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An Analysis of Critical Regionalism and Its Application to High-Rise Building Design

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An Analysis of Critical Regionalism and Its Application to High-Rise Building Design An Analysis of Critical Regionalism and its Application to High-Rise Building Design A thesis submitted to the Graduate School of the University of Cincinnati in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture in the School of Architecture and Interior Design of the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning by Shaun Baranyi B.S. in Architecture (S.U.N.Y) at Buffalo April 2016 Committee Chair: Michael McInturf II Abstract As the most iconic aspect of a city, high-rise buildings have a responsibility to represent their regions local culture and identity. Mass-communication, mobility, and modern technology have imposed an international culture onto today’s urban architecture. The cultural entropy from globalization has spread itself onto skylines around the world. Additionally, as cities become denser, the construction of high-rise buildings will continue to increase. The skyscraper, which was originally an American phenomenon, has been adopted by cities around the world. Regions such as such the Middle East and Asia have grown in population and density at an unprecedented rate. As a result, we have seen an emergence of mega cities that are centered around high- rise developments. Furthermore, the mass migration of people from diverse backgrounds into dense urban environments has led to a cultural evolution that needs to be recognized and expressed. Urban environments will need to respond to their region’s evolving ethos or allow their architecture to become homogenized within capitalist demands. Through an adapted critically regionalist attitude, designers can create high-rise architecture that focuses on developing ‘places’ opposed to ‘spaces’. High-rise buildings will have to implement a reinvigorated theory of critical regionalism to help personify local identities and cultures and express their diversity and character. The current discourse of critical regionalism focuses on low- rise, short span buildings and fails to address the nature of high-rise developments. This thesis is searching to progress the discourse of critical regionalist theory to consider how it can better suit high-rise typologies within dense urban centers. The theory discussed throughout this thesis will be accompanied by a conceptual plan for a critically regionalist skyscraper. I hope that through creating designs for a culturally attuned high- rise building, this thesis will better articulate the principles of regionalist designs while reinforcing the relevance of ‘place- making’ within man-kind’s largest architectural projects. Lastly, through the research and exposition of work, I hope that this thesis will open a discussion regarding the role of skyscrapers in today’s cities and their responsibilities regarding cultural expression and identity. III IV Table of Contents Abstract........................................................................................ ii Acknowledgments...................................................................... iii Table of Contents......................................................................... iv List of Figures............................................................................... vi Introduction.................................................................................. viii 01. Problem Background..............................................................01 1.1- Urbanization and the Rise of the Skyscraper................ 03 1.2- Globalization and Local Identity.................................... 05 1.3- A Critique of Current Design Trends............................. 07 02. Trends in High-Rise Designs...................................................09 2.1- A Brief History of Skyscrapers.......................................11 2.2- Trends in Building Use..................................................15 2.3- Trends in Building Materials..........................................17 2.4- Trends in Structural Systems........................................19 03. Typical Cincinnatian Skyscrapers............................................ 21 3.1- Structural Systems and Project Phasing.......................23 3.2- Foundation Construction Methods................................25 3.3- Core Construction and Planning...................................27 3.4- Superstructure Construction.........................................29 04. Critical Regionalism.................................................................31 4.1- An Introduction to Regionalism.....................................33 4.2- A Brief History of Regionalism.......................................35 4.3- Tactile Experience.........................................................41 4.4- Defamiliarization...........................................................43 4.5- Participation..................................................................45 4.6- Arriere-Garde...............................................................47 4.7- Symbolism................................................................... 