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.

Applying “patches” of public space to reformat the city fabric.

Connection of unused landscapes with existing and potential recreation zones was made by providing series of pedestrian passes between inserted nodes. Underlying theme of the city reclaiming space for public use with minimal design intervention was considered after examining similar strategies used by R. Stern in his Subway Suburb (1976) competition entry.

Precedent Study #1: Constant's New Babylon

An initial study was conducted of an assigned precedent to discover the scale, characteristics, and tactics used in this individual project; then use those tactics and apply them in a way that is appropriate to Streetsboro.

Welcome to Streetsboro Studio

This studio seeks to investigate the notion of the new American commons within the context of the sprawling exurbanism of Streetsboro, Ohio. We will speculate how these elements/spaces should be created, what would substantiate the constitution, and how this realm may persist. We will study and analyze different precedents, conditions, technologies, and projects. The studio will speculate and hybridize tactics, systems, flows, and data and then incorporate normative programs with alternative functions and utilizations. Buildings, infrastructures, fragments, enclosures, and programs will then emerge, informed by the analytical and speculative milieu.

“Architecture” and “Urban Design” are not separate endeavors. This studio seeks to inculcate the architectural projects within the “ensembles” and/or “planning conceits.” The architectures which will evolve throughout the design process will not reside as autonomous objects, but rather will further engender the informed pursuit of the “urban” speculation.

The studio does not seek to wax romantically about the historic public square—new formulations about civic space will be requisite. The resulting projects will be speculations about the future of American common space and our public architectures, how these spaces will function, how these frameworks will be construed, and how these architectural amalgams may be anticipated to change.

Our research and speculations will focus upon the re-consideration of shared public spaces
+ vessels within the hyper-sprawl. We will further investigate the “public-ness” through the design of a Portage County Historical Museum.

Our initial site investigation will encompass the entire city of Streetsboro, Ohio and its environs, focusing specifically along the Ohio Route 14 corridor from Interstate 480 to Ohio Route 43.