by Vincent Nieto

Summer Intern

Many metropolitan cities have large amounts of freeways. Many of these freeways are elevated to keep a clear separation between city streets and the freeway. At every intersection an unusual space is created and often times never thought of more than just an interstitial space to get from one side to the other. These spaces were generally not meant to house any type of program and as a result often times it used in a negative way.

Cities around the world have recognized the potentials and the problems of such underutilized and unattractive space. Many have explored expanding the space by converting it into functional spaces.  Recreation spaces such as basketball courts and skate parks are among the most common solution. However, such projects are aimed towards a permanent solution. What happens when a permanent solution cannot be implemented?

Take for example, San Francisco, the city has is an elevated double-decker freeway, the i280. Underneath this freeway is a 3 miles long, forty feet wide space that is underutilized and owned by the state. The state may not allow for permanent structures may agree to temporary uses. What are the possibilities of temporary programs and how can it be accomplished? The following are examples temporary programs. In this case, the proposed programs directly respond to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood.

The first example of a temporary program that can be beneficial to the area is a local Farmers Market. This is a great location because of two things, first the main produce distribution center for San Francisco is located at one end of the proposed site and two, the nearest farmers market is a few mile from this location. Many residents in the area do not own a vehicle so carrying large amounts of grocery on a public transit can be very difficult.

The second example of a temporary program can be a mobile green space using repurposed trash bins. Having green spaces for this area is very important especially. There is a lack of green spaces in the area which can ultimately lead to higher crime rates.

The next two examples are solutions using a modular system for various purposes. The first image is an idea of capturing rainwater from the freeway. With the average rainfall in San Francisco, you can capture over 9 million gallons of water each year from this 3 mile stretch.

The last example is using the modular system for enclosed programs. Such programs can be temporary housing, after school tutoring and community outreach offices. These programs are essential to areas similar neighborhood. Most often times, these areas are forgotten by the city but are usually the ones in most need.

Repurposing underutilized spaces can be very beneficial to both the city and the surround neighborhood. Using a temporary approach can be cost effective especially to areas that are underserved.

by Vincent Nieto

Summer Intern

With the advance of technology, the library has experienced many shifts within its role in society and its design as the physical object itself. What was once a destination for individual learning with stack of physical books surrounding the user has now transformed into a place of collaboration with less physical books but with access to far more information. New and existing libraries have experienced many challenges such as the shift towards eBooks and the expansion of programmatic needs. The design of libraries today cannot just be duplicated from one location to another. It must now take into consideration the unique social needs of the users, the constant changes of programmatic needs and of course the most importantly, the position it has towards physical books itself.

So what is the new role of libraries now and in the future? How can the rise of technology and the shift of social needs be supported by libraries? The answer is simple, act an incubator. By definition, an incubator is an enclosed apparatus providing a controlled environment for the care of… and in our case, the care of learning, reading, collaboration, shelter and public outreach to name a few. Libraries must now be equipped to support the constant change in programmatic needs of the users.

As a result, the design of a library should be is like creating a pizza. Given a controlled set of toppings, each pizza can be created specifically to the needs and wants of the user. It can be one topping or it can be multiple toppings in a variety of combinations. It can be created as a whole or it can be created in divisions each having a different set of toppings. If the process of designing a library was similar to creating a pizza, the following are examples are architectural ingredients that can then be used as a kit of parts. These kit of parts are divided into three typologies; disaggregation, transformative and hybrid.

Disaggregation is the most commonly used strategy to many newer libraries today. It is the process of determining programmatic needs of the users and creating separate spaces for each, most easily achieved using walls. This strategy addresses the needs of the most common programs. However, with such predefined spaces, any shift in programmatic needs may result in areas not being able to accommodate the change, either by being too large or too small or the lighting of the space could be insufficient. Another example of disaggregation is completely removing and relocating a program off site such as library stacks.

The second typology is transformative. Transformative to my definition is a given space that can be transformed by the user at any given time. This will allow spaces to fluctuate in size and use on demand. It can be easily achieved creating movable walls and partitions such as Nana Wall and Skyfold systems. It can also be creatively achieved by using movable furniture such as stacks to create space.

The third typology is the hybrid solution. Here, hybrid takes on two definitions, the first is when two or more programs share the same space simultaneously. The second definition is when two or more programs are able to use the same space at different times of the day, week, month, and so on. One of the most common examples of a hybrid strategy found today is the combination of a coffee shop and a lounge space. Another hybrid solution seen is shifting the stacks from the center of the library into interstitial spaces such as lobbies and circulation spaces. There are many other examples of hybrid spaces and more will be created as we start to explore variations.

Each library today must be unique and specifically designed for its users. By offering a kit of parts solution, libraries can have the necessary tools for providing a controlled yet flexible environment.

by Katherine Ely

Summer Intern

Urban metropolises, including our own beautiful Bay Area, are densely packed, bustling with people and energy. The cost of rent is high, and restaurants and bars are plentiful, yet space to call one’s own is limited. Why then, are there many pockets of underused or abandoned land around the city?

