle of the roof to control heat gain
Materials and surfaces in conjunction with the angle of the roof will complement the climate advantages I will be able to gain with the sitting of the dwellings, as well help shape the malqaf for optimal wind capture.
- The use of local and available materials
The local construction industry is always on the go, construction sites pop of all over town from on the strip to old residential neighborhoods to brand new ones and everywhere else in-between. In the last quarter of 2007 construction waste amounted to over 1200 tons, nearly 400 tons of construction a month that was collected and sorted for recycling.
- Designing for the user
Designing for the end user is also another concept that is as old as the ages that sometimes is overlooked. The shelters today that are the providing shelter for the homeless have turned into more than can be handled. The programs and square footages of the facilities are large and wide spreading yet only helping a small numbers, this can be reversed if the focus shifts to providing targeted areas of support. Instead of providing a shopping list of amenities, shelter should focus on individual items; in the area there are several places, yet to small to really help. By providing a village for the homeless community to live in will free up the shelters to focus on supply medical care, job placement, skill workshops and no how many they have room for tonight, why people cannot bring in with them their possessions, etc.
- Teaching/providing the residents the skill needed to build and also provide a useful trade
Teaching and providing shills to take out into Las Vegas can help several groups of people… first and foremost the homeless, by potentially learning new skills they could quickly become part of the construction force that is part of our valleys economy. Employers can have a community outreach program where time can be donated to assist in the success of the Rethink Village. Lastly the shelters will start to see some relief on their already overburdened resources.
It is important to note that while these two cultures are very different, thousands of miles apart, building materials may differ, technology surges, and decades apart there is a common link... designing for the poor. Designing dwellings for the homeless should incorporate letting them build their own shelters; with the right skills and materials I suggest that a better solution will appear; better than any social program can provide. Incorporating these architectural principles, a superior living arrangement can be afforded to those with little to no stable income.
Bibliography
Fathy, Hassan. Architecture for the Poor : An Experiment in Raul Eqypy. 2. Chicago: The University of Chicago, 1976.
—. Natural energy and vernacular architecture : principles and examples with reference to hot arid climates. Edited by Walter Shearer and Abd-el-rahman Ahmed Sultan. Chicago: Published for the United Nations University by the University of Chicago Press, 1986.
Oliver, Paul. Encyclopedia of vernacular architecture of the world. Edited by Paul Oliver. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997.
Research Topic #2
Kenneth A. Ballard
Thesis Instructor Ian Taberner
Thesis HT7295/TS7610
31 May 2008
Interpreting Defensible Spaces
The concept of 'Defensible Spaces' has been around since the beginning of time, yet as technologies advance the simple understandings of how and why human beings interact and socially unit with each other and the built environment have been set aside to play second fiddle to the new brand of architecture: architecture for the architects. These principles are basic good design strategies that Oscar Newman wrote about over three decades ago are just as much pertinent today as they were thirty years ago just as they were one hundred, five hundred, a thousand years ago. Unfortunately it took the request of a government body and a staggering increase of residential robberies to release these basic and simple strategies back to the architectural community. The efforts to decrease crime in the inner city and suburbs alike was a blanket approach of providing more policing, altering the scheduled routes, improving the response time, etc... The results left a bitter taste in the mouth of law enforcement around the United States. Irregularly beats and faster response times did little to stifle crime patterns and even less in the changing the eventual outcome of crimes.
Although the principles described and diagramed are mainly focused on strategies to help reduce crime in and around multi-family projects there are practical design, social and statistical approaches that cross the development gap that may exist. When designing retail, office, residential for the masses or a homeless village, the human factor exists. Its existence has primal tendencies, these tendencies, if not properly developed will in fact be developed at such vigor and pace as to disrupt the normal activities. As finely balanced as the economy and social affairs can be, it is pertinent to empower all resources available to the architect to combat behaviors or at the least influence the behaviors of people when engaged with the built environment. This type of suggestive influence can have long lasting effects while reinforcing acceptable behavior. Through a series of reports and handbooks well conceived concepts have been once again brought to the forefront of Design 101.
Intentionally designing a site plan for a community of homeless people affords itself to resolving common issues, such as location of the houses, public spaces, private spaces, activity spaces around existing criteria... location of potential power, water and sewer connections. Yet at the end of the day, I will still be pleased to see the community to take a life of its own. These constraints will inform the location of the program elements as well as site selection and sitting. Traditional strategies and improvised solutions will yield a productive product in terms of site planning and building materials and methods. Although many techniques and strategies are presented, I have narrowed my focus to site planning and spatial relationships between public and private outdoor spaces. This focus will inform how to provide comfortable living spaces that the residents of Rethink Village will be able to enjoy and feel safe in contrast to the current environment that for so many reason affords no personal space, ownership or pride, where they resort to refuge in makeshift second rate fabrics and papers tents on the sidewalks, underpasses railway lines in downtown Las Vegas. The concepts from Oscar Newman's studies have allowed me to identified five rules that will demonstrate defensible spaces in the site layout and spatial relations in both density and activity spaces in conjunction with the principles and strategies established by Hassan Fathy for the 'poor' in hot arid climates as well as defining the architectural character in terms of vernacular architecture.
