This thesis examines adaptive reuse, creating a new path of preservation practice.  This will be accomplished by creating new contemporary programming, which includes multi-use public spaces.  Goals and outcomes of this thesis include sustainable issues that may affect other communities and help to create a process that may be used throughout the world.

 

  An understanding of multiple taxonomies is required. These taxonomies will be used to suggest a transformative design. Suggesting a new process includes subcategories of types, linkages and stakeholders of the area being studied, figure 1.  A second taxonomy of comparing community, used in design processes and heritage, used in the preservation field is also necessary, figure 2. Community case studies to redesign industrial buildings are included in the third taxonomy, figure 3. The buildings that are chosen are properties that are of interest to the community. Certain characteristics of these buildings include a larger footprint and large interior unobstructed spaces. These are spaces that may be redesigned as a multipurpose space.

 

  New types of contemporary programming will be carefully planned within large scale, “big boxes”.  Some examples of this type of building include large commercial spaces and warehouses.  My definition of contemporary programming is program that a community can transform for its current and future needs.  Big Box spaces act as a place for these uses.  Based on the community’s needs, these modular spaces may change over time.  The outcome of this programming will further be determined by community and cultural needs. 

 

  The context area of this thesis will be the Martin Drive Neighborhood of Milwaukee Wisconsin.  As this area is known for its historical aspects and mixed culture, a new way of providing contemporary programming is required.  The first steps in this process includes a walking analysis as well as multiple participatory processes.  Community placement of objects on a site model and an interactive event are two processes that have occurred.  Evaluating the results of an area may help to determine a comprehensive plan.  Large sites may be used as main nodes while the in between paths may be used for connecting these nodes.  Individuals choosing these sites help to further planners understanding of this community-scape.  Ned Kaufman describes a break in the legal system that protects socially valuable resources, he states, “Historic preservation protects man-made aspects of the cityscape, especially architecturally significant buildings”.[1]  Determining architecturally significant buildings are usually characterized by certain checks in historic designations such as being built before a certain year and if that place has had an important historical event.  Socially valuable sites seem to be disregarded.  The current site, a 20th century Kohl’s grocery store, is not currently seen in the community as a resource.   

 

  As I have been studying industrial buildings from the early settlements of the Martin Drive area to the early 20th century, a morphology is emerging.  This morphology consists of:

• A live-work building with a business on the ground floor, and living above.

• A single bay system building with general industrial use, with-out living space.

• And a larger “big box” building with multi use such as grocery to retail use.

Visual differences include a wooden duplex to single story brick and glass building.  The users of these spaces have also changed from Milwaukee’s early settlers to today’s multi user of the big box space.  The user focus on my first case study will be the multicultural elderly and children that are present in the Martin Drive Community.

  

  To connect this communities existing resources a walkable neighborhood must emerge with small essential detail characteristics.  Walkable cities must have pedestrian details to create identity:  benches, shelter, information boards, and wayfinding [2] according to the 880 organization.  These may start by initial events and practices similar to approaches taken in Tactical urbanism by Lyden and Garcia [3].  Further events that take place will start to reveal what nodes, sounds, history and transportation characteristics a certain place has.

  

  The final product of this design includes a redesign of the Kohl’s building following preservation practices.  Urban architecture will also be focused on, incorporating and studying ideas of front space – street and back space – building interior. 

 

1 Kaufman, Place Race and Story, 38.

2 Ribbet Inc, 880 Cities.

3 Lydon, Tactical Urbanism.