This thesis explores the potential of architecture to increase connectivity between two socio-economically disparate communities in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. The socially active, but economically neglected neighborhood surrounding Grant Park is physically separated from the urban revitalization project and resulting economic and cultural activities on Vine Street to the west and Main Street to the south. Street configurations in the neighborhood and four lanes of busy vehicular traffic on Liberty Street separate the two areas. A wall of empty warehouse buildings flanks Grant Park on the southwest side, severing visual connection between the two areas, and blocking potential traffic flows along a number of city blocks. The physical properties of the site reinforce socio-economic borders between the two areas.
The goal is to outline an urban design methodology and propose a system for architectural intervention that can unify and re-enliven a community currently separated along racial and socio-economic lines. Applying urban design strategies to the scale of architecture, two disconnected communities will become physically, economically, and visually linked, promoting social and economic engagement between them.
This intervention includes an urban design scheme and an architectural intervention intersecting a block of unused warehouse buildings between Grant Park and Vine Street. Increasing pedestrian flows, encouraging eddies of activity, and creating new physical corridors in and out of this location will encourage better economic and social flows between Grant Park and the rest of Over The Rhine. This design scheme will celebrate and anchor the existing social construct, while supporting the neighborhood’s activity with increased access to services and goods. Gradually adding small programmatic changes will allow for slow, organic growth of the community and exchange with the surrounding areas, without threatening to displace the current inhabitants by rapidly increasing property values and changing its demographics.
In order to accommodate population grown and adjustments to resource availability and allocation, the built environment is becoming a network of dense urban centers. Inter-disciplinary practice and schemes are key to creating sustainable solutions for human habitation and long-term growth. The scope and program of this project are a hypothesis and test new holistic paradigms in environmental design.