Design for Diversity
A Mixed-use Design Project for Ruggles Street Station
by
John Emerson Washington, Jr.
A.B.,
University of California, Berkeley
1978
Submitted to the Department of Architecture in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements of the Degree Master of Architecture at
Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, June 1984
Signature of Author
k'Department
John Emerson Washington, Jr.
of Architecture, May 11,
1984
Certified by
Professor of Architecture,
Accepted by
1.\9
( John Emerson Washington,
The author hereby grants
Jr.
erson,
Rosemary Grimshaw
Departmental Committee for
Graduate Students
1984
to M.I.T.
copies of this thesis document in
permission
to reproduce
whole or in, part.
and to distribute publicly
kSSACHUSE TTS iNSTiTUTE
OF TECHNOLOGY
JUN 19 1984
LIBRARIES
N. John Habraken
Thesis Supervisor
2
Abstract
Design for Diversity:
A Mixed-use Design Project for Ruggles Street Station
by
John Emerson Washington, Jr.
Submitted to the Department of Architecture on May 11,
for
1984 in partial fulfillment of the requirements
the Degree of Master of Architecture
The subject of this'thesis is the design of a mixed-use project for Parcel 18 in the Roxbury district of
Boston. The site is adjacent to the proposed Ruggles Street Station, an intermodal transportation
facility, which will accomodate rail and bus passenger services.
The design problem is the integration of a variety of housing types,
The primary ordering systems, circulation,
into a synergetic whole.
organized to promote an intimate overlap and intermixture of diverse
of uses, an implied goal is to maintain the continuity and integrity
retail space, offices, and a hotel
use location, and structure, are
activities. Within the intermixture
of each pattern of activity.
The organization of the thesis parallels the design process with the intent of illustrating a theoretical
approach to urban design in an area in need of revitalization. The challenge in mixed-use design lies in
the creation of an environment where human experiences can be rich and meaningful.
design exploration.
in this
the focus of attention
than land, is
rather
N. John Habraken
Thesis Supervisor:
Title:
Professor of Architecture
Human
interaction,
Thanks to...
My parents, Josephine and John E. Washington Sr.
you both.
I love
Thank you for everything.
Karen, my sister.
You have been an inspiration. I love you.
John Habraken, my thesis advisor.
The patience and guidance
you have given me could only come from a friend, thank-you.
The memory of my grandparents, greatgrandparents and all
spirits past, present and future
(you know who you are) that
sacrificed so that I could achieve. Thank you all.
The memory of
my classmate and comrade 'E'dward L. Horton
Lanette I couldn't have done this were it not for you.
Letitia You are the Sunshine of my life thats why I'll always
be around.
4
Contents
Abstract
2
Thanks to...
3
Content
Introduction
4
6
I Design Preparation
13
Site and Context
14
Program Requirements
22
Use Intermixture
24
Design Patterns
26
Site Development
33
II
Building Development
39
Major Area Study
42
III Conclusion
48
Bibliography
50
Appendix/Alternate Design Schemes
51
Source: Mixed Land-use,
Dimitri Procos
1 Introduction
Personal Motives
"Those who choose cities are saying: Yes I accept the grief and
the dirt and the pain, but those
are the dues I pay for admission
to the feast. And at the feast,
I choose to my own taste."
--Angela Bofill
Angel of the Night
The background for this thesis
It has been seen as a social sys-
developed as a result of my in-
tem,
terest in both city planning and
ical system, and as a physical
As one who has al-
architecture.
a polit-
an economic system,
system as well.
The major focus
ways been fascinated with the
in this thesis deals with the
city and its development, I have
physical system as a subset of
chosen to explore a building type
the social system.
on a scale that reflects some of
notion is that there are a number
the qualities
ism.
inherent in
urban-
Urban living has the po-
of organizing
An implied
elements in
the
built environment that provide
tential to offer a diverse range
users with cues for appropriate
of activities as well as in-
behaviour.
creased educational and cultural
ture of a particular environ-
activities within a relatively
mental setting may inhibit or
small area.
Most importantly,
Therefore, the struc-
facilitate certain activities.
then be-
the possibility of choice in
The design exploration
one's contacts and associations
comes a means-seeking process to
is
not limited.