Unsure what I am referring to? Look around! Most individuals see what MKThink labels the ‘built environment’: illustrious infrastructure and romantic residences. What I am referring to is the converse: the empty, unnoticed spaces, exemplified by deserted parking lots, rundown parks, and abandoned structures

These gloomy gaps are part of every neighborhood in San Francisco; however, they are more highly concentrated in certain south-eastern districts of our city, such as the Mission, SOMA, Potrero Hill, Excelsior and Hunter’s Point. Although these neighborhoods are culturally rich, some are economically underserved, a plight which yields abandonment of once valuable land and beneficial fixtures. Old flower stands and newspaper kiosks have been deserted in times of economic downturn and shifts in population demographics. Unkempt parks and sidewalk space have exchanged productivity for dangerous and illegal activity as unemployment rates rise. Underused public spaces are a product of economic downturn and, when left untouched, a detriment to the progress of the surrounding population.

The key to preventing the negative effects of unused space is to revitalize the once run-down with thrift and the greater community in mind. Innovators must wonder: What does the community need? What types of spaces and fixtures promote togetherness, safety, and vibrancy?

Currently, the practical solution has been to turn deserted land lots into pocket parks, seen in various areas of the city including the Castro, SOMA, and Potrero Hill. The San Francisco Planning Department’s recent program Pavement to Parks aims to restore excess street space, claimed to be 25% of the city’s land, into neighborhood parks and seating areas. The goals of the program are three-fold: to create greater public space in underserved communities, to improve community safety inexpensively, and to test the potential success of future permanent infrastructure in the community. Pavement to Parks is able to convert these public necessities simply and economically through donation: portable tables and chairs, piping and cement rounds for planters, and the altruistic work of local artists.

Likewise, some vacant lots have been transformed into a charming sitting area, or even a sustainable food source for their surrounding communities. The Tenderloin National Forest, plotted in one of San Francisco’s most diverse neighborhoods, creates more green space in an utterly urban area. The Please Touch Community Garden, located just behind City Hall, has changed a once drug-ridden dwelling into a peaceful little farm for vegetables, herbs, and relaxing. The Hayes Valley Farm sprung from irreparable earthquake damage to the freeway. This urban farm not only provides a sustainable food and plant source for the community, but also offers classes in permaculture to anyone interested in learning. The farm showcases local artists, environmental celebrations, and plant sales.

Since 2011, urban planners in Oakland, CA. are reincarnating vacant storefronts into small, local retailers, with the goal of improving the community with short-term vibrancy and long-term economic change. This effort is made possible by negotiating six months of free rent space for local artists and entrepreneurs to bring more permanent economic vitality to the area.

These innovations, which survive despite the cost and permit requirements that temporary architectural solutions demand, inspired my thoughts about community betterment on a larger scale. Ongoing economic depression has two majorly detrimental effects on our urban area: hunger and homelessness.

Finding high quality food without paying a small fortune is a difficult task in today’s world. In many of San Francisco’s less fortunate areas, fresh or healthy food options are simply not available. Using vacant or abandoned land lots for a mobile farmers market would allow both food trucks and farm stands to relocate around the city to various neighborhoods in need throughout the week. Akin to San Francisco’s Off The Grid roaming food trucks, the market might find three or four semi-permanent locations in the city. By setting up temporary 10’ x 10’ tents, cheap folding tables, and access to power and water, both trucks and small stands could provide fresh and culturally variant food to different San Francisco communities.

Ah, but how to avoid the traditional affluence of farmer’s markets? The inspiration of this tasty solution to unproductive city space must bear in mind the ultimate goal of benefitting the community. The temporary market must be a chameleon, able to succeed in areas of different social and economic background, while providing a necessity to the area. In order to be cost effective, the market venders must support the goal of bringing discounted quality food to areas without other access. The vendors would provide local, cultural specialties, as well as fresh produce to communities in need, in turn expanding business to new frontiers.

Perhaps if we think more out-of-the-box, San Francisco’s once vacant, homeless spaces could become just that: temporary shelter for the homeless population. Made possible by food and supply donation, tarps, tents and sleeping staples could serve as a mobile or semi-permanent, homeless camp in various areas of San Francisco. Volunteers from non-profits, social services and medical clinics would provide necessary care and compassion in our city, often considered the “homelessness capitol.” Temporary urban tents could be allocated into male, female, and family designations, providing medical care and social consideration for an otherwise undermined population.

Whichever ways our valuable, unused space becomes occupied, doing so is imperative. As land sits vacant, the city becomes dilapidated, space for illegal and dangerous activity is provided, and productive space for communities in need is wasted. Temporary solutions to wasted space are not only progressive, but are useful predictors of what types of permanent infrastructure might one day succeed in our currently unfulfilled spaces.