presenting the precedent1.0

….plug in city.

developed in the early 60’s by radical British architecture group ‘archigram’ plug in city attempts to develop an industrially influenced British/global architectural solution.

archigram was really more about the idea than the result; and probably was aware that most of their ideas were beyond the realm of ever being a realized project.

Plug in city is a giant infrastructure that supposedly carries all functions of a city. Transit, human-need-services, commercial/residential/(industrial?) sectors, etc. In terms of operation, p.i.c. is physically a giant diagonal/diamond frame with ‘sockets’ for prefabricated pods of living and commercial spaces to be plugged into by giant cranes. Residents (and businesses) could alter their proximity to one another in an almost infinite number of combinations by re-plugging the pods. In typical 60’s futuristic fasion, transit was accomplished (aside from crane) through a system of monorails.

Plug in City + Streetsboro

-demolish all residences and send the materials to a re-fabrication plant. Previous residential zoning is now reclaimed as community green-space

-produce pre/re-fabricated pod-housing in the suburban aesthetic

-create an infrastructure to which the pods can ‘plug-in.’ The infrastructure will be a linear boarder to SR-14 and grow vertically without a prescribed density. As the lower levels become crowded, residents can re-plug their house where the plug-in-sprawl hasn’t yet reached.

-restrict the commercial zone to it’s current physical size and lift all design guidelines imposed by the city. Businesses can now operate and expand based on regional and national economics

-establish kiosk malls to alter residents’ proximity to national brands along the strip. Residents can purchase items through a digital interface and an automated system delivers goods through a system of pneumatic tubes.

-provide automated car-storage interfacing directly to i80/i480 to allow residents a freeway-only commute.