I did a mini case study on several urban planning/designs throughout the US. Through these studies I compiled a list of key aspects that each case contained and through this list I have gained a better understanding on how to achieve a sucessful urban design. I looked at two main categories in my case studies. Redeveloping Old Neighborhoods and Public Spaces. Through my studies I also found a list of recent trends surrounding this initiative:
I have been thinking more deeply into my thesis intent, mostly on the "building design" i want to accomplish. Like I mentioned before I plan to do an urban planning idea for the several blocks on High Street between 5th Ave and 9th ave. Along with that I want to design a "Green" Learning Center for the community. This center would hold valuable information that the community would greatly benefit from. Some of the possible exhibits/features of this center would be hands on education in the following topics, may include but not limited to: building materials, green roofs, energy star appliances, green methods for HVAC, water reuse, exterior shell materials, green transportation (hybrid cars, public transportation, biking/walking), etc. I envision this as being an experimental place where the community can test different methods by adding or subtracting different methods to accomplish a energy efficient green design, I want to take it beyond the community and have it so that the knowledge from the community center events/demonstrations will cause the participants to think of things differently and take home their learning and develop them into their daily lives. The building itself could be a masterpiece of green design, maybe its constructed from multiple methods and each method is monitored to show its efficiency. The building could be built from straw bales, or 100% recycled and renewable materials? The possiblities are endless and could all play a little part in making something great that can be highly influential on Columbus and eventually be spread out to a much larger area.
Complete an urban design in Columbus, Ohio to connect/transition two areas. The site is on North High street between Short North (5th Ave) and South Campus Gateway (9th Ave). I want the urban design to mend the missing link between Short North and South Campus. This will be done by incorporating ideas and features from those two areas into my site. Green design strategies and green spaces will also play a large role in my design techniques in an effort to entice people to want to be in this area. As opposed to its current features which do no good in drawing and keeping people in the site. The buildings on the site would be only designed externally, maybe slight internal design will be done to express its purpose but nothing very detailed. Except for one building.
I want to design one building on the site that is a intended to be an after school learning center for students, elementary to high school level. This learning center would be run by volunteers from the community and students from Ohio State University. The intent of the learning center is to give kids a safe and rewarding place for activities. The premise of the center would be about green design implementation, research and testing. I envision this place as being a hands-on learning facility where new green design ideas can be found and studies and experiments can be done and shared with the community to spread knowledge and enhance the Columbus Green Strategies.
The reason for this building ties in with the heavy emphasis on green building and green techniques that are being implemented in Columbus. I appreciate the attempt to go green but I don't feel it is being done in such a way that the people of Columbus know what is going on or have the ability to learn about it. That's where the learning center will come in. It is intended for elementary-high school children since they are the future of the community and will be impacted the greatest by the choices that we are all making now, whether they be good or bad.
