VIDEO: NETWORK_LA transit

NETWORK_LA transit from tam thien tran on Vimeo.

Network_LA Transit is a conceptual design response by Gensler Los Angeles to an open invitation by Sci-Arc, The Architect’s Newspaper and LA Metro to shift people from their cars to public transit.

Increasing the movement of people, not cars should be the goal of any public transit initiative. For this ambitious project, Gensler Los Angeles proposes an integrated set of ideas to adapt the current system to improve its performance at the various scales based on user needs. The belief is that a more responsive system and an improved user experience ultimately leads to the means to meet that challenge.

Increasing the movement of people, not cars should be the goal of any public transit initiative. For this ambitious project, Gensler Los Angeles proposes an integrated set of ideas to adapt the current system to improve its performance at the various scales based on user needs. The belief is that a more responsive system and an improved user experience ultimately leads to the means to meet that challenge.

This design proposal is based on four ideas:
• Increase vehicle choices in the LA Metro system to include alternative modes of transportation, which provide various scales of public transport efficiency.
• Increase flexibility of public transport by keeping existing transit stops but liberating the routes that connect them so that it may respond more immediately to user demand. Also provide it an efficiency advantage with dedicated lanes and pull-in stops to allow for bypassing, as well strategically located underpasses.
• Leverage existing data to increase flexibility and optimize choices by overlapping the location of all ground transport, stops and users through GPS to coordinate their relative positions, needs and capacity in real time. To complete this triangulation, a GPS enabled app – tripFinder – automatically scans the network to sort and provide the user with the optimum trip itinerary while also optimizing the current status of the public transit fleet.
• Expand the network and fill in the transport voids by granting access to this real time information through the selling of licenses to more and other alternative ground transport entities. This business could also be a potential profit center for LA Metro.

The result is user-driven, on-demand system that responds to the needs of each individual rider, allowing the network to organically adapt to the shifting needs of its ridership to improve overall service. Los Angeles, as a city of multiple centers whose relationships are constantly changing, can now have transit routes that adapt to the needs of its passengers rather than forcing passengers to use multiple fixed routes.

Thus a software solution that manages the users needs in real time, and assisted by a series of relatively small and achievable infrastructure improvements could form the solution to Los Angeles Public Transportation inefficiencies; thereby avoiding the type of large grand scale infrastructure work that is very disruptive of daily city life while risking being obsolete before it is complete. This type of solution also speaks to the Los Angeles culture: in proposing a public transport system with personalized service, it reasserts the individualist mentality that has powered Los Angeles’s mythology for generations.

NETWORK_LA transit Gensler Los Angeles

References:
Commute Cost
Based off of research by commuter transportation services and
www.commutesolutions.org

Connectivity Solution

The light rail system will be the main form of transportation that connects all the important nodes throughout the city – this is an eco-friendly and economic alternative to this car-dominated society. Feeder systems such as electric buses will cater for all of the suburban areas, this paired with cycle centres will result in a well-connected, sustainable city. These public transport systems will be paired with TOD’s (Transit Oriented Development’s) strategically placed in the existing town centres, business districts and universities. By including a series of these TOD’s along already existing infrastructure will promote an increased density therefore activating the current ‘dead’ spaces whilst also improving the mobility at a pedestrian scale.

Lack of International Connectivity

Internationally Canberra is not on the world map of known cities. Sydney is Australia’s most recognised city for a number of reasons. The identity of Sydney is created via arts, fashion, culture, entertainment, music, architecture, education and tourism, and is also the most populated city of Australia, whereas Canberra was designed for a purpose – the only ‘planned’ city of Australia – for this reason it lacks identity other than the main function of parliament. Canberra has not been able to grow organically meaning it hasn’t adapted to the cultural changes in technology and ways of life. Canberra has the potential to be recognised on a world scale as it essentially should represent Australia.

Nodal Connections within Canberra

Canberra lacks presence and identity due to a lack of connection. this is our problem atatement at this time. However, through connecting the nodes below via transit systems, it is the hope that the city of Canberra will become 'less fragmented'

NODES:

• Education - university, TAFE and schools
• Work - industries and business centres
• Cultural - museums, galleries, monuments, memorials, event locations
• Recreation Hubs
• Parliament
• Hospitals
• Sport

These nodes will be connected by a series of new and developed transport systems such as

• Light rail systems - connections at the central nodes with a series of feeder systems
  
• Electric bus system - will connect the light rail nodes to the surrounding residential areas
  
• High speed rail - to connect Canberra with the other states - national connection
  
