Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Venice Beach Site Analysis
“Venice of America” materialized from the vision of a man named Abbot Kinney. Being a wealthy Tobacco mogul and owner of the Ocean Park Casino and Resort, Kinney envisioned a resort town that resembled the lifestyle of Venice, Italy. With his money he purchased the land south of Ocean Park and in 1904 Kinney sent his building superintendent to the east coast to take not of various seaside resorts. Preliminary plans were drawn up in June by a landscape architect and planner from Boston. Construction then began for the half mile long, 70 ft wide Grand Canal and the 900 foot long, 30 foot wide amusement pier (Kinney Pier) at Windward Avenue. Architects were then hired to design all the town buildings in the “Venetian Renaissance Style.” A 1905 storm destroyed the pier along with the auditorium and pavilion, but was rebuilt in time for the grand opening in July of that year and it turned out to be a big success with yacht races, swimming, and concerts.
The city grew though this success and was soon supplemented by a trolley system, roller skating rink, and a dance hall. The success of both the Abbott Kinney Pier and the Ocean Park Pier had great success. The Ocean Park Pier experienced a fire that burnt it to the ground in 1920, one month after the death of Abbott Kinney. It was rebuilt, but then in 1924 another fire burnt it to the ground along with the Licks Pier. Both of them were reopened in 1926.
The city of Venice was annexed into Los Angeles because of the inability of the City Council to govern Venice. This led to the dismantling of the amusement industry. Canals were removed for vehicular traffic as well as the miniature railroad. With the discovery of oil on the Venice Peninsula, jobs were created, but the pollution from the industry polluted the surrounding residential area and beaches. When the lease of the Kinney Pier expired in 1946, the city denied the attempt of renewal in order to widen the beaches and on April 20, 1946, the Kinney Pier was ordered to be dismantled. The area was in a decline until the 70s, where the bike bath and other shops were established which brought back the character of Venice without chasing out the lower income crowd.
In our observation of the site, we observed the various program. Walking south, we observed a recreation center. In this center exists basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, handball courts, bleachers, gymnastics equipments, and weight lifting equipment. All these facilities were in use. Along the tennis courts exists a parking lot. This parking lot allows around 370 parking spaces and is located between the walking path and the bicycle path. The bicycle path is located closer to the beach along the sand and leads to such facilities as the bike rental station and a control tower and a nearby bathroom station. Along the walking path (Ocean Front Walk), which is 10 feet wide, exists houses and shops. The only hotel we recorded along the south side was the Marina Pacific Hotel. To the North we observed a widening of the road from 10 feet to 17 feet. The traffic of the pedestrian path then changed to a combination of emergency vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians. We recorded another hotel, The Venice Beach Suites and Hotel, along Ocean Front Walk as well as numerous shops both permanent and temporary. Amongst the shops we observed, we recorded most of them being accessory stores, tattoo parlors, smoke shops, clothing stores, and art stores. As a population, many niches of different people were present; guitar players, bike riders, loungers, and surfers were among what we observed.
From this information that we gathered we want to enhance this environment through our design of the Ichthyo Tower. Having this tower on the beach we do not want to disrupt the relaxed atmosphere. Also, in relation to the historic value of the location of the Kinney Pier, we want to emphasize the central axis of Windward Street and reestablish the amusement industry with the location of public facilities leading out into the ocean and eventually onto the main core of the tower. In doing this we want to avoid blocking the views of the current residences and the marine atmosphere, which affects marine life as well as the surf culture. We have developed different schemes and believe parking should also be located on the water, to avoid the construction of a parking structure along Ocean Front Walk, which we think will cause circulation as well as traffic issues. The reshaping of the landscape along the central axis will be minimal, but at the same time will allow a vehicular/pedestrian road to Ichthyo Tower.
From the site, it is apparent that the proposed site being inhabited by a tower is challenging to say the least. However, from or initial sketches, studies, and schematic designs, we feel that there needs to be a physical and inherent connection between the Ichthyo Tower and the existing Venice community which leads a very particular life style. With that being said, we are beginning to use our case studies as a precedent to examine how portions of the program deemed public and/or entertainment can be branched out to respond to the existing Venice community. With that being said, our initial understanding of the site is as the tower will be an icon and landmark for Venice, the tower must also try to include Venice into its design.
Walking South
-recreation center
-basketball courts
-tennis courts
-handball
-bleachers
-volleyball courts
-outdoor workout equipment
-gymnastics equipment
-weight lifting equipment
-parking (370 spots)
-walking path (10 ft wide)
-bike rental (beach bike tour)
-bike path
-bathroom station
-control tower (with parking lot)
Along Ocean Front Walk
-houses
-shops
-Marina Pacific Hotel
Walking North
-street vendors
-non-permanent stands
* types of merchandise: sunglasses, tattoos, smoking, clothes, art, food, bikes, surf
-pedestrian path widens (17 ft)
-used by people, bikes, emergency vehicles
-Venice Beach Suites and Hotel
-bathroom station
“Venice of America” materialized from the vision of a man named Abbot Kinney. Being a wealthy Tobacco mogul and owner of the Ocean Park Casino and Resort, Kinney envisioned a resort town that resembled the lifestyle of Venice, Italy. With his money he purchased the land south of Ocean Park and in 1904 Kinney sent his building superintendent to the east coast to take not of various seaside resorts. Preliminary plans were drawn up in June by a landscape architect and planner from Boston. Construction then began for the half mile long, 70 ft wide Grand Canal and the 900 foot long, 30 foot wide amusement pier (Kinney Pier) at Windward Avenue. Architects were then hired to design all the town buildings in the “Venetian Renaissance Style.” A 1905 storm destroyed the pier along with the auditorium and pavilion, but was rebuilt in time for the grand opening in July of that year and it turned out to be a big success with yacht races, swimming, and concerts.
