Thesis Proposal

Question:

I am not entirely sure what the question is yet, maybe something along the lines of sprawl and how that has essentially made the downtown Columbus area a ghost town after 6pm - what happens when all of the conviences of suburban life are neatly packaged in one space?

Abstract:

To re-develop City Center mall, once the focal point of upscale downtown shopping, the mall has suffered from many problems that has plagued many different cities around America. By redeveloping the mall and the surrounding area, I would hope to reinvigorate the the downtown area condusive to living, shopping, working and relaxing.
The other aspect to this is how to create "links" to areas just outside of downtown Columbus (i.e. German Village, the Short North/Arena District). By creating some sort of relationship with these areas, people will be drawn back to the area, as it was originally intended to be, a destination.

Program:

The program is still somewhat loose, but I would like to incorporate many different aspects of daily life into the project, some retail, a cultural component, recreation areas, and housing - short and long term. A particular interest I have is layering of different components (i.e. program, physically and visually). By creating a project with the different components listed below, I would hope to further explore how the spaces and program can begin effecting each other architecturally and socially (from the inhabiants/users).

-retail: 15% smaller shops: i.e. Clothing and speciality boutiques
-By introducing speciality boutiques, it might be a draw for a select
consumer, which might not otherwise be drawn to the area/project
25% large retail/anchor store: Target
-A large anchor store such as a Target (because who seriously doesnt
like a Target) would serve as a main draw by being a store
15% cultural component: Glass museum and studio
-A cultural educational service - much needed service. It offers an
oppurtunity to explore layering via transparency and translucency.
10% recreation area: fitness area and green space for outdoor
relaxation and venue for concerts etc.
-A area for relaxation and social gathering (i.e. park)
35% housing: short term - rentals marketed toward the young professional
long term - condo units
-Downtown is currently experiencing a rapid growth in downtown housing
although, I am not entirely convinced that all of the growth has been
as strategic as it should be. Maybe an all-encompassing project maybe
more successful.

* Numbers will probably flucuate based on further research and once actual s.f. are defined.

Site Analysis:

Currently working on getting some drawings of the building....
Analyze the downtown area - building vs. surface lot/parking garage?
office vs. retail vs. residential
Can any of these begin to effect the layering of the program and/or site
-What factors can be found by researching these and how it will effect the program

Technological Issues:

How and what can be saved to promote green design?
What functions/components of LEED requirements can be utilized?
How to create a fully functioning building with multiple services - living, retail, recreation and museum?
Can rehabbing the building be more cost effective then demo of whole site and starting over?
More of a social exploration, what kind of factors will this have on the general public that uses the space and what kind of reactions might be attributed to a project of this scale and magnitude?

Bibliography/Research:

Project: Le Fresnoy by Bernard Tschumi
A cultural center that essentially used the existing buildings on site and added a roof structure over the existing buildings. Of interest is the space that was used above, the "catwalk" area and how that becomes usable space.
-Look at how these "unusual" spaces become an asset to the project.

Project: Castel Vecchio by Carlo Scarppa
A castel that was converted to a museum, and how modern architectural interventions created new spaces (layering).

Project: City of Brasilia
Capital of Brazil - a relatively new city, developed in the 60's. Can anything be learned by the successes or failures of this relatively new city (architecturally/urban planning)

Book: Sprawltown by Richard Ingersoll
Looks at the influences of the mall, car and how suburaban life has rapidly changed the landscape of America.

Book: Mutations/Guide to Shopping by Rem Koolhaas
Reasearch on the city and shopping and its influences on daily life.

Need to find articales/books material on City Center, the city of Columbus, museum design (Sejima's museum of Glass in Toledo Ohio), retail shopping, and residential projects.