译者:筑龙网 flyingboots
译稿版权归筑龙网所有,转载请注明出处。
Proposing a connective and activated public realm for the two blocks of Sixty Nine and Seventy in Salt Lake City, this design by Op.N focuses on three main strategies: connectivity, activation of open and residual spaces, and extension of use. While there are a number of formal connections to and from various parts of the site, a series of informal connection have also been created based on ease of movement and access, possessing an embedded intelligence which needs to be considered. Salt Lake City’s growth and development is closely tied to its mining and industrial past, from the early days of the gold rush and mining activity to its current status as the largest industrial banking center in the United States. However, the city has tried in recent years to diversify its economic base to include services and tourism industries, as well as the creative sector. In doing so, various development projects have taken on the task of revitalizing the downtown and establishing SLC as not only a business center but also a cultural nucleus. With a growing downtown population, a thriving business community, and a vibrant new retail core, the city is in many ways experiencing a renaissance. Our project presents an opportunity to unite the growing business/retail center and the enduring historic core of the city with an active cultural and creative nucleus that will enhance the metropolitan aspirations of the city. The site, as it currently stands, is dominated by office buildings, surface parking, and garages, which tend to engulf the more historic and cultural buildings of the area.
Connectivity
A new ground cover strategy visually stitches together the various circulation spaces into a cohesive and easily recognizable movement surface. In addition, the various informal paths and trajectories that exist within the site are formalized into safe, well-lit spaces for circulation. As a result, a major East-West trajectory emerges which connects the various cultural programs within the site together. This mid-block cultural corridor is regularly intersected by North-South connections, hence creating a porous system of urban circulation that not only connects the various disparate cultural buildings within the site, but also connects the site to its larger context. In addition to the physical connectivity infrastructure, a new digital information system is introduced, creating a larger connection between the activities of the site, the city, and even the global flows of information. Info-Stations are placed in strategic locations at intersections, major public spaces, and along the cultural corridor, to provide WiFi hotspots as well as information regarding the events within the 69-70 site, ticketing services for these events, city-wide navigation maps, and interactive public transportation schedules. These info-stations and other urban equipment within the site (for seating, lighting, etc.) also provide mobile device charging capabilities through integrated solar panel energy generation. Together, the digital information system and the physical circulation spaces constitute a connective urban fabric that produces and reinforces internal and external connections.
Activation of Open and Residual Spaces
The 69-70 site features a large number of residual and undefined open spaces dominated by surface parking. 6970+stimulates the site by transforming these left-over areas into an active network of public spaces, which we call the cultural corridor. Optimizing the existing parking garages within the area minimizes surface parking, and the facades of parking garages are transformed into active surfaces by introducing green walls, media screens, art walls, and rock climbing walls. In addition,a main public plaza is introduced in each block. The Regent Plaza (inspired in part by the current plans for the UPAC complex and the goal of transforming Regent St. into a retail corridor) is programmed as an open cultural space. Reflecting the cultural programming around the area, Regent Plaza can be used as an event space for film screenings (by utilizing the western wall of the parking garage on Regent St), outdoor concerts in the summer, and ice skating in winter. The Main Plaza is carved out of the back of the future building expected at the corner of 100 and Main streets, and creates a mid-block open space for small gatherings, weekend markets, or just a nice place to have lunch on a workday.
In addition, a series of mid-block passageways are introduced as semi-open and seasonal spaces, which can be programmed through a variety of cultural activities such as art shows, presentations, and other public gatherings.
Extension of Use
It is important to take into consideration the climatic conditions of SLC when designing open spaces in the city. Hence, the public realm envisioned for the 69-70 site makes use of various heating and cooling strategies to facilitate outdoor programming throughout the year. Heating is provided through in-ground steam valves that generate steam from the run-off water and melting snow to warm up smaller urban pockets, such as Main Plaza in the winter months, while mist poles create a playful cooling effect in Regent Plaza in the summer. In effect, these microclimates extend the use of public spaces seasonally. Given the nature of the 69-70 site, and the cultural, entertainment, and dining oriented activities of the area, it is important to implement a strategy for the night-time activation of the site. In 6970+ this is done through a lighting strategy that creates a set of lively circulation spaces, as well as guiding the pedestrian traffic to specific locations of the site through in-ground lighting techniques.