2026-09-20T20:23:17Zhttps://dspace.mit.edu/server/oai/requestoai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/702412022-01-13T07:54:12Zcom_1721.1_7582com_1721.1_7581col_1721.1_131023
Rosemary Grimshaw.
Sih, Shuh-Hwa
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Architecture
2012-04-26T18:26:13Z
2012-04-26T18:26:13Z
1994
1994
http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/70241
31493135
Thesis (M. Arch.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture, 1994.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 115-117).
I set out to explore for this thesis the development of the Central Artery Project and the future planning of downtown Boston. After investigating the history of the artery, visions for Boston's redevelopment and different stages of the construction plans from the transportation authority, I have spent some time discussing the project with several of its planners and designers. As a result, I found that many of the decisions which made for its development had been made for political and financial reasons. Design ideas generated by the community which did not comply with the engineering and traffic constraints were suppressed by the authority and ignored by the official publications. Although many of them were published and given awards by artists' groups. Because of the political aspects of this project, community organizations such as the Broad Public Participation Group were largely neglected. Only those public voices which have been selected to bolster the views of the Boston Redevelopment officials were heard. In my opinion, by accepting the engineering and traffic constraints on the development of the surface of the depressed artery, designers overlooked the original goal which had been to create a pedestrian environment for the community. As a result, I focused my attention on creating an environment for the pedestrian. I would accomplish this by transforming parts of the existing artery into a new pedestrian experience rather than by demolishing it completely. The use of this kind of solution may trigger many of us as architects to look for inventive ways to build.
by Shuh-Hwa Sih.
M.Arch.
117 p.
eng
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.I.T. theses are protected by
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582
Architecture.
Enhancing pedestrian access and neighborhood integrity in Boston's North End : a mixed use approach utilizing the existing highway structure
Thesis
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<Abstract>I set out to explore for this thesis the development of the Central Artery Project and the future planning of downtown Boston. After investigating the history of the artery, visions for Boston's redevelopment and different stages of the construction plans from the transportation authority, I have spent some time discussing the project with several of its planners and designers. As a result, I found that many of the decisions which made for its development had been made for political and financial reasons. Design ideas generated by the community which did not comply with the engineering and traffic constraints were suppressed by the authority and ignored by the official publications. Although many of them were published and given awards by artists' groups. Because of the political aspects of this project, community organizations such as the Broad Public Participation Group were largely neglected. Only those public voices which have been selected to bolster the views of the Boston Redevelopment officials were heard. In my opinion, by accepting the engineering and traffic constraints on the development of the surface of the depressed artery, designers overlooked the original goal which had been to create a pedestrian environment for the community. As a result, I focused my attention on creating an environment for the pedestrian. I would accomplish this by transforming parts of the existing artery into a new pedestrian experience rather than by demolishing it completely. The use of this kind of solution may trigger many of us as architects to look for inventive ways to build.</Abstract>
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