Reintegrating living and working spaces : a hybrid development for Roxbury Crossing

Abstract

Viable communities are those which are in balance -- residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial interests work together to provide for each other. In an urban neighborhood, these elements can be brought closer together. This was the traditional pattern at the turn of the century. In many cities today, however, the opposite is often true. Commutes from home to work and home to shopping are commonplace. As a result, areas become mostly daytime or nighttime as businesses and industry are condensed away from residential neighborhoods. I propose to reintegrate these disparate sectors into an urban community which re-establishes a balance among those interests and provides opportunities for the local citizens. A hybrid industrial facility can be the community focus and benefactor in a symbiotic relationship. The community of Roxbury Crossing / Mission Hill is investigated to analyze opportunities, access needs, and develop an urban scheme to encourage the mixing of homes with workplaces to provide a sustainable infrastructure for the community. At the architectural scale, the building addresses concerns for creating a sustainable building. Issues of transportation, adaptability, durability, and climate are investigated and explored in the form. A brewery, the traditional industry from this neighborhood's history, is proposed as a model for the prototype client.