The site…

I’ve always been interested in the concept of ‘time’ in architecture.  What happen once the building is finished? After the construction, the pretty pictures in magazine, what happen to it after people have occupied and use it?  The signs of wear and tear over time from both human interaction and the weather are always intriguing to me.

Growing up in two different cities is part of the reason that bring my attention to this issue.  The city grows over time.  There are layers of many different things that add up to the city to become what it is that we see today.  This is something that I’ve always wanted to explore.

The site:

I have always been interested in the east side industrial area. The railroad tracks, industrial buildings,and empty wear houses create an interesting dynamic in combination with OMSI.

The spot that I chose is on Water Ave between Hawthorne bridge and Morrison bridge. As far as I know, the site has been empty for a long time. Recently, I had a chance to visit a new bar which was opened in early July 2010 on the corner of Water ave and Taylor. Then I started to see the change that was coming to the area. A brewery, restaurant, and coffee shop are starting to create a new business area.

The development of east side esplanade also creates a great potential for the site, as one way to bring people from the west side both on bicycle and on foot.

I see the site as a potential to create a catalyst, which could bring a great support to the business there. As OMSI already exists not far away, the area has a potential to become more than just a leftover site hidden behind the freeway.