10_0426 | revisiting the central waterfront pt 2...

Last we spoke of the project [10_0412 | revisiting the central waterfront pt 1] I introduced my site through a video showing the visual character and some issues facing the Central Waterfront.  In the interest of brevity, I will summarize the site:

• 300 acres on the east side of San Francisco
• Mostly industrial [production, distribution, and repair services]
• Highest concentration of historical buildings on the west coast
• Contains the historic Dogpatch neighborhood
• Contains the 2^nd largest operable dry dock on the west coast
• Maritime industry is crucial to city/region
• Beautiful 19^th century industrial architecture [should be maintained]
• Minimal residential or live-work units

I could go on and on, but these are the key points to keep in mind.  My site immediately faced several challenges: historical preservation, adaptive re-use, and maintaining a fading use within the city: industry.  The neighborhood was decrepit and falling apart.  It needed a facelift bad.  Also, there were barely enough services to maintain the residential population.  I had a goal to bring life to the Central Waterfront as a local and regional attraction through unique uses, increased residential density, and mixed-use development.  The idea would be that it would become a great place to live, work, play, or visit. 

My plan for the Central Waterfront focused on three things: 1. Respecting and embracing its rich cultural and marine heritage while planning for a new future.  2. Turning it into the freshest and ‘coolest’ neighborhood in San Francisco.  3. Connecting the area to the region through trails, rails, and wheels.  I decided to develop the waterfront [which is currently occupied by industrial uses] and bring several new uses to this area:  an aquarium; an outdoor venue for festivals, concerts, and shows; a green corridor for biking/running/walking/etc; a museum and technology center; and an indoor market.  I also included varying densities of mixed-use, residential, and commercial development, several parks, and plans for preserving the Dogpatch neighborhood.  These new uses would embrace the past but also plan for a new Central Waterfront.  The aquarium, museum, and venues would bring visitors from near and far, while the new development would make it a great place to live.  With the program complete, it was time to put pen to paper and get a design going…

Example of the 19th century industrial architecture building stock common to 

the Central Waterfront

Industrial buildings in the Central Waterfront

Historical buildings [as recognized by the National Register]

The Historical Dogpatch Neighborhood

10_0412 | revisiting the central waterfront pt. 1...

As several of you may know, the fifth year of the Cal Poly landscape architecture program is dedicated to a thesis project.  This project is one of student origin.  As a student, you get to take a look at what you've been doing the past four years and where you think you want to go in the vast field of landscape architecture.  Once you've figured that out [good luck], the idea is that you create your own design project centered around your desires and interests.  Some students chose very real projects they could design and build themselves, others opted for more theoretical research-based projects.  Others felt leading a community in a process that would recognize that community's desires and needs was more up their alley.  I went with the more traditional urban design route.  My site is the largely industrial and historical neighborhood of the Central Waterfront District in San Francisco, CA.  The video below was part of the first step of identifying and analyzing the key issues the site is facing.  The video focuses more on identifying the visual identity of the site.  Over the next several weeks I will be posting on the design and process I underwent to finish my thesis project.  This will be the beginning of a series of posts relevant to some of my past projects...enjoy!

re|cast // site analysis from Andrew Wickham on Vimeo.