"...buildings [dwellings] should be positioned and grounds be subdivided and allocated so that residents perceived particular areas of the project as being under their specific sphere of influence."
Five rules for designing defensible spaces:
- Site dwellings as to create small subdivided/allocated areas of land so that the residents perceive particular areas under their control
- These areas should be on the direct path to the front door and include an area for small children play (buffer area between public and private areas)
- Numbers... Quantity vs. Grouping - common areas for central/communal activities should be spread throughout the site
- Define areas of influence - appropriate use and location of physical and symbolic barriers
- Proper locations of transition areas to define public areas from private areas
These five rules center on how people behave in their surroundings and how simple change in material, level and surfaces can produce acceptable behavior for their environment. These rules have goals and results, each one building upon the previous rule, designing in only a few of these principles progressively hampers the success rate. To obtain the most from defensible spaces and design a comfortable productive space I believe that all the rules should be implemented.
Goals and Results
Rule #1 - Site dwellings as to create small subdivided/allocated areas of land so that the residents perceive particular areas under their control
Rule #2 - These areas should be on the direct path to the front door and include an area for small children play (buffer area between public and private areas)
[Insert sketch]
Goal for #1 &2 - to influence the residents to exert their territorial prerogatives
Result for #1 & 2 - these areas should expect to experience more and intensive use and care/pride
Rule #3 - Numbers... Quantity vs. Grouping - common areas for central/communal activities should be spread throughout the site
[Insert sketch]
Goal for #3 - simply... spread the wealth
Result for #3 - these areas will sustain better/productive activities as well require less maintenance
Rule #4 - Define areas of influence - appropriate use and location of physical and symbolic barriers
[Insert sketch]
Goals for #4 - Physical boundaries - to indicate a legitimate right to enter
Symbolic boundaries - to interrelate/define areas to particular spaces
Results for #4 - politely and unquestionably defined comfortable and territorial boundaries the enjoyment, security and beauty of the space
Rule #5 - Proper locations of transition areas to define public areas from private areas
[Insert sketch]
Goal for #5 - to stimulate a type of inculpable behavior appropriate to the level of activity or area
Result for #5 - outsiders and residents alike will act and react to symbolic transitions in ways productive to the area...acceptable behavior
Observation of territorial prerogatives among the homeless community
Territorial behaviors already exist among all sorts of people groups including the homeless community. However, this type of behavior is deemed not appropriate for the certain areas. This non-positive behavior that the homeless have become accustomed to has created reverse boundaries. Boundaries that spill out into sidewalks and door stoops that render these areas, transition zones, unusable or used outside the intended design. The long term fallout for areas of this type of behavior (although these behaviors do not stem from maliciousness intents) is disrupting the sociality and economical interests of others. I gather that much of the stigma and housing solutions stem from these behaviors. I suggest that in order to reverse these ill affects that a community devoted to the re-integration of the homeless populous is supported by the local community in part to develop a village designed to re-teach independent living in a secure, comfortable enjoyable space.
If the current trend continues downtown business will continue to see less and less customers, and closing up shop is and will continue to be the answer. This process leads to continued growth of the homeless community in these areas where negative territorial behaviors have taken root. The intent of creating defensible space is to foster community and influence acceptable behavior. The type of territorial behavior being displayed in certain parts of downtown Las Vegas is just the opposite of proper acceptable behavior. It was observed that public/private spaces that have been abandoned for whatever reasons have been perceived by the homeless community as "theirs". This must be a result of watching others discard these spaces that are viewed as a resource and be recycled back to a useful function in their life. By providing an area and opportunity for the willing homeless, outside the constraints of traditional shelters, a place to develop these same territorial prerogatives described by Oscar Newman and following the rules outlined above the results can be two fold.
A certain number of the homeless community would be willing to take advantage of opportunities in order to start the process and re-integrate into mainstream society, or at the very least be able to live in a community of their peers without the fear of being abused, to be able to properly secure their few belongings with confidence and have a home they built. On the flip side... this type of village will provide a place for the homeless to live and allow the sidewalks and door stoops be again reclaimed and used for the designed purpose. This in turn provides economical growth back to these downtown areas that have been lost. In Las Vegas, there figures be a homeless population for many reasons. Rethink Village offers Las Vegas a unique opportunity to address the homeless community in a positive way that incorporates techniques that have gone ignored in shelters/group home settings.
Bibliography
Clare Cooper Marcus and Wendy Sarkissian. Housing as if people mattered : site design guidelines for medium-density family housing. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1986.
Davis, Sam. Designing for the homeless : architecture that works. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2004.
Fathy, Hassan. Architecture for the Poor : An Experiment in Raul Eqypy. 2. Chicago: The University of Chicago, 1976.
Newman, Oscar. Design guidelines for creating defensible space. Washington: [Washington] : National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Assistance Administration, U.S. Dept. of Justice : For sale by the Supt. of Docs., U.S. Govt. Print. Off., [1976] c1975, 1975.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
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