What gives form
uncover the intrinsic physical
and shape to the urban environ-
structure of the urban en-
ment?
vironment by investigating those
organizing elements in relation-
There have been many ways of perceiving the urban environment.
ship to people.
7
The reason for choosing a de-
portant to this thesis is the:
sign case within the context of
social benefits
the working-class neighborhood of
sible.
that development of
velopment.1
that are pos-
We shall look at the ram-
Much of urban development in
ifications of these benefits at a
America has resulted in the sim-
this type is capable of accom-
later point.
plification of the urban environ-
odating people who have borne the
be mentioned that this project
ment into a fragmented entity
brunt of unnecessary land-use
occurs at an interesting point in
consisting of internally homo-
Boston's history; a point where
genous environments.
context that an opportunity ex-
many of the residents of Boston's
sult. land-use separation strains
ists to project a design solution
neighborhoods are eagerly seeking
complex social relationships and
that could possibly enhance the
development within their areas.
the urban scene loses some of its
Roxbury is
It is within this
separation.
Roxbury area.
A mixed-use de-
velopment would not only provide
accessible
housing,
But first, it must
jobs and much-needed
but it would also have
attractiveness.
As a re-
Land-use sepa-
The integration of a wide range
ration diminishes diversity and
of activities not only implies a
the possibilities for complex
wider range of choices for the
human activities.
the ability to attract a desired
individual, but allows for some
income group of commercial and
degree of selectivity within each
The technical term "land use" has
residential tenants to an area
choice between privacy/soci-
become synonomous with planning
where such amenities are lacking.
ability, single/group expression,
control and implementation.
The benefits of mixed-use de-
and active/passive activities'.
Land-use control
velopment can be measured not
Furthermore, mixed environments
becomes a powerful tool capable
only in economic terms, but in
provide a setting that can foster
of excluding certain urban func-
individual growth and human de-
tions based on real or perceived
social terms as well.
Most im-
through zoning
incompatibilities with the status
quo.
Much of the land-use con-
the city grew to reflect these
priorities.
The factories were
intermixture an exception.
Many
mixed environments have adapted
trols in effect today are in some
located- farther away from the
well to the twentieth century.
way the result of the Industrial
city center, with its consumer-
This realization, coupled with
Revolution, either as a mitigat-
istic atmosphere, while the work-
current developments in American
ing measure for the deleterious
ers were concentrated into sepa-
society, has led to a reevalu-
effects of industrialization or
rate residential districts.
as the
times, the factories were located
icies.
were responsible for leadership
within the residential districts
shaping attitudes toward use sep-
in that era.
of the workers.
tools of the forces who
between
At
This dichotomy
the environments of the
ation of land-use separation polThe emerging forces re-
aration are:
1) the change from
a production-oriented economy to
Historically, land-use separation
working-class poor and the more
a service-oriented economy, 2)
was introduced as an economic de-
affluent classes set the spatial
the increasing cost of energy
organization of the American
supplies, 3) changing urban dem-
vice to separate populations
into
consumers and producers.
2
the nineteenth century,
there was
intended to meet the needs of the
terest in returning to the inte-
a growing consciousness
in
working-class poor.
gration of home, work leisure,
During
the
city.
Land-use control was never
and shopping.
bourgeoisie that their class was
destined to consume what the lower class produced.
Out of this
consciousness grew the need to
segregate the working class.
As
a result, the spatial quality of
ographics, and 4) a genuine in-
Mixed environments have been the
norm in many European and non-
The change in today's economy
Western cultures for centuries.
from production to service is a
By comparison, American planning
result of the Technical Revolu-
practices have made use-
tion that we are now experienc-
Technology has also permitted a
with a close-grain intermixture
heavily on the inventions that
closer spatial relationship to
of activities, the individual may
are revolutionizing our lives,
exist between historically in-
be able to take care of his daily
from the way in which we commun-
compatible land-uses because we
needs on foot within the imme-
icate to the way in which we
have been able
diate range of the home.
spend our leisure and work time.
more dirty and harmful aspects of
ing.
