Precedent 1: Lexis on the Park, Portland’s Pearl District, Mithun Architects
Precedent 2: Sierra Bonita Apts, West Hollywood, CA, Tighe Architects
Concepts: 1 “Green Street” on SE Holladay Street (lush trees and plantings, park area revitalized for Saturday Market, bioswales, rainwater harvesting), 2 Community Involvement (large open spaces for communal use, colors, textures, art expressive of the local character) and 3 Supportive Use (restaurants, coffee shops, retail will benefit local employees during the work week, shared utilities as sustainable strategy.)
Value: The importance of life is key here, bringing in beautiful built environments where people can live, work, and play, while coexisting in the natural world in a renewable and sustainable way.
Design Method: To transform the Lloyd District using innovative design solutions that will attract people to this area and create large open public spaces that promote social involvement.
Objectives:
• Mixed-use housing development along SE Holladay Street
• Revitalize downtown area
• Provide residential, commercial, and civic use
• “Green Streets” with bio swales to recycle water throughout building
• Shared utilities between new and existing buildings
• Ample community space for gathering
• Express local culture through restaurants, shops, art gallery
• Bring energy, life, and character through a playful design
Thesis: My intent with this project is to investigate the urban environment of the Lloyd District in Portland, Oregon, and to determine the lacking uses that are needed to increase the population density in this area. By bringing in mixed-use housing and commercial buildings with sustainable design strategies, this development will promote growth opportunities and community engagement, creating a city center attractive to all visitors of Portland.
Because the area is constantly full of office workers and visiting tourists, a restaurant, cafe, and possibly even an art museum would be supportive of the nearby Convention Center, Lloyd Center Mall, and the many large office buildings, giving people ample public space to enjoy the city culture of the Northeast neighborhood. The goal is to create a partnership with the existing buildings by using shared utilities, and to create a working greenscape along NE Holladay Street that will function as a rainwater catchment system to recycle gray water.