• Airport connection - increased by the above systems to create a better international connection
• Cycle centres - to connect the residential/ business districts with the other systems above instead of car use

The main goal is turn Canberra from a car oriented city into a green city that thrives on using public transport systems

Project 1 Items to be included

Group Meeting and brainstorming notes on inclusions within the final presentation:

· The kit of parts – how do they work, how do they relate to the other scales?
· Design that is flexible on the site – or design that is flexible throughout different sites – modular design that works a range of sites
· Presence – branding
· What elements are in a TOD?
· Flexible design within the different layer (6 S’s)
· Investigate multi-use of existing infrastructure
· Flexible service layers – use of renewable energy’s
· Black spots and congestions
· Station typologis
· National map connectivity - nodes
· Street treatment – sections
· Use of e-governments to enhance the government’s role in Canberra – purpose of Canberra – the parliamentary state

Flexible Architecture - Photos From 2010 trip to Paris

Centre Pompidou

A colossal 100,000m², this public building is designed to be a flexible container and dynamic communications machine and is constructed from pre-fabricated parts. Host to 6 levels of vast column-free interiors, the building achieves uninterrupted floor space by limiting all vertical structures and servicing to the exterior; even escalators and lifts are clipped to the façade. The glazed escalators which snake up the full height of the building not only celebrate the drama of movement but provide panoramic views of the piazza, its environs and all of Paris. The internal spaces are designed to be highly adaptable so that their character and use can change freely within the life of the centre; there is no obvious hierarchy which separates art and learning from more everyday activities. With its external colour-coded servicing and structure, the building reveals its internal mechanism to all those who look up at it. It is a flexible, functional, transparent, inside-out looking building. The Centre Pompidou has an average attendance of approximately seven million people per year..

http://www.richardrogers.co.uk/work/all_projects/centre_pompidou_masterplan

This next one is not mine, but i think it is extremely important just to realise the shear scale and positioning of this building within the City landscape.

Hutchinson Builders: Modular Living for Student Accomodation

This is a scanned article i took from a property magazine, talking about Hutchinson Builders new student accommodation block at the Australian National University. Some great ideas here for possible modular student accommodation for the TOD's planned within the scope of the universities.

URSULA HALL - Laurus Wing

The Laurus Wing at Ursula Hall provides Single Studios and One Bedroom Apartments suitable for either singles or couples. Each apartment is self-contained with its own kitchen and bathroom.

	On a green campus like ANU naming the building after a tree is appropriate, given its location adjacent to the wetlands and facing Black Mountain Nature Park.
	Laurus Wing provides 46 single studio units and 24 one bedroom units (queen beds) which are suitable for couples or single occupancy. Each unit contains a bed, wardrobe, desk, chair, fridge, kitchen, bathroom facilities and a balcony. The rooms are heated and carpeted.
	The Laurus Wing offers a 48 or 52 week contract with tariffs starting from $216.50 p/w for a studio and from $328 p/w for a one bedroom unit (2011 rate).
	Units in the Laurus Wing are self-catered, and are fitted with a full kitchen which includes an oven, bench top hot plates and full sized fridge. Residents may bring their own microwave.
	Your rent includes electricity, heating and water charges.
	Each room has a phone with Voice mail. Residents can make internal hall and on campus calls at no charge. Local, STD and international calls are charged at competitive rates negotiated by the University.
	All rooms have internet connections and a TV with access to the ANU TV channel network. A small Info Commons facility is available. Ursula Hall operates an extensive intranet administered by residents. Internet fees are included in the weekly tariff.
	It is an easy walk to shops, Union Court, lecture halls, Civic, and the National Botanical Gardens. Buses depart from outside the Hall to all major Town Centres in Canberra. Secure storage for bicycles is also provided.
	Residents of Laurus Wing have access to the strong Ursula Hall network of pastoral and academic support.
	Ursula Hall has many talented music students and four rooms are available for music practice.
	Laurus Wing contains a common laundry, the use of which is included in the weekly tariff. Residents provide their own laundry detergent.
	A limited car park is located at the rear of Ursula Hall. An adjacent multi-storey carpark with designated bays is also available by application, for an extra fee. A University parking permit must be purchased to park on campus. Canberra's network of bike paths and public transport is quite good, so we encourage residents to save money and not bring a car. Parking availability is not guaranteed.
	Residents are responsible for cleaning their own units. Vacuum cleaners are available for common use. Recycling is strongly encouraged.	Location Building 50, Daley Rd Phone: +61 2 6125 6200 Email Ursula Hall Ursula Hall Homepage
	Smoking is prohibited in all University buildings . Designated smoking areas are located outside and away from all buildings.
	There are 4 accessible units in the Laurus Wing. Please contact the Hall to discuss your needs.