People are relying more
the future it
may be possible
to clean-up the
Thus, we
Mixed-use development may be more
are experiencing a breakdown of
responsive to the change in urban
the need for land-use separation
demographics.
stance, a home-based computer
that the Industrial Revolution
lies are becoming smaller
terminal may allow workers to
brought about.
"punch the clock" in the home.
helped to form another basis for
large-sized lot is becoming less
In light of such advances, an
the exploration of mixed-use de-
in demand.
intermixture of activities in
velopment.
trend toward younger professional
In
to remain at
home
rather
leave the home for work.
than
For in-
the work environment.
This idea has
size.
Many urban famiin
A suburban home on a
Also, the current
families remaining in the city
close proximity to the home could
development
can also be
points to the possibility that
insure a range of sociable con-
Mixed-use
tacts that such advances would
seen as an energy conserver.
ordinarily deny.
intermixture can reduce the fre-
to the amenities, such as work
such close-grained associations
quency and the distance of trips
and leisure opportunities, that
between home, work, and recre-
that an urban dweller takes by
city life has to offer.
ation will make people more tol-
automobile.
erant of an intimate overlap of
takes advantage of the auto-
activities.
mobile's utility.
Furthermore,
Use
people have a desire to be closer
Land-use separation
In a setting
In conclusion, today's prototypical designs of mixed-use de-
velopment have made the sharing
MIXED-USE DEFINED
The design and placement of the
of land an economic issue devoid
The term mixed-use development as
infrastructure (i.e.,
of human consideration.
used in
Land has
this thesis refers to the
the hori-
zontal and vertical circulation
been seen as the focus of atten-
inclusion into a building or uni-
systems, structural elements, and
tion rather than people.
tary complex of buildings of more
uses) is intended to promote the
are numerous examples of mixed-
than one land use.
overlap and intermixture
use developments that originated
complex of buildings
as a real estate investment
of facilities
strategy.
planned as a single unit.
There
For example, the con-
Building or a
is
a group
which have been
The
tivities.
of ac-
Maintaining the con-
tinuity and integrity of each
pattern of activity is a crucial
goal in
the design.
struction of an apartment tower
word "use" denotes land-use which
above the Museum of Modern Art
is used in the conventional plan-
and the construction of the Mad-
ning sense referring to resi-
The scope of the
ison Square Garden over the Penn
dential,
the overall organization of the
Centrail railroad station in
New
York City are cases in point of
maximizing land values.
In both
like.
3
commercial,
and the
The reader's indulgence
thesis involves
program elements on 5 1/2 acres
Within the overall
will have to be begged for the
of land.
freedom with which I am using the
framework, I concentrated my
The usage of
energies on an in-depth study or
cases the unsatisfactory cash
term "mixed-use."
flow forced the management to
the term reflects the unrecog-
test of a major area of the pro-
look at alternatives to increase
nized complexity of the field.
ject which is the equivalent of
land value.
the design of two city blocks.
These mixed-use de-
velopments are just two examples
The Design Problem
of land-use intermixtures where
Thedesign problem is
savings were derived from the
gration of the various program
In documenting prototypical de-
double or multiple use of land.
elements into a synergetic whole.
signs of mixed-use development
the inte-
Structure of Exploration
il
projects, I found the process to
summarizes the problems that I
design exploration, but also some
be very time consuming and un-
experienced with present day ex-
of the things that I found inher-
amples of mixed-use design.
ently wrong with present day
fruitful.
First, the term
"mixed-use" was not a term that
appeared as an entry heading in
periodicals.
Secondly, I found
mixed-use developments.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1) to recognize the effects of
very few examples to substantiate
scale and the multiplicity of
my view of the social concerns
goals implied by use inter-
involved in the design of mixed-
mixture,
use projects.
Many of the ex-
2)
to recognize
the
effect of building organization
amples had a clear separation be-
and form in facilitating the
tween the circulation systems of
socio-spatial intermixture of ac-
the various uses and the spaces
tivities, 3) to use structure
that
were served.
culation
The cir-
systems were
sub-
and/circulation as the basis of
overall organization, 4) to ac-
stantially separate, implying
quire the knowledge and skills to
that interaction among the users
develop a large and complex pro-
would be minimal.
