Design Through Place and Passage

Research and Precedent:

Our intro into the semester was an analysis of the design elements that draw individuals to a specific place, creating a sense of community. Our team looked at Market Square in Knoxville, TN in contrast to Historic Route 66. The main concepts that we took away from this precedent were the sense of passage and place. These two elements play off each other by creating dynamic spaces that draw people in. We discovered that a passage has the ability to create a sense of place in itself. This creates the advantage of heightening one’s sense of discovery.

For a deeper look into community development and housing precedent, we conducted a study of the redevelopment of Jacmel, Haiti by Trans_City architecture and urbanism. Issues of density, variation of housing, materials, and customization became important aspects that will directly relate to our community development in Fond-des-Blancs, Haiti. The proposal for Jacmel provides three sizes of housing to accommodate various inhabitants. These houses are to be prefabricated, while local craftsmen will construct the finishes and decorative elements. This concept is an important aspect of rebuilding the economy and instilling pride in local Haitians.

Design Proposal:

Concept: We began with an emphasis on the aspects of place and passage in order to establish a hierarchy for the placement of housing, commercial, and communal buildings. We sought to create nodes within the development to promote a feeling of community and interaction between the residents. We wanted to respect the topography of the site and by doing so, allowed it to influence the placement of structures. Each decision was grounded in bettering the Haitian community and making the best use of our site.

Site Context: We determined that the front stretch of the site was an opportune location for a commercial building that would allow residents to purchase supplies and produce, similar to a small convenience store in the United States. We felt that maintaining a stretch of land as a garden was important, as it would provide fresh produce to be sold in the store. The front of the site will consist of two story structures with commercial space on the first floor and residences on the top. This would provide spaces for local craftsmen to sell their products. We felt that it was important to place our houses in respect to the ridge that runs along the stream in the back of the property. This prevents the need for major alterations to the topography while maximizing the views that are provided. Placing the community pavilion at the confluence of the two streams takes advantage of a lower level of flat ground and overlooks what is considered the most sacred view on the site. The western portion of the site lends itself to more private houses suitable for ex-patriots that will be relocating to Fond-des-Blancs. This area is separated by the stream and will be accessed by a footbridge and a road from the neighboring airfield. The potential for expansion of phase two of the project will continue to create a larger sense of community to the development.