Important Elements for Presentation 01

• Itemizing kit of parts – space diagrams @ diff scales
• Come up with design that could be applied across or do one site that could be flexible across
• City wide- opportunity to do station design, signage and materiality
• Tom wheeler analysis – identity at different scales
• Ingredients to create TOD. How to go about connecting different systems
• Flexible use: catering for expansion.
• Investigate PURPOSE – roadways that become pedestrian ways – how do different paths connect and disconnect,
• Can be flexible in terms of use – habitat – scale to create diff functions
• Look at different layers of systems and structures services– S’s
• Layers of technology: Server and served. – Richard Rogers – Pompidou Centre, Archigram – popup service nodes.
• How does service layer expand to become part of a functioning area
• LINKS to services and technology at EACH SCALE. – What are the services?
• Conduit – power grid – data Centre - Wireless – towers,
• Where are the holes, where can you connect these layers.
• Propose something that you consider reasonable – Denver and Colorado transport plans – light, heavy rail
• Overlay mapping of Black Spots, Congestion
• Get data of bus & train appropriate for diff nodes
• ****Reuse existing infrastructure. *****
• **** Make everything applicable – type and purpose. Show diagrams and brainstorming

Thoughts and Ideas from Week 5 Tutoiral

Discussion of Problem : "Canberra holds little capital Presence and identity, as it lacks connection across all scales"

Direction of task:

• Pick a node individually do a node, and discuss what is focused on at each node
• Negotiate distinctions between them
• Define different purposes and identity
• Same strategies? – How do you create a strategy that forms identity on National scale and can be applied to various cities, areas, towns etc
• Look at all forms of connectivity:
• Truck, Bicycles, recreation and pedestrian
• How is flexibility going to be shown?
• Design a "kit of parts" that can be applied to all Transit Centers or TOD's
• Think of all realms – e.g. residential: student accom, affordable accom
• Link to different modes of transportation
• Depending on the node, each gets assigned different variations -
• Use module design and create types and resource that addresses IDENTITY strategy
• Each TOD to be resolved differently.
• Trains, car-parks, pedestrian grids - Demonstrate the various scales that we are describing & propose solutions at diff scales
• Eg. Bus routes - Zoom in – University by road - Commercial center that ignores university etc etc
• EG. Pedestrian scale - user scale - town scale .
• Identify each mode of transport and characteristics of each zone
• MODULAR – what does each module need? How is it adapted within existing
• Find strengths in what exists – Plans for rail and bus systems and what can be addressed
• Critique what is already there and propose. Does It Fit? – apply same decision making process to a different nodes.

Modes of Transport: Distance/Time relationship

2010 Don Aitkin Lecture Series

Group Notes:

· Mobility

• Connections
• Integrated
• Lack of connectivity with rest of Australia and world
• National presence

· Escaping Country town

• Australia representation qualities
• Living in urban areas in Australia is highest in the world (percentage)
• Centralization of nodes needs to be stronger and connected better
• Lack of affordable housing
• Outer suburbs lack connection

· Tertiary training landscape
o Tertiary economic good
o Must attract more academics
o Become an education and skills hub
o Always a working city and respond to the emerging needs of the citizens of our learning working city

· Contemporary issues of resources
· Aspirations of community and responsibilities
· City that offers enhanced serviced entertainment hospital and amenities for a growing local and regional community
· Place for many diff background
· Affordability and sustainability
· Growth next year by 80000
· Between now and 2030 – singles and couples will be 80% of pop
· Compact city and urban growth and consolidation taking place
· High density residential in and around group centers along transport corridors and landfill sites
· Location of multi unit developments
· Housing choice, changing lifestyle and dynamic
· Half of new houses in past 10 years apartments and houses
· Neighbourhoods and public places – most move to Melbourne, Sydney
· Arts and industry and jobs and ecology
· Need to invest in public domain
· Fact that it is the nation’s capital is important
· More affordable and sustainable w access to houses and public transport options
· Improving mobility
· What Canberra lacks is a soul – organized chaos
· Good planning – cities produce ways to live that are unforeseen
· Overriding interest of sustainability
· 40% greenhouse gas reduction
· Urban transport corridors improved
· Lower consumption
· WILL never be mega city – should be a model city
· Best way to change through EDUCTION
· Sustainability educations – crucial to bridging divides
· Sophisticated export strategy or tertiary education
· Focus on students and courses – industry focused on what they need
· Education online portal
· Innovative partnerships between universities and high schools
· The act is currently the capital of Australia, how can it be transformed to become the representation of Australia in the next 100 years?
o Through education
o Most liveable and viable city
o Intellectual capital

