Keep Your Calendars posted!

http://www.urbanitebaltimore.com/project/2011/resources/opencity-press.pdf

When will everyone be available?

FINAL BOARD!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't say anything....

Its perfect. Agree or die.

Just Thoughts

I appreciate that this modular concept can be utilized before, during and after construction of the red line. I think that's a very key element to your design. Its ability to be timeless.

I also like that you stapled the barrier with multiple options. I can picture myself exploring the many architectural elements in wonder and contemplation.

Tentative Layout

This is still open to being tweaked. I think we're settling on Minion Pro for text. There is basically a 6" graphic banner running both top and bottom, and the middle has all the diagrams. The three spaces on the top/middle/right are for tectonic diagrams - I'm going to play with how these are labeled and have thumbnails in my sketchbook. I may need some help from Jesse setting this up in Sketchup, but I think it will go quickly. Also, the diagrams on the left need labels :P

Hope you guys like it so far!

MEga ViGNette Post

Oh hey, here's how these top board section is coming along. I love the photographs of the skyline, but they might need to be replaced with Google maps photographs due to copyright issues? Comments would be helpful.
Oh, before I forget, proposing
Trajan Pro for the title fonts, adobe garamond pro for the text. Cause they're civic looking.
Smaller vignettes are a post or two down.

Written Statement

The essence of our project is an extremely simple infrastructure that allows for near infinite possibilities. By designing in this way, we were able to address the competition modularly, affording a variety of working scales. Each complete unit measures approximately three feet wide, by eight feet tall, and four and a half inches deep. The inter-workings of each unit consist of five four inch by four inch elements oriented horizontally on 18” centers. These proportions were carefully decided upon to best relate to the human scale. Hung on this frame can be a variety of smaller modules on and between the horizontals. These subunits function as a grid that can be divided from the original eight by three module.

Individual modules can thus function proportionate to the particular environment they may be installed in. Allowing for varying degrees of porosity, physical engagement, and signage. In addition, this modular system allows for a sliding scale of cost. There is also a possibility to raise money for the project by promotion of “module donation.” For example, areas heavy in retail or history can choose to purchase space for advertisement, as well as display boxes for merchandise or artifacts. School areas can purchase, small chalk paint panels or portholes. Areas near existing public transit stops can have modules with seating, shade, and table surfaces.

Signage, porosity, and function can also be modified throughout the construction process. Ultimately these panels can become permanent installments of the Redline, functioning as shelters for red line stops, or communicative installations en route to stops. Overall, our proposal allows a great range of public engagement and involvement with the project beginning, during, and after construction.

Vignette Roughs

Starting vignette roughs... a mix of in-situ pictures and independent ones. A layout board would help. but I figure just starting on them is necessary... took like... three hours and a half or so just to so this one rendering of a barrier at the intersection of Linwood and Boston St. Comments are necessary! Do you guys want in-situ or more rough vignettes? What kind of color scheme? Gradient maps make it easy to roughly unify multiple vignettes. Specific requests?

charette schedule

MONDAY
-sketchup models done and sent to Jesse and Jess
-layout template sent to J and J for guidance

TUESDAY
-rendering/graphics done
-layout done with graphics plugged in
-board sent in to Dave by Tues night

WEDNESDAY
-board printed and mounted onto foam core

THURSDAY (FRIDAY MORNING THE LATEST)
-board delivered with $30 check, names, etc.



-Include names, affiliations, and a short biography of team member(s), along with team contact 
email, address, and phone number on the back of the board. This information should not be 
visible on the front of the board. 
-Mail or hand deliver board to Urbanite, 2002 Clipper Park Road, 4th Floor, Baltimore, MD 21211. 
Urbanite's phone number is 410-243-2050. Boards will not be returned, and proposals may be 
featured in Urbanite. If you do not want your proposal to be featured in the magazine, please 
clearly note so on the back of your board. 
-Clearly identify the area to which your proposal applies. Proposals may be for the entire Red Line 
project area, one or more station areas, the interstitial spaces between stations, specific zones 
along the Red Line route, or any combination of these. Proposals for projects farther than ½ mile 
from the Red Line route will not be considered.  
-Include a check for $30 made out to “D center Baltimore” with your submission.


