The first, and perhaps most important, step of this studio was to take a detailed look at our study area in New Jersey. The area was divided into three 'ecological' conditions, which included:
-Dwelling Ecologies Site: This site is comprised mostly by a series of residential communities in Harrison, NJ, and sections of I-280, the Passaic river, and Newark's riverfront.
TEAM: Do Bin and Jae Woo
-Commercial Ecologies Site: This site is comprised mostly by commercial areas of Harrison, NJ, the intersection of I-280 and I-95, and meadowland marshes.
TEAM: Elaine, Michael, and Colin
-Productive Ecologies Site: This site is comprised mostly by Kearny's marsh, sections of I-95 and meadowland marshes, as well as the Kopper's Koke site in Kearny and a large power plant in Seacaucus.
TEAM: Mikaela, Marco, and Laura
The word 'ecology' was used as a way for students to observe urban phenomena as being made up of complex interactions between infrastructural, architectural, environmental, social, political, and economic systems. Each group, however, was asked to further define that definition as well as set their own goals for the study. In each site observation, mapping and design helped uncover a complex set of urban issues that lead to urban conflict. In the next steps the students will use their maps to propose interventions that address those conflicts.
Conflict, in this context, is intended to simply mean urban conditions that do not take into account established communities and their needs. Each student/group was asked to further develop this idea.
This blog is a way for each group to document their research and to share it with their constituency: the communities that are affected by the conflicts mapped.
Quilian,
ReplyDeleteKoppers just happens to be the company behind the Superfund site here in Gainesville that I have talked with you about...