The city grew though this success and was soon supplemented by a trolley system, roller skating rink, and a dance hall. The success of both the Abbott Kinney Pier and the Ocean Park Pier had great success. The Ocean Park Pier experienced a fire that burnt it to the ground in 1920, one month after the death of Abbott Kinney. It was rebuilt, but then in 1924 another fire burnt it to the ground along with the Licks Pier. Both of them were reopened in 1926.
The city of Venice was annexed into Los Angeles because of the inability of the City Council to govern Venice. This led to the dismantling of the amusement industry. Canals were removed for vehicular traffic as well as the miniature railroad. With the discovery of oil on the Venice Peninsula, jobs were created, but the pollution from the industry polluted the surrounding residential area and beaches. When the lease of the Kinney Pier expired in 1946, the city denied the attempt of renewal in order to widen the beaches and on April 20, 1946, the Kinney Pier was ordered to be dismantled. The area was in a decline until the 70s, where the bike bath and other shops were established which brought back the character of Venice without chasing out the lower income crowd.
In our observation of the site, we observed the various program. Walking south, we observed a recreation center. In this center exists basketball courts, tennis courts, volleyball courts, handball courts, bleachers, gymnastics equipments, and weight lifting equipment. All these facilities were in use. Along the tennis courts exists a parking lot. This parking lot allows around 370 parking spaces and is located between the walking path and the bicycle path. The bicycle path is located closer to the beach along the sand and leads to such facilities as the bike rental station and a control tower and a nearby bathroom station. Along the walking path (Ocean Front Walk), which is 10 feet wide, exists houses and shops. The only hotel we recorded along the south side was the Marina Pacific Hotel. To the North we observed a widening of the road from 10 feet to 17 feet. The traffic of the pedestrian path then changed to a combination of emergency vehicles, bikes, and pedestrians. We recorded another hotel, The Venice Beach Suites and Hotel, along Ocean Front Walk as well as numerous shops both permanent and temporary. Amongst the shops we observed, we recorded most of them being accessory stores, tattoo parlors, smoke shops, clothing stores, and art stores. As a population, many niches of different people were present; guitar players, bike riders, loungers, and surfers were among what we observed.
From this information that we gathered we want to enhance this environment through our design of the Ichthyo Tower. Having this tower on the beach we do not want to disrupt the relaxed atmosphere. Also, in relation to the historic value of the location of the Kinney Pier, we want to emphasize the central axis of Windward Street and reestablish the amusement industry with the location of public facilities leading out into the ocean and eventually onto the main core of the tower. In doing this we want to avoid blocking the views of the current residences and the marine atmosphere, which affects marine life as well as the surf culture. We have developed different schemes and believe parking should also be located on the water, to avoid the construction of a parking structure along Ocean Front Walk, which we think will cause circulation as well as traffic issues. The reshaping of the landscape along the central axis will be minimal, but at the same time will allow a vehicular/pedestrian road to Ichthyo Tower.
From the site, it is apparent that the proposed site being inhabited by a tower is challenging to say the least. However, from or initial sketches, studies, and schematic designs, we feel that there needs to be a physical and inherent connection between the Ichthyo Tower and the existing Venice community which leads a very particular life style. With that being said, we are beginning to use our case studies as a precedent to examine how portions of the program deemed public and/or entertainment can be branched out to respond to the existing Venice community. With that being said, our initial understanding of the site is as the tower will be an icon and landmark for Venice, the tower must also try to include Venice into its design.
Walking South
-recreation center
-basketball courts
-tennis courts
-handball
-bleachers
-volleyball courts
-outdoor workout equipment
-gymnastics equipment
-weight lifting equipment
-parking (370 spots)
-walking path (10 ft wide)
-bike rental (beach bike tour)
-bike path
-bathroom station
-control tower (with parking lot)
Along Ocean Front Walk
-houses
-shops
-Marina Pacific Hotel
Walking North
-street vendors
-non-permanent stands
* types of merchandise: sunglasses, tattoos, smoking, clothes, art, food, bikes, surf
-pedestrian path widens (17 ft)
-used by people, bikes, emergency vehicles
-Venice Beach Suites and Hotel
-bathroom station
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Final Ex_01
This is my final pattern development for Ex. 01
From the diagram, you can see how the 2d pattern becomes 3d as a series of manipulations of a plane into a shell.
From the diagram, you can see how the 2d pattern becomes 3d as a series of manipulations of a plane into a shell.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
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