Problem Statement defined by research and readings:
Canberra has no Presence and identity – through multiple scales and connection

Solution:
Redefining the nodes to better suit a future Canberra which focuses on higher connectivity, mobility and a place of learning etc

This diagram shows that the population is aging within Canberra

Progressive Leadership for the Long Term: A Generation X Perspective by Andrew Barr, ACT Minister for Education and Training http://www.canberra.edu.au/public-lectures/aitkin/2010-don-aitkin-lecture

Transport systems and technology

Over the weekend, our group met to discuss the finer points of redesigning the transport systms in place in Canberra. The diagram shown below shows where new transport paths are to be placed, all existing nodes will have a new connection to other areas within Canberra

Light Rail - Red
Bus Systems - Blue
University - Yellow

The image below is our parti diagram for the new system we are proposing

Architectural Provisions for new Built Environments in Canberra

I stumbled across this PDF called the 'Good Design Guide' which helps to focus the architectural provisions set out by The National Capital Plan:

‘…planning and development in Canberra Central in particular and generally

throughout the Territory, should have high aesthetic and environmental

quality. Planning controls should seek to ensure that development in all

forms, including landscaping in urban and non-urban areas, complements

and enriches its surroundings’

http://www.nationalcapital.gov.au/downloads/planning_and_urban_design/Good_Design_Guide.pdf

Problem Statement

Canberra has one of the highest carbon emissions per capita of any city in the world because it has over recent decades been planned for the predominance of cars. Planning dtecisions of the time significantly extended Canberra’s urban form using transport corridors between the city and town centres for private vehicle transport.

The result is a dispersed urban form, a lack of public transport infrastructure, increasing traffic congestion and one of the lowest densities of any Australian city. This has in turn resulted in a lack of connectivity across multiple scales. Through a commitment to integration of transport and land use planning there is an opportunity to utilise a light rail system to influence urban form and public transport in a way which will make the national capital Australia’s exemplar sustainable city.

Flexible > Adjustable > Modular

A simple diagram - animation which i feel captures the sort of mindset or approach that will be needed when designing a "flexible' Transport Orientated Development for Canberra.

Not just physically will this developement need to change and adapt (in size perhaps), but it will also need to be created of modular forms to cater for various needs, users, locations, and services.

Animation by Aakash Nihlani http://www.aakashnihalani.com/

Demographic Profiling

Canberra’s demographic profile shows an over representation of 20-35 year olds, which is attributable to interstate migration of public servants and students for both employment in the government sector and to take advantage of Canberra’s leading higher education system. This is a demographic that demands affordable housing and ease of accessibility to the inner city and activity centres. It has therefore been an imperative to connect the education precincts within the network to further drive growth of the sector. A range of services and architectural types have been designed to come together in a range of flexible combinations at different nodes depending on the needs and identity of the individual area. These include the light rail, bus and cycle services, and a range of residential, commercial, entertainment and community architectural types.

Utilizing Light Rail

If a city’s patterns of movement help constitute its identity then Canberra’s is disconnected and highly unsustainable, and when compared with the larger state capitals, lacks national and international presence. An integrated transport solution lies at the heart of an overall strategy to overcome these issues. By utilizing a light rail system to facilitate greater mobility and influence the development of future urban form, the national capital could become Australia’s exemplar sustainable city.

The infrastructure strategy plans the light rail system to cater for the current movement patterns between the city and town centres so as to provide an efficient and economic alternative to private car use. It is also flexible enough to allow new patterns to emerge through a well integrated network of routes that intersect along the edges of the Parliamentary triangle. This will enhance the symbology of Walter Burleigh Griffin’s original plan, providing greater activation and urban integration of this key area.

Flexible - Further thoughts

A Tiny Apartment Transforms into 24 Rooms

As people are the activators of a space, user interaction is extremely important in the success of the design. The video above is a perfect example of this occuring on a small scale where the apartment condition will be ever-changing adjusting to the needs of the users.

While this video on appartment design is only focussed on living space and how a single person is interacting with this space, a much broader issue often found within city centres is that many buildings are never fully being utilized at all times during the day.

For this reason, our group agreed that flexible architecture should repond to the folloeing different factors:

• Time
• Location
• Users
• Culture
• Climate
• Needs (use, age, etc.)
• Social

Office & Educaton Node Connections

Office Nodes & Educaton Nodes


Canberra lacks presence and identity due to a lack of connection. By connecting the nodes below via transit systems Canberra will be less fragmented.