FRIDAY
celebration!!!! and sleeeep

panel programs

1. horizontal planes--benches, tables, shelves, counter
2. hinged vertical planes--(swings out), signage, display boards, window openings
3. bolted panels
   a. green system
      i. lattice (something plants can grow on, or attach to)
      ii. growing medium (something plants can grow out of)
   b. portholes
   c. drawing surface
       i. chalk board
       ii. murals
       iii. dry erase...?
   d. bike rack
   e. display/signage
       i. large-scale--ads, construction signs
      ii. small-scale--bulletin boards
   f. haptic
4. awning

Interlocking Post Parts

Oh hey, think I may have come up with a solution to the fact that the 18" panels create a 4x8 system too low to support overhead panels without manfacturing two types of posts. What if the posts was constructed out of 18" interlocking segments? Each piece except for the bottom supports interlocking flanges. Not only does this allow larger meta-panels (five or six high) but it also also allows the cast pieces to be smaller (cheaper) and easier to assemble.

Possible Board Designs

EDIT:

Side by side comparison of proportion: 24"x24" modules vs. 18" x 18" modules. (24 with partially exposed metal rib, full grid frame, 18" with mostly covered metal ribs, only horizontal 2x4s.

The big difference is that the bolts actually go through the metal frame in the 18" one, so the sandwich order is.... panel - metal U frame side 1 - wooden 2x4 - metal U frame side 2.


Hmmm... did the mock-up to get a feeling for the two proportion sizes. Here are some benefits and some defects to both.

18 pros:
-**** more anthropomorphic, less overpowering, much more friendly barrier.
-provides more manageable panels
-purely horizontal 2x4s easier to put together

24 pros:
-seems more like a "barrier"
-provides more protection
-marginally sturdier
- *** allows top panels greater flexibility in usage- i.e. sunshades, lamposts, etc. If you attempt this with the 18" people will smack their heads into anything coming off the top panel.


Here's one possible board design:



Here's Another:



Here's Another:

If it needs explanation, it doesn't work. Please take a look and offer questions/opinions, I'm kind of at a loss as to where to place the vignettes right now, just kind of shoved them under the explanatory panels. Will probably update later with some more ideas. One possible alternate would be jamming the text up next to the title, and replacing the massive text box on the side with more vignettes. I feel like this might be a good idea.

Just for comparison's sake, I've made one possible model of the frame. Each frame requires 32 bolts. Which is kind of intense. If anyone has anyone thinks that's too intense then please suggest alternate means of sticking the panels and frame together.

Oh hey Dave, email for the sketchup models is jseitelm@gmail.com

Just send up as you get 'em roughed out. That way I can begin to assemble the proto-board for reals for reals.

MEETING7 RECAP

Most Recent, practically final decisions made on our Panel Design:

1. BASE: cinder block or metal bases, holding 8' steel-channeled (2"wide?) posts, spaced 4' apart 

2. FRAME: (inserted into the channels), a pre-drilled, plywood frame, gridded into 2'x2's.  (see Jesse's post on "utility of the grid")

3. MODULES: 2x2, 2x4, and potentially 4x4.

our proposal will be focusing on the modules, and how these modules are flexible, versatile enough to offer a whole variety of program that can address/mitigate construction issues.  (How can modules create program/event versus this program and that program will create these modules....Did I get that right, Dave and Jesse? please edit/clarify if needed!)

GOALS for this WEEK (just 2 weeks left!!!!) :

1. finalize on what these modules will do

2. materials and costs and how to assemble/disassemble

3. mock board and potentially some final drawings/renderings

Assignments:

group: make any final design decisions on module actions and tectonics

Amanda: material cost research, once we've decided on all our materials (we just thought you did a good job last time)

Dave: Sketchup model of panel design archetype, and its variations

Jesse: Final Renderings, mock board

Other assignments:

text: someone who's awesome at writing

diagrams: (panel assembly, the grid, etc) and we'll have these try to follow an aesthetic similar to the final renderings.

MEETING 7

Friday Night or Saturday afternoon.

One of the three

Sorry, will have more soon...

panel proposals

some repeated ideas...but here's what i got! 

1. viewing gallery-- both on the wall and behind 

2. game stops

top left pic: google image

3. news n food to go (for news updates and opportunities for local businesses to have vendor spaces for construction workers and pedestrian/vehicular traffic)

top left: google image

ahh...sorry, my working computer just caught a virus, so i was unable to post my work in progress tonight...will try to post by tomo night (after work) a;sdlkjg;alkdgj

Panel ideas

This idea is puncturing holes in the panels. With different sizes. The sizes relate to the heights that people would be able to see through to the other side. Some lower and some higher. Varying porosity.