In addition,
ject, 5) to explore the relation-
the form of the buildings did not
ship between values and physical
suggest that an intermixture of
form, and 6) to use industrial
uses was occurring at any level
technology for the material-
within its confines.
that the first
I believe
three consider-
ations of my learning objectives
ization of ideas.
These learning
objectives summarizes not only
what I had hoped to gain from the
Notes
Rudolph L Barton, Urban Design Strategy for Use Intermixture.
(Cambridge: Harvard University Thesis, 1981), p. 93.
2
Dimitri Procos, Mixed Land-Use: From Revival to Innovation.
(Toronto: Elsevier Press, 1969), p. 5.
3
Ibid., p. 534.
Design Preparation
14
2 Site and Context
Site Description
Were it
not for a decision to
halt the construction of the expressway, the districts of Forest
Hills, Jamaica Plain, and the
South End including Roxbury would
almost certainly now be sitting
S
20
next to an eight-lane expressway.
Instead, these districts presently abut a narrow strip of 108
acres of land cleared in 1966 in
preparation for the Southwest
Corridor.
A strategy was adopted
to relocate the Massachusetts Bay
Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Orange Line, presently operating
The site, commonly referred to as
on an elevated structure along
Parcel 18,
Washington Street,
is located in the Rox-
to the proThe
bury district in Boston on 5 1/2
posed highway right-of-way.
acres of land originally cleared
new rail corridor will accommo-
for an expressway.
date Amtrak and commuter rail
Roxbury, home
to a largely black and low-income
services, as well as the re-
community, presents an unique
located Orange Line rapid transit
challenge in introducing use
service.
intermixture.
ary of the site,
At the Northwest bounda major inter-
t#
7
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4
-
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-
V
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Jjk)
1121
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9
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IC(P
LAND-USE
MAP
Legend
Residential
Open Space
Commercial
*
Mixed Use
kestitutkIna
Indujstvfai.
Varwi
the diverse surrounding land
cinity of Parcel 18.
uses, and its close proximity to
clude educational
the many residential neighbor-
such as Wentworth Institute, the
hoods such as Mission Hill, The
central campus of Northeastern
known as Ruggles Street Station
Fenway, Claremont, United Neigh-
University, and the 5000 student
has already been designed and,
bors, and Madison Park.
for the purposes of this thesis,
of large scale housing projects
School/Occupational Resource
will be considered as existing.
such as Bromley Heath, Mission
Center.
Hill Extension, Whittier Street,
the area are several churches, a
Parcel 18 represents unusual
Madison Park Townhouses, and Aca-
parochial school, two community
mixed-use potential due to its
demy homes surround the site.
excellent access to the regional
addition,
transportation network, its size,
stitutions in
modal transportation facility
will accomodate
the rail
lines,
local buses, and automobile dropoff patrons.
The train station
A number
there are several inthe immediate vi-
In
These in-
institutions
campus of Madison Park High
Throughout the rest of
health care centers,
seum of Fine Arts.
and the Mu-
17
Saint Cyprian's Church in right foreground, site in backround
with view of Mission Hill Extension beyond.
Above: Existing urban fabric in
disrepair along Tremont Street
Right: Madison Park Townhouses
Above: Whittier Street Housing Project
opposite Parcel 18 on Tremont Street.
Left: Adaptive re-use. This former
industrial building now houses
studio/living spaces for artists.
residential structures.
Industrial land use is dispersed
Commercial activity occurs
throughout the area and
primarily to the northeast of
concentrated on sites along the
Parcel 18 along Tremont Street.
Site History
Most of the commercial use is
The Stony Brook Valley area of
corridor.
Most of the industrial
in
sites are either vacant or
the form of ground floor retail
lower Roxbury, founded in 1689,
underutilized.
space and/or storefronts
has had a long history of di-
in
verse land-use. While other
areas of Boston have had to recently develop diversified land
use, lower Roxbury and, in particular, the Stony Brook Valley
has always accepted this feature
as a way of life.
