TIFFANY JIMENEZ + SARA RUZOMBERKAR E B U I L D | A R C H I T E C T U R E F O R H U M A N I T Y2009 PROJECT FIND COMPTETITION

reclaiming under-used parking lots

Project Description Site Concept Micro-lot Park Construction and Materials Project Rendering

QUANTITY VERSUS QUALITY“Nothing over the past century has proven as disruptive of traditional urban landscape as parking. Perhaps nothing has made American cities less memorable” Jakle and Sculle, 2004(p. 8). Off-street public parking lots are a vast, abandoned, untapped expanse of a previous generation of architects and planners fallacy in environmentally damaging development practices. Many parking lots are the cause of problems to the environment such as the urban heat island effect, increased stormwater runoff and light pollution. They interrupt streetscape and increase walking distances between destinations. Parking facilities claim land that would often be able to serve other functions if environmentally friendly planning had been there in the first place.

MICRO-LOT PARK RECLAIMATIONThe intent of MICROLOT-PARK is to realize and distill the impact a designer can have upon the health of people in the environments they work, play, and live in. By reclaiming small sections of parking lots to allow for green space, the network of prototypical eco friendly structures called MICRO-LOT PARK’s allow for meaningful space creation in our city. MICRO-LOT PARK helps mitigate the current heat island effect and light pollution caused by sprawling asphalt parking lots via green relaxation infill spaces on under-used lots.

Informed by a program that responds to the collision occurring between urban congestion, energy conservation and the physiological stresses of urban living, MICRO-LOT PARK responds to the changing demands of an urban lifestyle. Demonstrating and suggesting alternative uses for parking spaces such as vegetated, eco friendly parks that provide community space for small farmers markets we are promoting eco conscious dialogue in our community. MICRO-LOT PARK promotes reducing our carbon foot print by providing bike racks and public transit maps for assistance and using design to suggest that driving is not the only transportation option available in our city. It is vital to raise awareness about the disadvantages of parking lots that do not incorporate eco-friendly practices, and educate the community on parking and transportation alternatives; community awareness drives sustainable environments.

PROJECT SUPPORT AND FUNDINGThe Balboa Park parking lots are some of the largest in San Diego, maintained under San Diego’s jurisdiction rather than by an outside company’s, The city is able to make decisions regarding the temporary removal of parking spaces according to San Diego’s municipal code. According to San Diego’s city planning and Balboa Parks urban plan proposals, converting several off-street Balboa Park parking lots back to their original state is a long-term goal for the community. This adaptation of land back to a natural state includes the Organ Pavilion Parking lot, the proposed location for the MICRO-LOT PARK prototype.

MICRO-LOT PARK is to be built through grants and product donations by proposed project vendors. The adaptability of all components in the design allows for flexibility in material choice, allowing for greater acceptance of donations while maintaining the innate eco conscious goals of the project.

SiteProject Description Concept Micro-lot Park Construction and Materials Project Rendering

Mixed Use

Parks and Gardens

Parkland and Recreation

San Diego Transportation

Permanent Services

Joint Use

CURRENT PARKING LOTS - Future Uses

TRANSPORTATION PATHS

FOOD AND VENDING

Palisades Stop

Organ Pavilion StopPark Boulevard Stop

Inspiration Point Stop

Zoo Stop

West Prado Stop

Pedestrian Paths

Mobile Services

In-Park Shuttle

ORGAN PAVILION PARKINGSite for Proposed Micro-Lot

Mixed Use

Parks and Gardens

Parkland and Recreation

San Diego Transportation

Permanent Services

Joint Use

CURRENT PARKING LOTS - Future Uses

TRANSPORTATION PATHS

FOOD AND VENDING

Palisades Stop

Organ Pavilion StopPark Boulevard Stop

Inspiration Point Stop

Zoo Stop

West Prado Stop

Pedestrian Paths

Mobile Services

In-Park Shuttle

ORGAN PAVILION PARKINGSite for Proposed Micro-Lot

micro-lot proposEd location

Balboa Park

Coronado

Downtown

san diEgo sitE map

ConceptProject Description Site Micro-lot Park Construction and Materials Project Rendering

micro-lot park diagram

Micro-lot Park is a versatile, temporary structure. The goal of the structure is maximum flexability while able to maintain the overall project objectives and functiuons. It is made up of three main constituants; a modular grid system, an eco-friendly vaulted canopy, and interchangable seating and recycling. The forms vary from systematic and rigid to organic.

