Intersection : public place in a new Jamaica
Name
33430929-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
11.82 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
d2a608edcb706259e1f21a7d2b236bb1
Author(s)
Young, Kevin Anthony
Advisor(s)
William L. Porter.
Alternative Title
Public place in a new Jamaica
Date Issued
1995
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
Jamaica, a microcosm of the Caribbean and the developing world, is heir to an ambivalent legacy. While she benefits from a unique cultural tradition brought in part through colonialism, she suffers from the nihilistic tendency to imitate colonial socio-economic practices. The society thus becomes more and more polarized, and is poorer for it. The condition is a paradigm for architecture and urbanism. The city stratifies itself into political and economic zones, allowing for its own demise through the lack of communication and cross-fertilization. In anticipation of the city's continued explosion, the thesis explores the possibility of a new public place at which the separate social groups may converge. It will facilitate the accessibility of Jamaicans to their own diverse population, and foster self-pride as they recall and celebrate their traditions, accomplishments and ambitions. The program therefore consists of public facilities which bring Jamaican cultural traditions into relationship with each other. The complex is intended to be a multi- purpose sports/festival ground. Its focus will be a Museum of National Heritage. The site is National Heroes' Park, a 68 -acre oval which sits at the boundary of the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew and marks the entrance to the old city of Kingston, capital of Jamaica. It originated as a horse-racing course in the 19th century but has been transformed successively over the years. Part of it is now dedicated as a shrine to Jamaica's National Heroes - the seven men and woman who were deemed to be instrumental in the building of the nation.
Description
Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1995.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 65-66).
Subjects
Architecture.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Architecture
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