Description
Industrialized sites largely exist as rigid and immutable spaces, with clearly defined borders. These sites become islands in the middle of vast metropolises, so their processes do not spill over their borders to sully the routine of daily life. Architecture plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of sites such as these by materializing the concept of industrialized islands, whose cities are safe from harm on far-off shores. I chose to explore the Port of Long Beach, as it is an exemplar of industrialization that strives to remain separated from its city. Each site, such as the port, maintains a relationship with its surrounding city: one of possession and ultimately, one of disregard. The surrounding urban context dominates and creates choke points for the port that may not otherwise exist. I am exploring implemented strategies for seaport expansion in relation to the city to evaluate and propose a diagrammatic series of architectural suggestions for the Port of Long Beach. By investigating and rearranging the dynamic between ports and cities, the city fabric could be stitched together entirely anew. The port presents an opportunity to remove the rigid dichotomy in place through the tools which created the boundaries: namely architecture and planning. This thesis project will consist of a critical site analysis and architectural diagrams. My graphic diagrams aim to propose several solutions to the problematic sites of these industrialized islands.
Reimagining Boundaries through the Port of Long Beach
Industrialized sites largely exist as rigid and immutable spaces, with clearly defined borders. These sites become islands in the middle of vast metropolises, so their processes do not spill over their borders to sully the routine of daily life. Architecture plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of sites such as these by materializing the concept of industrialized islands, whose cities are safe from harm on far-off shores. I chose to explore the Port of Long Beach, as it is an exemplar of industrialization that strives to remain separated from its city. Each site, such as the port, maintains a relationship with its surrounding city: one of possession and ultimately, one of disregard. The surrounding urban context dominates and creates choke points for the port that may not otherwise exist. I am exploring implemented strategies for seaport expansion in relation to the city to evaluate and propose a diagrammatic series of architectural suggestions for the Port of Long Beach. By investigating and rearranging the dynamic between ports and cities, the city fabric could be stitched together entirely anew. The port presents an opportunity to remove the rigid dichotomy in place through the tools which created the boundaries: namely architecture and planning. This thesis project will consist of a critical site analysis and architectural diagrams. My graphic diagrams aim to propose several solutions to the problematic sites of these industrialized islands.