This one is the green wall idea. where the panel will just be in a grid and each square can be a different vegetation. We will need the structure and then the growing layer and then the vegetation.

The idea is similar to the green wall idea. but this is easier for participation from the community where they can hang their plants on the panels. The section (first drawing) shows how the plants can be hung. This works both ways: construction site and the street side. On the construction side can also hang baskets to put tools/personal belongings in. the plants can be for the street side. This is really flexible in what we want to do with this.

Sorry guys, i dont have a scanner and I used my camera to take these pictures. I hope you can see them...i will try to see if i can scan these at work and repost the images.

Rough Panel Ideas

***EDIT***

Oh hey... I'm not going to be able to make the meeting next weekend (and possibly the one after that) seeing as I'm going to be going to California. I doubt this actually matters, as none of my panels will be chosen. However, just thought I'd give a heads up.

***********



Here are four rough panel ideas, (dunno, not completely really happy with any of them, except the for Dave's.)




HISTORIC (Inform and Involve)
The historic panel is Dave's idea; this one comes with shadowboxes when fronting pedestrian areas, with additional pictures and historic information.




MODULAR (evolve and excite)
Modular panels are just square pieces of patterned plexi or plywood bolted onto another sheet of plywood. Strips of them are hinged, and they can be strung with tensile wire to the bolts in order to create benches and overhangs. This was inspired by Lacey's idea, although it doesn't have the wire running Jacob's latter-like through the panels themselves.




1) RELAX: (Bench and Sunshade) I liked this panel type enough to submit it again as an actual design. The collapsible benches and sunshades are easy to assemble and make the panels equally easy to move around. They could also function as permanent stops if the foundations were sunk into concrete.



2) PROJECT or INFORM: (screen and display) The Project panel takes a tangent idea Jess and I had and implements it. The Project panel features interior panels and doorlike-exterior panels. The exterior panels can have either signage or Advertisements, and can close up over the interior. The interior is either white, with shadow-cast projections from solar lights, or has information about the Redline- or even more advertisements. The thing about the exterior panels and signage is that they face the drivers FACE on when the automobile is coming towards it, making them more visible.

It's worth noting that after use, these can be installed in parks for movie screenings and suchlike.


3) VIEW: This simple panel features two portholes- alluding to Baltimore's nautical nature. It allows viewing of the construction process- but with a plexiglass panel hammered to the back of the board to prevent people from getting injured from flying debris. Unlike the other panels, these have fairly limited utility post-construction (although if you wanted to have graffiti/stencil contests on them and stuff that might be cool).

Read this! (if/when you get a chance)

just thought you guys might find this to be an interesting and relevant distraction!

 http://www.scribd.com/doc/51354266/Tactical-Urbanism-Final#source:facebook

Buying Steel

Here is the link to the steel channel tubing; this link goes directly to the specs for an 8' piece, but you should be able to redirect yourself to a master list and see how much varying lengths/widths/thicknesses would cost.

Metals Depot

By Wednesday...

Just a quick reminder:

• Everyone should have 3 panel designs posted to the blog by Wednesday.
• Each panel should be between 7' and 8' tall and be able fit in to two metal U-Channels spaced 4' apart.
• At the very least no more than one panel idea will be taken from each group member. However, it is definitely possible to pull the best ideas from every group member and try to combine them into 3 super panels.
• I may have forgotten some things...remind everyone of what I have forgotten.

Visual Integration

Oh hey... before everyone gets too wrapped up in personal panel design we probably ought to settle on some sort of aesthetic common denominator. I know someone mentioned maritime/ocean related graphics earlier, so I was wondering if we all wanted to try and link our panels together visually through some sort of nautical theme.

I think starting this way would provide a useful start-point as well as cut down on time spent later on revision. Any other ideas are welcome though.

Solar Panels

Here are some links to plastic solar panels used in bus shelters (what we seem to be emulating with these construction barriers). If the panels are made of plastic instead of plywood, something of this nature could be useful to generate energy for necessary lighting along the construction barriers. Most of these examples are not transparent (I haven't really seen solar panels that aren't darkly colored in some way), so perhaps the solar panel could be attached to one side of the panel while information, etc. is displayed on the other. (This solution could also work with plywood, as the solar panel could just be attached to one side of the plywood and not be the panel itself...the material in the link below seems to be more of a sheeting than a panel anyway.)

