Interface | Lei Nie
Arch 509 | Emerging Urbanisms in Deindustrializing Urban Regions
Instructed by María Arquero de Alarcón
Fall 2019
In Cleveland, industry claimed most of the lands along the Cuyahoga River in order to take advantage of its strong traffic-carrying capacity. Meanwhile, this situation lowered the accessibility of the river. During this process, many interfaces were formed. The interfaces in between the two land uses, which are industry and dwelling, got involved to shape a fair amount of the geographies of Cleveland to some degree. Indeed, the smell, dirt, and noise from the industry side have negative influences on the neighborhoods on the other side of the interfaces. However, the magnificent scenes of the Cuyahoga industry is definitely a great source to be taken advantage of at the same time. Based on the typologies of the interfaces, different interventions are proposed to make the microenvironments more human oriented and diversified. Since most of the industrial sites are still in use and contribute a lot to the local economy, it does not very wise to retrofit them directly. Instead, humble interventions to the existing interfaces help both sides get along with each other in a better way. Improvement of these microenvironment qualities makes the interfaces softer and more appropriate.
Arch 509 | Emerging Urbanisms in Deindustrializing Urban Regions
Instructed by María Arquero de Alarcón
Fall 2019
In Cleveland, industry claimed most of the lands along the Cuyahoga River in order to take advantage of its strong traffic-carrying capacity. Meanwhile, this situation lowered the accessibility of the river. During this process, many interfaces were formed. The interfaces in between the two land uses, which are industry and dwelling, got involved to shape a fair amount of the geographies of Cleveland to some degree. Indeed, the smell, dirt, and noise from the industry side have negative influences on the neighborhoods on the other side of the interfaces. However, the magnificent scenes of the Cuyahoga industry is definitely a great source to be taken advantage of at the same time. Based on the typologies of the interfaces, different interventions are proposed to make the microenvironments more human oriented and diversified. Since most of the industrial sites are still in use and contribute a lot to the local economy, it does not very wise to retrofit them directly. Instead, humble interventions to the existing interfaces help both sides get along with each other in a better way. Improvement of these microenvironment qualities makes the interfaces softer and more appropriate.