Architecture Theses and Dissertations
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/2743
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Item EDU-SCAPE: Crafting Social Landscapes through Learning within Ivy City and Trinidad(2024) Hernandez, Kevin Alexander; Burke, Juan; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The District of Columbia boasts wonderful neighborhoods of various scales and cultures, with many stemming from the city’s inception. While enriched with life, culture, and community, not all neighborhoods share the same benefits, with several neighborhoods and communities within the district devoid of amenities which are present elsewhere. Ivy City and Trinidad, both historic communities located in Ward 5 have historically been ignored by the city, with several master plans and development campaigns threatening the livelihood of local residents in exchange for economic benefit. This thesis seeks to find ways to design for such communities, while providing enriched social spaces for locals amid threatening campaigns and architecture. By acknowledging the existing academic facilities and institutions located in both neighborhoods, the design of the project focused on utilizing learning facilities and communal design initiatives to provide residents with facilities that provide amenities and communal spaces for lifelong learning and improved quality of life.Item Information Harbor: The Transformation of a Historic Chinese Village(2013) Zhao, Chen; Noonan, Peter Noonan; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)In modern-day China, policies have been enacted to foster stronger bonds between urban and rural areas in an attempt to bridge the gap in economic and informational inequality. Until now Chinese officials have made very little attempt to salvage decaying rural villages that still have value to society. As a response, how might one apply Critical Regionalist theory to an historic Chinese village and transform it from a bleak village into an energetic and educational tourist destination? Based on the research of traditional Chinese building culture and modern technology integration, a series of interventions are designed to address local dwellers' needs for contemporary information amenities in rural areas while also providing educational and recreational resources for city visitors and maximizing sustainability of the site. Baoshi Village has been chosen as a case study whose principles and strategies could also apply to the villages of similar size and situation throughout China.Item Weaving Place and Object: A New Martin Luther King Memorial Library(2005-05-20) Himmelheber, John; Maudlin-Jeronimo, John M; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The new Washington D.C. Convention Center has proven to be a catalyst for revitalization and improvement in Downtown D.C. The existing older Convention Center site is impeding further development along the New York Avenue corridor. This thesis proposes the construction of a dynamic mixed-use community providing varied retail options and increased housing opportunities at all income levels. A prominent new downtown landmark will also be created-a new Martin Luther King Memorial Library to replace the existing library, an outdated structure located two blocks south of the site. This thesis also explores the symbiotic relationship between object buildings and spaces-the relationship between building and place. The mixing of uses is investigated at multiple scales, working from neighborhood scale to the building scale. The idea of procession between objects and spaces is also explored- linking the object building-the new convention center to the object space, the National Mall, via a dynamic and intuitive path. The new MLK Library will educate and entertain District residents and visitors at all hours-creating a place of public interaction and exhibition-in addition, the increased concentration of housing will aid in the realization of the Downtown we envision.Item Meaning Through Use: Adaptive Reuse of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal(2004-06-23) O'Hearn, Kathleen Coleman; Nieves, Angel; Architecture; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)The intersection of urban and natural in addition to old and new in Georgetown allows a unique opportunity to explore how people today find meaning in these features. Adaptive reuse and the re-creation of experiences, as opposed to museum style preservation, are becoming integral components of an Historic Preservation continuum. Interacting with the past creates a living history. This project strengthens the connection between the neighborhood and its history. The Genealogy Library and Archive places an importance on individual contributions to the history of Georgetown and provides a venue for the current population to discover this significance. The patrons can also access other genealogical centers and ascertain their "sense of place" within their own particular family history. The landscape program along the canal as well as the building's bond with the urban fabric invites the people who work and live in Georgetown to use it as an alternative route to M Street. The centerpiece to the design is the urban plaza at the intersection of M Street and Wisconsin with a terraced café and series of ramps cascading towards the canal. The interpretive elements further nurture an understanding of Georgetown's early reliance on the canal and create a unique node in the city. Placing a new value on the C & O canal and engaging it in everyday life creates a stronger sense of place. The history of the site will not be relegated to the one time museum visit but will gain meaning through constant use.