49 4.8- Culture vs. Nature........................................................ 51 05. Case Studies...........................................................................53 5.1- Therme Vals.................................................................55 5.2- Museum of Wood........................................................ 57 5.3- Tjibaou Cultural Center................................................. 59 V 06. Interpreting the Site................................................................. 61 6.1- A Brief history of Cincinnati........................................... 63 6.2- Virgin Site..................................................................... 67 6.3- Native American Earthworks........................................ 67 6.4- Colonial Cincinnati........................................................69 6.5- Trollopean Bazaar.........................................................69 6.6- Athenaeum.................................................................. 71 6.7- Amphitheater................................................................71 6.8- Industrial Revolution......................................................73 6.9-Soft Modernism.............................................................73 07. The Design..............................................................................75 7.1- Site Overview................................................................77 7.2- Program Analysis..........................................................79 7.3- Massing Strategies.......................................................81 7.4- Elevations.....................................................................83 7.5- Typical Unit Plans..........................................................85 7.6- Expressive Spaces.......................................................87 08. Conclusions.............................................................................89 Bibliography.................................................................................. 91 VI List of Figures Fig.1- “Rate of Urbanization” CCTV_Headquarters.jpg aily.jpg?w=723 Center for Tall Buildings and Ur- ban Habitats. 11/07/2018. http:// Fig. 7- “Dubai Frame.” Fig. 30- “Museum of Wood www.skyscrapercenter.com/year- 11/22/2018. https://thechive. Exterior.” 09/22/2018. https:// in-review/2017 files.wordpress.com/2018/03/ www.inexhibit.com/wp-con- giant-huge-massive-gigan- tent/uploads/2016/10/Muse- Fig. 2- Total Completions of tic-things-objects-21.jpg?quali- um-of-Wood-Culture-Japan-Tad- “Tall Buildings” Center for Tall ty=85&strip=info&w=600 ao-Ando-12.jpg Buildings and Urban Habitats. 11/07/2018. http://www.skyscrap- Fig. 8-“Sheraton Resort.” Fig. 32- “Museum of Wood ercenter.com/year-in-review/2017 09/23/2018. https://www.por- Section.” 09/22/2018. https:// tal.luxury/Content/media/im- www.inexhibit.com/wp-con- Fig. 1- “Xiamen Skyline.” age/2016/08/14840_orig.jpg. tent/uploads/2016/10/Muse- 12/05/2018. http://guidewithme. um-of-Wood-Culture-Japan-Tad- com/apk/China/content/data/ Fig. 13- “History of Skyscrap- ao-Ando-section.jpg images/gulangyu_xiamen_sky- er Typologies” Center for Tall line_2011_12.jpg Buildings and Urban Habitats. Fig. 33- “Museum of Wood Plan.” 11/07/2018. http://www.skyscrap- 09/22/2018. https://i.pinimg.com/ Fig. 2- “Miami_skyline.” Wiki- ercenter.com/year-in-review/2017 originals/77/84/94/7784940cef pedia. 12/05/2018. https://up- 08fb0a2c3061172dc87314.jpg load.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ Fig. 14- “History of Skyscrap- commons/b/b5/Miami_sky- er Typologies” Center for Tall Fig. 34- “Jean Marie Cultural line_20080516.png Buildings and Urban Habitats. Center Exterior Photo.” Renzo 11/07/2018. http://www.skyscrap- Piano Workshop. 11/28/2018. Fig. 3- “Warsaw skyline.” ercenter.com/year-in-review/2017 https://i.pinimg.com/originals/60/ 12/05/2018. http://tomstrav- a4/58/60a4580efaab77a0c- elguide.com/wp-content/up- Fig. 15- “History of Skyscrap- 1435de1ccef1c7a.jpg loads/2016/12/9EfPiXi-300x169. er Materials” Center for Tall jpg Buildings and Urban Habitats. Fig. 36- “Jean Marie Cultural 11/07/2018. http://www.skyscrap- Center Section.” Renzo Piano Fig.4- “Melbourne-skyline” ercenter.com/year-in-review/2017 Workshop. 11/28/2018. https:// 12/05/2018. http://www.trav- i2.wp.com/images.adsttc.com/ eltipsor.com/wp-content/up- Fig. 16- “Catalogue of Sky- media/images/540e/0374/ loads/2014/12/Melbourne-skyline. scraper Materials”Center for Tall c07a/808f/0a00/0103/news- jpg Buildings and Urban Habitats. letter/drawing_file_890_fr.
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