VaUltEd canopy

The grid system systematically begins to help define the different spacial arrangments. Each durable pad has the potential to be open space or defined by a planter. These will also maintain an option to attach the bike racks which mimic the curve of the canopy in addition to offering additional structural support.

modUlar grid

The link between the organic canopy and rigid grid lies in the seating and recycle bins. Using a similar material to the canopy and integrating a flexability familiar to the grid, the items will serve as the element that begins to tie these two components together. The idea is an element that is able to clip onto the planters to allow for maximum flexability for different space arrangments.

planters switch in

adaptable grid

integrated bike racks

components can be interchanged

arrangements for open space and intimate space

organic wire

clips onto planters

flaxability for spaces

solid to open

breathable structure

green vaulted roof

open space

SEC

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AER

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micro-lot park VariablE sEating and rEcycling

ParkMicro-lot

Project Description Site Concept Construction and Materials Project Rendering

Variation 5 | VErsitilityVariations in this modular system gives flexibility to users by allowing for site specific space.

Variation 4 | rEcyclE binsTongue and groove constituants provide the base for this clip-on recycle bin system

Variation 3 | cHairTongue and groove constituants provide the base for this clip-on chair system

Variation 2 | plantErModular planter showing an example of how the planters with integrated tongue and groves can be placed in various arrangements with the mat.

Variation 1| matModular floor mat is assemled with an easy-assembly tongue and grove connection.

plan ViEW

modUlar Variations

Concentric

Perimeter Perimeter

Concentric

MaterialsConstruction

Project Description Site Concept Micro-lot Part Project Rendering

plantEr constrUction aXonomEtrictrEllis

http://greenscreen.com/home.html

description: Greenscreen is a landscape trellis system for fencing, wall-mounted applications, or freestanding enclosures. When combined with a variety of climbing vines, Greenscreen becomes a :living wall” that can provide privacy, shading and cooling, security and spatial definition, and acts as an effective antigraffiti treatment. The main component of this modular system is a 3D welded wire trellis panel, which is manufactured in Southern California from recycled-content galvanized steel wire.

application: vaulted trellis

content: recycled galvanized steel wire

environmental: recycled content, landscaped walls increase energy efficiency

sEating and rEcyclinghttp://www.nec.com

description: Unlike conventional petroleum-based plastics, polylactic acid (PLA) plastic is mass produced by chemical synthesis using raw materials derived from corn. The production of PLA contributes less CO2 to the atmosphere than that of conventional plastics and offers superior biodegradability after disposal. Intelligent Bioplastic deforms with heat and external pressure and remains in that altered shape when cooled. Once reheated, the plastic returns to its original shape. Shape memory conventionally requires plastics with a cross-linked structure, which prohibits melting and thus recycling. This recyclable, shape-memory bioplastic allows users to deform the material into any shape, making possible all kinds of new products and applications.

application: seating and recycling

content: Polylactic acid (PLA)

environmental: recycled content

modUlar rUbbEr groUnd sUrFacE and plantErs

http://rubbersidewalks.com/

description: We propose to team up with Rubbersidewalks to create a costum modular system for micro-lot park. Rubbersidewalks are high-density paving tiles made with recycled California tire crumb rubber combined with polyurethane binder and colorant, then molded with heat under compression. This process produces a strong and durable product that meets all requirements for sidewalk construction, including stable grade, non vibration, and high coefficient of friction for nonskid surfaces, both dry and wet.Rubber sidewalks are firm enough for skateboards, roller blades, and spike heels yet resilient enough to provide a non injury surface for all pedestrian and wheeled traffic.

application: modular tongue & grove rubber ground surface and planters

contents: 100% recycled California tire crumb rubber with polyurethane resin

environmental: recycled material, low-emodied energy (non-electrical sources)

matErials

description: Unlike conventional petroleum-based plastics, polylactic acid (PLA) plastic is mass produced by chemical synthesis using raw materials derived from corn. The production of PLA contributes less CO2 to the atmosphere than that of conventional plastics and offers superior biodegradability after disposal. Intelligent Bioplastic deforms with heat and external pressure and remains in that altered shape when cooled. Once reheated, the plastic returns to its original shape. Shape memory conventionally requires plastics with a cross-linked structure, which prohibits melting and thus recycling. This recyclable, shape-memory bioplastic allows users to deform the material into any shape, making possible all kinds of new products and applications.

application: seating and recycling

content: Polylactic acid (PLA)

environmental: recycled content

RenderingProject

Project Description Site Concept Micro-lot Part Construction and Materials

rEndEring

reclaiming under-used parking lots