The valley of Stony Brook.
streches in one continuous line
from the South End to Forest
Hills and Mount Hope. The low
elevation of most of the land
made the entire area subject to
periodic flooding by storm tides
of the Atlantic Ocean and less
frequently by floods of the
Stony Brook River. The once
troublesome Stony- Brook River is
now totally encased in
a culvert
which runs parallel to Washington Street and joins the Muddy
River in the Back Bay Fens Park.
The three towns.
1870
,..
'2.0
Unlike modern suburbs, Roxbury
South Bay. Along the edges of
cupied by mill workers was con-
of the 1870's, did not have seg-
these marshes lived the poor
structed near the factories. By
regation of residences by class-
of Roxbury, the Irish drawn by
1870 this area was the working
es. While the highlands were
the cheapness of the land, the
class district, even the pauper
largely residential, the low-
nearness to the manufacturing
and slum section of the city.
lands were a.mix of industrial,
plants, and by the fact that
These were not the the packed
commercial, and residential.
it was within walking distance
slums of Boston's North End with
Until 1873, there was contin-
to Boston.
uous building of the city's
lands were shared by a variety
populations, but rather a drab
housing stock and many classes
of users. The largest concen-
section of two and three story
were juxtaposed in lower Rox-
tration of the three town
wooden houses and barracks such
bury.
areas grew up here supported
as could be found in any New
by the water and power from
England mill town.
The rest
of the low-
their large tenenments and dense
The town of Roxbury was devel-
the Stony Brook River. Foun-
oped from the patterns of the
dries, textile mills, piano
When the lower middle-class
ole peripheal towns of the ear-
works, clock companies, lumber
moved with force into lower Rox-
lier walking city. In twenty
and stone yards, and all types
bury their numbers alone brought
years, from 1850 to 1870, Rox-
of commercial establishments
about a complete occupancy of
bury enjoyed a great indus-
appeared between Dudley Street
the land. Their settlement in
trial and building boom, but
and the Boston line.
the area created land-use
patterns similar to the mixed
much of today's lower Roxbury
was at this time the unfilled
From the years 1830 to 1840, a
environments typical of many of
marshes of the Back Bay and
large number of rowhouses oc-
the industrial cities
developed
24
during this period. The upperclass factory owners and mer-
chants, the middle-class factory
workers, and the lower-middle
all lived within close proximity.
of eachother. During the years
a840 to 1870 the area along
Tremont Street grew in
the mixed
form of the old peripheal towns.
The more prosperous lived in
tiny wooden single and double
houses of the classic-revival
style and in brick tenement
buildings that were put up
along the busy Tremont street
Working class barracks circa 1850; picture taken during the
great Stony Brook flood of 1886.
thoroughfare. On the side
streets, factory owners had
tutions and large-scale housing
institutions and communities
erected two-and-a-half and
projects are located near the
have a continuing interest in
three story wooden barracks for
vicinity of Ruggles Street. Al-
the decisions related to the re-
their employees on the flats
though strong tension exists be-
location of the Orange line and
near Ruggles Street.
tween the institutions and local
even more concern about the use
communities who resent encroach-
of certain lands adjacent to the
ment on their territories, these
line.
Today a number of public insti-
3 Program Requirements
The program requirements were taken from Parcel 18 Area Development prepared by Charles Hilgenhurst
Associates for the MBTA/Southwest Corridor Project, 1981.
through a combination of private and public investment.
It is assumed that development will
It is also assumed that there is an adequate
market to develop the program and that the program mix grew out of community participation.
COMPONENT
SQUARE FOOTAGE
Retail Space
177,000
Office Space
150,000
Hotel and Related Facilities
240,000 C300 rooms
and 60,000 conference facilities)
Residential Units*
375,000 (250 units
@ average of 1500mix of 0-3 bedrooms.1
Other Miscellaneous Components
*Residential component added to original program.
occur
60,000
Total Gross Building Area
1,002,000
FAR
3.04
Parking
500 spaces
24
4 Use Intermixture
Design Criteria
The following list
of design criteria forms the basis of my investi-
gation into the relationship of physical form and building organization in facilitating a closer grain intermixture of activities.
The
criteria was taken from An Urban Design Strategy for Use Intermixture
by L. Rudolph Barton which establishes "interrelational design criteria for maximum use intermixture."
