CHINATOWNTransit Oriented Design

This assignment was introduced as an urban planning/transit oriented development. I worked on it with the same partner as the Lake Villa assignment at the same time. It was a great experience working together on a design project and a technical project simultaneously. Although this was a group project and weworked on the design together, I have chosen only to display the work I did exclusively myself in order to portray more of my individual work. While the main task of the Lake Villa project was to create a simple, comprehensive building; the objective of this project was to create an idea of what this particular environment could potentially become. collage of 48 ariel perspectives of site (N,S,W,E)

Naturegreen field

brown field

water

tree

Densityhigh

medium

low

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health

civil protection

finance

entertainment

business

culture

religion

education

housing

recreation

Program

Transitgreen cta

orange cta

red cta

metra train

freight train

highway

above grade

grade

below grade

Zoningbusiness

commercial

residential

planned development

site

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Roads

state

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SITE ANALYSIS

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Overview Density

Points of Interest:located at a meeting point between multiple types of transit: three major rail linesa freight line,bus routesa highway

It is adjacent to a cultural hub: ChinatownIt is located next to the riverIt is surrounded by housing and business property

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EXTENDING CHINATOWN

We proposed to use the site as an extension of the existing Chinatown commercial district located to the southwest byopening up the circulation of the site and creating a boardwalk that runs through its center. The ground floor of the new structure would be used to house various commercial activities.

PARK-SCAPEWe wanted to redevelop the large brown field into a park that would connect a strip of green spaces following the riverfront.

SCHOOLLocated in a safe area by a police station the school would have easy access to the new park.

COMMERCIAL ZONEA large open space which runs along the entire north-south axis of our site. It begins at the existing Chinatown and opens up into the landscape, branching off at main access points.

PARKINGLocated at the northern and southern access points.

CULTURAL CENTERLocated between existing Chinatown and its proposed extension, acting as a bridge between the two zones.

TRANSIT HOUSING

Using the existing rail lines and we created new circulation routes by connecting the major forms of transit, centered in the transit station. This multi-program mega structure located at the intersection of these transit routes is designed to help activate the site by drawing people towards the extension of Chinatown.

RED LINEWe proposed to extend the existing pedestrian passageway north, connecting it to the transit station via an unused piece of infrastructure.

ORANGE LINEThe curvature of the transit station follows the curve of the existing orange line.

METRA LINEOur transit station extends down to connect to the metra line station. A new metra stop would be put in place.

GROUND FLOOR SECOND FLOOR

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ELEVATED LANDSCAPE

We proposed taking the existing infrastructure and molding a park space over it. The topography of this landscape is shaped in order to create a new system of pedestrian circulation by connecting theexisting fabric and allowing people to move freely throughout the site.

BIKE TRAILConnects the new park to existing greenspaces north and south of the site.

OUTDOOR AMPHITHEATERAttracts people to the largest and least used area of the site, activating the park and its local area. Used for concerts and other major events.

RESIDENTIAL BACKYARDSConnects old and new housing to the urban park.

ROOF

100’ 100’

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Red Line Connection

West Facade

TRANSIT STATIONThe focus of this design was on connecting the various forms of circulation. This was achieved through the transit station. We treated it as a type of anchor from which connecting strips would branch out. These strips, which facilitated each type of transit acted to create the form of the structure.

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West Elevation

Concept Elevation

Transit Station Shopping Center

GROUNDBus StopParkingOfficesShoppingLockersBike Station

FIRST FLOOROfficesShopping

SECOND FLOOROfficesShopping

THIRD FLOOROfficesTransit Station

TRANSITPLANS

Cultural Center

URBAN PLAYGROUNDWith the circulation strips in place it was time for us to use them in a playful manner. We weaved them together and pulled them apart to create a free flow of pedestrian circulation to all levels throughout the site. Where these strips met we created seating areas or communal spaces. For the cultural center between the existing Chinatown and its extension we took three strips and wrapped them around each other, mimicking the overall design of the urban plan.

Landscape Shopping Plaza