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.

Design Through Threshold

Going into this project, we initially looked at space as a series of thresholds in two precedents: the Scholar’s Corridor on the University of Tennessee’s campus and the Chapel of Saint Mary and the Angels in Switzerland by Mario Botta. Although the two were on completely different scales, they both used thresholds to lead people into and through the spaces, and then, eventually, onto the final destination. We took this into account when we began laying out the site for the community of houses. 

It became immediately apparent to us that there were some areas in the site that were better suited for community space, and there were some that had better views.  That left us with the conundrum of how to tie these spaces into the grid of houses.  The sequence of thresholds begins at the entrance to the site.  By locating the retail at the front of the site, both residents and visitors can utilize the services. The main road continues straight from the entrance to the main residential area with smaller vehicular drives and footpaths branching off from it.  There is a definite change in atmosphere as one crosses the threshold between the retail and residential. This is because the residential is inwardly on the people who dwell within the community.  We also found influence for this from the “walk streets” in Venice Beach, California.  

The first iteration of our plan is shown above.  Our goal was to make minimal moves which would result with great effect.  We created one primary vehicular thoroughway along the northern perimiter with the housing branched along the "walk through streets."

In order to maintain a sense of community, we sought to find a way to include footpaths and front porches where neighbors would see each other in passing on a regular basis. These footpaths lead through the community and culminate at the community space next to the river.  When designing the river, we turned to the dogtrot style homes for inspiration.   These homes were very successful in the Southeastern part of the United States, and we felt their emphasis on the front porch, as well as their ability to circulate air through and under the home, would allow it to function well in the humid climate of Fond des Blancs.  Although there are several different iterations of the floor plans, which range from two to four bedrooms, they all contain an exterior family space and a breezeway through the middle. 

Two Bedroom Home.  All gray area is covered exterior space.

Three Bedroom Home.  All gray area is covered exterior space.

Four Bedroom Home.  All gray area is covered exterior space.

Conversation with Francois

While the rest of the class was in Haiti, a few of the graduate students who did not go to Haiti found a Haitian living here in Knoxville who was willing to talk to us.

François Lundy grew up in Petit-Trou-de Nippes, and went to high school and college in Port-au-Prince, about 152 km from his home.  He left Haiti when Port-au-Prince was devastated by the earthquake two years ago.  He has a unique perspective on the way of life in Haiti and what would be important to consider when approaching the design for a community like the projected community in Fond-des-Blanc.

François spoke to us about the typical scenarios in homes in Haiti, and he gave us suggestions to pass on to the studio, including the possibility of a professional school where high school graduates can learn the skills to continue to be productive and earn money.

Conversation with Francois Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

beginning site layout

Yesterday we began looking at the site constraints for the neighborhood and started sketching floor plans for the housing.

Below are the parameters for the site:

Image Tour of Fonds des Blancs Haiti - December 2011

Fonds des Blancs Friday MarketThe following images and gallery are created from my first trip to Haiti with John McRae and Chris King as part of the haiti_utk project. The images represent my first impressions of the Haiti and our work to be done this spring as an ongoing effort with Jean thomas to design a school and residential community for Fonds des Blancs Haiti.

Rural Home in Fonds des Blancs Haiti