The findings are generalized so
that they can be applied to a wider variety of cases as indicated by
the program for Parcel 18.
The generalizations of the criteria are
then placed into a matrix of use versus use according to their applicability.
The matrix as shown on page
indicates the complexity of a
design exploration where the establishment of interrelationships of
uses are the major focus.
Although there are only written patterns
for the interrelationships of housing, the matrix gives one the entire
,scope of use interrelationships in mixed-use design.
1. Provision for individuals and/or families of varied,
ages, incomes, and social backrounds.
2. Organization for promotion of social integration.
3. Shared paths for promotion of social integration.
4. Clear delineation of territorial and spatial heirarchy.
5. Direct ground floor access. Limit on number of units
accessible from each entry and from interior circulation paths.
6. Uses clustered in support of one another.
7. Separation of parking and other major servicing
Use vs.Use Matrix
H
rd
a)
-
1,2,3,
4,5
0s
HI-h
o0
0
04
-En0
O)4-4
o
-PHr-
H
-
3,4,5,
3,4,7
3
1,2,3,
3,4,7
Housing
4,9
6,7
3,4
3,4,5,
6
3,4,6
2,3
3,4,6
3,4,6
Commercial
office
1,2,3,
5,6
Institu-
3
tional
3
Transp
*2&
Design Patterns
Following Christopher Alexander's A Pattern Language, the following
patterns first describe the design principle to the problem, then
gives a discussion of considerations leading to a set of recommendations to the problem's solution.
The design patterns are meant to
be a tool for programming a mixed-use project, particularly in regard
to the socio-spatial intermixture of activities.
The patterns are es-
sentially fragments of design solutions employed by other designers.
These design solutions were judged as exemplary.
Format display-
TITLE
Design Principle
Discussion
27
HIERARCHY OF TERRITORY AND
OPEN SPACE IN HOUSING
The interaction between residents in housing developments occur outside the privacy of the dwelling unit.
A hierarchical arrangement of
territory and space from private to public helps to establish domains
The clear delineation of territoin which residents can interact.
These domains provide an ordered se-
rial and spatial hierarchies help
quence of meeting grounds from the intimate and small-scaled to the
to create shared living environopen and large-scale.
ments where residents have a
choice regarding the level of interaction with neighbors.
These domains insure residents a choice regard-
ing the desired level of interaction with neighbors thereby making it
possible to give an encounter an added dimension of meaning according
to the particular domain that one chooses to linger in.
In high den-
sity housing, the delineation of territory becomes increasingly more
difficult for the individual or group to accomplish especially when
the development consists of rental housing.
Clear delineation of ter-
ritorial and spatial hierarchies help in reducing conflicts between
residents.
- define areas of activity along- hierarchy through their juxtaposition
with interior living areas of dwelling units.
-create a sequence of spatial hierarchy from private to public by making at least one smaller space which looks into a larger space;
con-
tinue the sequence by placing the larger of the two spaces adjacent to
an even larger space with a view into that space.
-place symbolic barriers between spaces to help reinforce and differentiate each space by introducing gateways, light standards, plantings, and changes of surfacing, levels, light, direction, and enclosure.
SHARED PATHS IN HOUSING
Neighbor contact tends to be greater when dwelling units share a common pedes'trian path.
If
the household mix is
established according to
Shared pedestrian paths leading
tenants need to be near people similar in
to housing clusters encourage
probably welcome
neighbor contact and help foster
will most easily take place if
a sense of community.
pedestrian path which is frequently used by residents.
age and lifestyle,
opportunities for casual neighboring.
they will
Such contacts
a group of neighbors share a common
A sense of
community arises from meeting and knowing neighbors and being able to
distinguish residents from strangers.
It is essential that a delicate
balance be struck between the need for community and the need for privacy.
-locate paths between housing clusters and locations of shared facilities (parking, laundry room, storage facilities, etc.) and points of
access to the outside public.
-avoid intersection of paths with other non-housing circulation
(paths).
- provide places for sitting and stopping along the way.
-locate common areas tangent to paths rather than to run paths directly through common areas.
is
DWELLING ORGANIZATION
The housing element is a concrete manifestation of a social institution containing yet smaller.groups within it.