If you Google "plastic bus shelter panels," you will likely find several resources to similar products.

SOLAR PLASTIC

And here is a supplier: Konarka

Just a few things on a new idea before the meeting

This is a simple way to keep the barrier kinetic, but still impervious. 3"x 6" panels run along a piano hinge down the entire height of an 4'x8' piece of ply wood. They would be spaced 3" apart. I can explain more at the meeting, but just wanted to get these up on the blog.

Panel connections

http://www.nitterhouse.com/Products/ProductsSub/WallPanels.html

http://www.nitterhouse.com/DrawingSpecs/DrawingSpecsSub/PanelConnectionSpecs.html

Check out the above links. they seem to have many specs on constructions/materials.

http://www.huduser.org/Publications/PDF/path_panel_conntn_report.pdf

This one has the specs on panel connections. More for actual constructions of buildings and such, but it is still a good reference to look at.

these are some of the ideas i came up with in terms of connecting the panels together. These can have verying degree of porosity to allow pedestrians/vehicles to see through into the construction. I modeled them as a solid panel, but they can be the frame work in which the panels are inserted. The bottom one is a simple illustration of the sliding system. The panels can obviously be modified to fold down/spin/rotate/etc. The upper left example gives more depth to the panels.

framework explorations

bouncing off of ideas and conversations from previous posts and our most recent meetings:

will update with text later...sorry

MEETING 6

Saturday 5/14.
6pm.
Dave's house.

The Utility of the Grid

\





***************

Guys, I’m writing this down in attempt to convince you that focusing on an expensive infrastructure might not be the best solution.

It’s true that something snappy and high tech would look good in a portfolio; but imagine how much better it would be for that same portfolio if you could say, “Look, our designs are practical enough to actually be implemented on a large scale.”

By creating an expensive infrastructure for the modules, you are burdening yourself with a big liability: liability for vandalism, misconstruction, damage during transport, and constant maintenance of not a few modules but an entire system.

In addition (and I’m going to preface this by saying we haven’t had the meeting on Saturday, so maybe someone’s come up with a solution)- tensile and kinetic structures may be insufficient in some cases to shield pedestrians. Porousness comes at the price of practicality: there’s a reason most construction sites in cities cover their chain link with a continuous barrier of plastic sheeting. That reason is to reduce dust, muffle sound- and- most importantly- protect passerby.

A tensile structure and its associated kinetic panels might fail to shield them from chips of flying concrete or the backsplash of an industrial strength power washer.

I’m saving the cost argument for last, because I understand that this is a design competition. I understand the rational of going crazy all out creative for the infrastructure. But expensive is often inefficient, and the city’s budget will not tolerate inefficiency, so if we want to have our designs be implemented, we need to stay constantly aware of budget constraints.

******************

That being said, here’s my idea for a panel infrastructure which is cheap, sturdy, flexible and (hopefully) practical.

The idea is that a roughly 8x4 frame is broken down into 2x2 modules. These modules can be scaled on each frame as 2x2, 4x2, 4x4 or even a full 4x8 spread. This frame is made of pressure treated timber, which is both durable and cheap. Each 2x2 panel is anchored to the frame by four heavy bolts.

The default panels themselves can be made of plywood, which is equally cheap and durable. More expensive panels- such as kinetic modules, company sponsored panels, exhibition shadowboxes and other more exotic additions can include any material necessary, as long as they accommodate those four bolts.

The base consists of a relatively mortarless cinderblock retaining wall, keeping the wood panels out of the damp and providing a stable platform to anchor the two hidden metal posts on the sides of the frame (although these might not be necessary). The rear is further supported by a V-shaped support anchored in a secondary concrete block (not shown). Of the front retaining wall, only the cinderblocks containing the anchor rods contain concrete- the rest are mortarless.

And that’s basically it. You can see some examples of the basic module and its various implementations (including Davesque kinetic panels and a folding bench). Remember I’m not saying we can have a few showpieces- but for the most part it could be beneficial to base even our most elaborate modules on a relatively practical infrastructure.

***

Edit: Updated with collapsible sunshade/table/bench bus/train station wall combo.

MEETING 6

Just want to make sure, but can everyone meet up this Saturday afternoon/evening?

lost...

