Monday, September 29, 2008

Wooly Bully

Click on Images to See Original Source



















Stephanie Metz does some amazing things with one simple material.


http://www.stephaniemetz.com/portfoliocurrent.html


http://www.barbaracade.com/work_rejuvenation.html

Adaptive Reuse ....


http://greensource.construction.com/projects/0809_SoFloOfficeStudios/2.asp

This architecture firm's website has some interesting upfits...
Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle, Ltd
http://www.msrltd.com/

Friday, September 26, 2008

Helpful Critique

So after meeting with my groups today, I got some new ideas on how to deal with daylight-one of my primary concerns- and work with the idea of playing up its natural qualities in my space. I had explored the use of first floor skylights/groundlights, piercings that let light into the basement level. I looked at creating a slight level change on my first floor with a slight bridging effect that could allow me to make some interior clerestories. Jackie's exploration of cable and bridging began to expand my ideas of what could happen in the space on a grand level. At the same time, it reinforced for me how important it is to use the existing structure as your guide to give you a grid or a place to start because the existing space is already so rich with character.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Revolution Mills and Surrounding Area

One question I keep asking myself is "What is Revolution Mills Market's target market?" I feel like the answer partially lies in where we believe people will be coming from- Who's coming to our groovy, new open air, post-industrialized marketplace? I would like to appeal to a wide breadth of clientelle, those arriving on car, by foot and by bike - and especially utilize the proximity to the proposed North Buffolo Creek greenway as a main vehicle for bringing traffic of all kinds to the area. So I need to c apture a better sense of the area and remember my context- historical, cultural, and for this phase of exploration: geographical and environmental.

Terrain Map - Buffalo Creek


Aerial View of Revolution Mill



Street View - Revolution Mill Road


View from Maple St.

Future Retail Space



View from Yanceyville



Proposed North Buffalo Creek Greenway
and connectors


Monday, September 22, 2008

State of Retail in Downtown GBO

Mary Contrary, Elm Street
(the store front that stirred up the neighborhood- you either love it or you hate it)
photo from Springboard - Action Greensboro's Blog

Blount Hunter, statistics analyst hired by Downtown Greensboro Inc. sheds some light on the nature of Elm Street's retailers, “They have a certain amount of stability, either because they have an Internet presence, or because they have a wholesale business, and they are covering a lot of their costs by that side of their business. But they want to have a front door, and a presence on Elm Street." (http://springboard.actiongreensboro.org/2008/08/22/retail-advice/)


News & Record report - good news and bad news for Revolution Mill project...
(http://www.news-record.com/content/2008/08/22/article/downtown_sales_untapped)

"Based upon positive perceptions and prevailing usage patterns, downtown's current patrons can be expected to respond favorably to new stores, restaurants, entertainment venues and event programming as downtown's offering grows," says the study, prepared by H. Blount Hunter Retail & Real Estate Research in Norfolk, Va. "It is imperative that downtown Greensboro's offerings remain unique and of high quality ...."

The study, which suggests downtown should not try to compete with Friendly Center or Four Seasons Town Centre, says the center city could support another 100,000 to 300,000 square feet of retail space. Only 64,000 square feet of space is currently available on South Elm Street.

The study suggested a two-year goal for retail growth of between 75,000 to 100,000 square feet.

To close the spending gap, the study recommends:

• Concentrating retail on South Elm. The street already has a group of existing shops and a collection of buildings suitable for retail use. Such a cluster stimulates customer traffic and sales.

"Before the retail core becomes a 'destination' it must succeed by serving patrons who visit downtown for a variety of reasons other than shopping," the study says. " Causing more of downtown's current patrons to think about visiting shops and restaurants when downtown is a major marketing challenge and downtown's greatest opportunity."

• Creating a "priority retail development zone." Covering the first six blocks of South Elm, the designation would encourage shops on ground-floor spaces instead of offices, restaurants and clubs.

• Focusing recruitment efforts on independently owned and operated businesses. This means that it is unlikely for downtown to attract national chain stores in the near future.

Wolverton pointed out that independently owned businesses are the most vulnerable to failure, need training to help them perform better, and should locate in smaller spaces that keep overhead, manpower and inventory low.

• Getting buildings ready for occupancy. The study says too many downtown structures are in bad condition, and their owners expect tenants to fix them up and then demand rents that are too high.

The study also says the city should adopt minimum building maintenance standards for commercial structures similar to those that exist for residential property.

The study also encouraged city government to consider downtown for catalyst projects that would generate additional economic activity.

One possibility would be to move Greensboro Farmers' Curb Market from 501 Yanceyville St. to the center city.

"The fit is very good," says Blount Hunter, president of the research firm. "I see that as low-hanging fruit."


Friday, September 19, 2008

Shopping Centers

London's Gallerias














Oasis Of the Seas







Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall









Vancouver Cityscape



Portland, ME Pearl Public Market...a lesson in what to do...and what not to do.





http://www.cooltownstudios.com/mt/mt-search.cgi?IncludeBlogs=2&search=%22experience+economy%22


In a Turkish Bazaar






GUM Moscow's State Department Store






http://www.moscow-taxi.com/sightseeing/red-square/gum.html


mixed use resources:
http://www.housinginitiative.org/ppts/from_MDC_Website/DPmixed_use.pdf
http://www.brookspublications.com/files/HISTORIC_MAPS_sept08.pdf
http://www.sfu.ca/city/city_pgm_video019.htm

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Revolution Mill Studios photo hunt


texture.color.materiality


light.rhythm


light. color.context.connection


texture.rhythm.past.


texture.color.materiality.juxtaposition.decay


transition.texture


past.present.future.light.circulation.wayfinding.reuse


materiality.decay.reuse


materiality.reuse


past.present.connection.decay


light.context.landscape.decay


past.present.future.rhythm.enclosure.systems


reuse.systems.color.context.past.wayfinding(potential)


light.rhythm.connection


past


texture.materiality.decay


context.past


light.materiality.past.present.future.context.connection.transition