The way in which the
The overall arrangement of the
smaller groups are arranged within the larger structure must be seen
housing block will greatly influ-
as the reference point in
ence the level of sociability oc-
to feel that they have some direct control over the public land be-
curing within its confines.
tween them.
organizing the housing element.
People need
This idea occurs when a group of living units form clus-
ters around public land "owned"by all
arrangements encourages
of the living units.
Cluster
friendly interactions.
arrange living units to form clusters around some common land or
-
circulation.
housing with up to 4 or 5 story limit, build a hill
-in
connected with a great central open stair
of houses
connected to semi-private
ground.
-
in
housing greater than 4 or 5 stories, provide some direct visual
connection
to the street or semi-private
land or open space in
at
least two directions so that residents will be encouraged to leave
their apartments for public life.
-provide
common space for families and individuals where shared func-
tions can occur or a place where groups that make up the extended family can meet and sit
together.
This is
particularly crucial in
hous-
ing the elderly because their housing area needs are.often limited.
Consequently, a place to entertain relatives in a comfortable and spacious area is critical.
HOUSEHOLD MIX
Household mix is essential in generating possibilities for encouraging
and sustaining human contact.
In housing where the household mix is
A balanced mix of housing for
var.ied, each person can find at least one passing contact with people
individuals and families of var-
from various stages of life.
ied ages, incomes, and social
of, is an anathema in Western society.
backgrounds should be included in
with the elderly who are often isolated in special institutions
the scheme.
such as elderly housing or homes for the aged.
Integrated housing, as we are well aware
The housing mix should be considered in
This is especially the case
respect to tenants need to be
near people similar in age and lifestyle.
needs will help in
formulating
Consideration given to both
the right balance
for the housing
mix.
-
use the Roxbury area as a standard in determining the percentage
of
each household type.
-
use the same percentages to guide the housing mix in the residential
element of the project.
-
apply the mix to clusters of living units small enough to have some
internal political and human impact--perhaps, a cluster of 15-20
units.
-
encourage a housing mix that is horizontally integrated (side by
side) rather than vertically.
ACCESS TO DWELLINGS
Access
refers
to the area--outdoor
indoor--traversed
or
between
the
entrance to a group of dwellings and the front door of the dwelling
The form of access appears to
have crucial
implications for
itself.
Dwelling access is a crucial connection between public and
private spaces.
It is where interests converge and may cause conIdeal-
sociability and feelings of lone-
flict.
liness.
ly, the preferred form of access is a private entry at grade, leading
It also is a place where casual socializing can occur.
through a semi-private transition space such as a yard, porch, or patio.
In such situations, people feel more at home on their own ter-
ritory than in public access.
4
initial casual contact.
Therefore, one is better able to make
In multi-family high-density housing it is
virtually impossible to provide each dwelling unit with private ongrade entries.
Access to dwelling units via shared indoor spaces be-
comes unavoidable although they too can be important places for casual
socializing if
Such places tend to be viewed
treated appropriately.
as more conducive to casual socializing when the number of units using
the entry is limited.
These limitations have the effect of creating
territory that is more intimate and less public.
-
limit the number of units accessible from each entry
-
limit the number of units accessible
such as stairwells,
-avoid
elevator foyers,
from interior circulation paths
and corridors.
long corridors which give an impersonal and institutional feel-
ing.
- provide ground floor access for 3+bedroom units.
;2.
-
provide semi-private transition spaces at access points between the
privacy of the home and the publicness of the accessway either in
the
form of a canopy over a front door or a recessed space off corridors.
5 Site Development
Goals
I. CIRCULATION
-To reinforce street activity along existing major movement systems.
-Creation of movement systems to connect primary activity centers
and cores.
II. IMAGE
-To define project area and create a sense of place.
III. MASSING
-Maintain human scale along major pedestrian routes.
IV. LAND USE
-To unite physically separated and functionally distinct surrounding areas.
Objectives
I. CIRCULATION:
-To encourage a cross-corridor connection as a primary pedestrian
movement system free of vehicular conflicts.
-To clarify auto access, circulation, parking and pedestrian circulation and provide direct accessibility and convenient parking for
transportation center and site.