Hey Jess, is there any chance I left my wallet and phone in your house?

I thought I had taken them with me but I can't seem to find them... and the rear passenger side window of my car is slightly ajar... >_<

Anyway just writing this way because I don't have a phone or your number right now... if you find them somehow, the number to call is 410-464-1334. Hopefully I'll find them in time for for the weekend. Parents are going to be out of town so it might take a while to get everything back in order if they were actually taken...

Quick/Random idea

Sorry, this post is going to be quick and a little vague. I may have went off on a tangent here but I thought it would be interesting to make the barrier dynamic in some way. If we broke the 4x8 panels in to 36 11" x 11" panels, and hung them on rods (with bushings between to maintain their position), we could make the panels spin. Each panel would have two sides, and create interesting and engaging graphic opportunities. The colors in the examples are rather arbitrary, and just to show the potential, sorry if it's a bit aggressive on the eyes.

I can imagine the wind blowing through these, or people moving them as they walk along the construction site. It's simple, but it would create a unique and dynamic aesthetic, as well as provide for some tactile interaction as well.


1st person view:

 

An example of the joints connecting each barrier. There would be four on each barrier, two on each side:

These ties would help the rods maintain lateral stability. Also there would be some sort of bushing at the top and bottom of each panel to help them maintain position, but I didn't show it:

Overview:

Wooly Pockets!!!

http://www.woollypocket.com/?gclid=CPzJir-N4agCFYXd4Aod5XfuCg

LEGO Apartment!!!

http://www.takepart.com/news/2011/05/05/lego-apartment-the-humble-abode-youve-got-to-see-to-disbelieve-video


Clei Furniture - take special note of the videos:

http://www.clei.co.uk/

Parks in Baltimore!!!
http://parksandpeople.org/

We need to look at how these things are hinged:

http://www.renlitadoors.com/products_illusion_doors.htm

I feel like there was something else I wanted to share.... OH YEAH!!

Possible Module Formats- Square Modules

Edit: I know a 4x8 plywood grid seems like the easy, no-brainer minimal design solution, but the design interest is intended to be in the modules vs. the cheap and easy infrastructure. Observe the easy incorporation of kinetic elements a' le Dave. Simple Plug n' Play/unrarified infrastructure isn't necessarily a detriment. Pleeeasseee believe in me! I try and convince you with fanciful colors, but it is in your hearts you must truly decide.



'Horizontal Modules w/ Pallet Base
Single Panel

Multiple Panels: Wall

Method of Stabilization: Pallet System
Square Modules w/ Cinderblock Base
Single Panel

Multiple Panels: Grid
Method of Stabilization: Cinderblock and metal post

Arrgghh... the unspeaking horror of models.

Hmm... anyway. Realized that the grid was probably the way to go, after two or three days of physically modeling horizontal stuff similar to Jess's original idea. I'll still upload sketches and maybe some photos of that stuff, though, because I DO like the horizontal module system, and I actually developed modules for it, not just the system... But these are just three, concise images of a both square and horizontal module systems and infrastructures.

Square: The system is simple: 2x2' plywood panels bolted on a frame with roughly the same intervals, backed by tube or rectangular metal posts planted into a two stack high retaining wall of mortarless cinderblocks. Stick a 'lil solar powered light on the front and you're done.

Because panels can be cut as doubles- or even 2x2 module squares- there's a lot of flexibility to how modules are arranged on it- and the systems they make across it.

Horizontal: The horizontal modules are designed to reflect human proportions... the bottom is perfect for a bench module, the divide between the third and fourth modules is at jaw level, to allow the two top panels to slide up and allow viewing. I like the proportions, but... it just seems a little awkward.

The weighted pallet system behind these make them extremely easy to move around, just remove the weight and cart it away. It also might allow them to take heavier wind and pressure loads (i.e. fat people sitting on benches). Unfortunately, it exposes the base (probably just plywood and 2x4) to the elements... and I'm not sure that would be very practical...

Both: Types are modular and offer flexibility as far as curves and corners go. Both could potentially create viewing opportunities by strategically shifting panels up. Both use a minimum of material, so they're relatively cheap... although still expensive as hell compared to chain link.

Below are some images from mah sketchbook depicting horizontal module types and wall combo combos.

Wall Combos:Module Types:

Conclusion: I worked a lot on the horizontal module system, but I think the square one is probably the way to go.