II. IMAGE:
-To maintain consistent massing and land uses along existing streets.
-To differentiate program elements in form, scale and character.
III. MASSING:
-To limit the extent of high rise development; ideally no buildings
over five stories high.
IV. LAND USE:
-To encourage appropriate future development in adjacent areas by
maximizing the socio-spatial intermixture of activities
at seam
from which adjacent areas can draw new stregnth.
-To encourage diversity of activity
along movement system that will
complement adjacent public spaces and provide for shared experiences.
*35
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SITE ANALYSIS
View of site
showing BackBay to right and Northeastern University to left.
View of site looking east showing former Ruggles Street corner.
I
View from site looking west to the Mission Hill Housing
Projects.
View of site from Southwest corner of Tremont Street.
I
II
Building Development
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Conclusion
The effects of the multiplicity
man goals and purposes; and,
of goals implied by use inter-
that these goals represented in
mixture has, to my knowledge, no
a physical structure can bring
typological model.
about a renewed sense of purpose
The creation
of a singular building that ref-
and place to the city and its
lects and communicates the nature
diverse population.
of its diverse functions was one
of the primary motivating forces
The effect of building organiza-
which encouraged me to explore
tion and form is an important
the possibilities in mixed-use
factor in facilitating the socio-
design.
From a purely architec-
spatial intermixture of activi-
tural point of view, without
ties.
these two aspects of expression
and III, a plaza with various
being considered, the building
uses surrounding it becomes a
becomes only a sum of its sep-
focal point for building users
arate parts--not a fully inte-
to come together and relate to
grated totality.
The purpose of
For instance, in schemes I
one another.
These plazas re-
communicating and reflecting the
present the "old town square"
diverse urban functions of a
where many people converge.
mixed-use building is to heigh-
scheme I, the plaza serves as a
ten ones awareness that parts of
magnet or activity center to draw
our cities are alive and accom-
people to the extreme southern
odating a variety of purely hu-
portion of the site, while open-
In
ing on to the street as a welcom-
link the train station, the site,
these problems are'outside the
ing gesture to the residential
and the existing pedestrian move-
scope and potential of an arch-
communities south of the site.
ment system along Tremont Street.
itectural solution.
However, the
design exploration does indicate
Structure and circulation are the
The design exploration in this
that urban design and planning
prime generators in facilitating
thesis raises architectural and
can be more responsive to issues
use intermixture.
planning issues that warrent a
involving human interaction and
tors are the major infrastructure
closer examination before they
development.
giving order to the built form
can be embraced in an actual ur-
and attracting to itself spaces
ban situation.
for communication, encounter,
an intimate overlap of diverse
These genera-
,and social interaction.
The
The concept of
activities in the promotion of
circulation system becomes the
human interaction and develop-
permanent part of the building
ment, is one that has the poten-
from which the more flexible
tial to have a profound impact on
use spaces are arranged.
the quality of life within the
with
Along
the circulation system, the
urban context.
The product of
other elements of permanence--
the design exploration is in no
columns, piers etc.--locate them-
way put forth as a panacea for
selves to heighten the image
the deeply entrenched social, ec-
quality and sense of place.
In
onomic, and political problems
all three schemes, the major ped-
that inner city residents face.
estrian spine in various form
Certainly, a great many of
Works Cited
Alexander, Christopher. A Pattern Language.
California Press, 1969.
Berkely: University of
Barton, L. Rudolph. Urban Design Strategy for Use Intermixture.
Harvard University Thesis, 1981.
Cambridge:
De Chiara, Joseph., and Callender, John. Time Savers Standard for
Building Types. New York: McGraw-Hill Inc., 1983.
Glassel, Joachem.
Atrias and Atriums.
Pena, William. Problem Seeking.
Inc., 1977.
Cambridge: M.I.T. Thesis, 1979.
Boston: Cahners Books International,
Procos, Dimitri. Mixed Land-Use: From Revival to Innovation.
Elsevier Press, 1969.
Warner, Jr., Sam B. Streetcar Suburbs.
Press and M.I.T. Press, 1962.
Toronto:
Cambridge: Harvard University
Appendix
Alternate Design Schemes
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