• Education - university, TAFE and schools
• Work - industries and business centres
• Cultural - museums, galleries, monuments, memorials, event locations
• Recreation Hubs
• Parliament
• Hospitals
• Sport

Our group decided that the best stratergy to resolve the current planning issues within Canberra would be a series of new and developed transport systems such as:

• Light rail systems - connections at the central nodes with a series of feeder systems
  
• Electric bus system - will connect the light rail nodes to the surrounding residential areas
  
• High speed rail - to connect Canberra with the other states - national connection
  
• Airport connection - increased by the above systems to create a better international connection
• Cycle centres - to connect the residential/ business districts with the other systems above instead of car use

Exemplar - The Answer is not Mass(ive) Transit

Instead of the massive, resource-intensive, and inflexible infrastructure that results from top-down approaches to planning, this proposal argues, why not consider a flexible, pragmatic, small-scale, bottom-up approach?

The Elov, a small, pod-like vehicle that fits into less space than a smart car and reduces the volume of traffic by serving the same number of occupants in only one quarter of the space. Because of its light weight and micromotor efficiency, the Elov can be charged overnight using home outlets, further reducing the required infrastructure.

Week Three - Flexible

This week we focussed on architecture that could alter in shape to basically accommodate for different needs of users?

We agree that Flexible is/means...

• Fluidity
• Movement
• Adjusting
• Adapting to users
• Extended/ flexible boundaries
• Space activation
• Diverse
• Response to change
• Change to meet needs
• Continuous change (to moods, technology, etc.)
• Growing
• Flexibility (of materials, form, etc.)
• Designed for the future

The redesign of a transportation hub, or better known as a T.O.D. - Transport orientated Development as a possible design problem to adess within the capital is something we began to focus our attention too - especially how this city element could be "flexible" also.

For example, what if transit centres such as bus station, train stations and even ariport were able to adjust in size according to the peak time?

The ability for these spaces to be manipulated based on the needs of the individual users and services load at any given time not only means flexibility, but also an increase in efficiency, diversity and uniqueness of any individual building design.

The following video by Carlo Ratti teaches us some important things about how flexibility it is not about the flexible nature or architecture of the "physical four walls" but about the architecture of interaction between the elements of a structure, "maximising the usage of those elements to interact with everyday human beings."

Drafting ideas towards a Problem Statement

Canberra lacks a capital presence and identity.

Connections:

Education – university, tafe and school

Work: , industry technology and

Cultural: Museums, galleries, monuments, Aus war memorial

Parliament:..... different agencies connected across city?

Recreation: hubs all over the place

DEFINING PROBLEMS

Problem Statement:

[still needs work] Redefining the nodes to better suit a future canberra which focusses on higher connectivity, mbility and a place of learning etc etc etc

• Mobility
• Connections
• Integrated
• Lack of connectivity with rest of aus and world
• National presence
• Escaping Country town
• Australia representation qualities
• Living in urban areas in aus is highest in the world (percentage)
• Centralization of nodes needs to be stronger and connected better
• Lack of affordable housing
• Outer suburbs lack connection
• Tertiary training landscape
• Tertiary economic good
• Must attract more academics
• Become an education and skills hub
• Always a working city and
• Respond to the emerging needs of the citiznens of our learning working city
• Contemporary issues of resources
• Aspirations of community and responsibilities
• City that offers enhanced serviced entertainment hosp and ammenitoes for a growing local and regional community
• Place for many diff background
• Affordability and sustainability
• Growth next year by 80000
• Between now and 2030 – singles and couples will be 80% of pop
• Compact city and urban growth and consolidation taking place
• High dens res in and around group centers along transport corridors and landfill sites
• Locaton of multi unit devs
• Housing choice, changing lifestyle and dynamic
• Half of new houses in past 10 years apartments and houses
• Neighborhoods and public places – most move to melb, syd
• Arts and industry and jobs and ecology
• Need to invest in public domain
• Fact that it is the nations capital is important
• More afffordble and sustainable w access to houses and public trans options
• Improving mobility
• What Canberra lacks is a soul – organized chaos
• Good planning – cities produce ways to live that are unforeseen
• Overriding interest of sustainability
• 40% greenhouse gas reduction
• urban trans corridors improved
• lower consumption
• WILL never be mega city – should be a model city
• Best way to change through EDUCATION
• sustainability educations – crucial to bridging divides
• sophisticated export strat or tertiary education
• focus on students and courses – industry focused on what they need
• education online portal
• innovative partnerships between Universities and highschools
• The act is currently the capital of Australia, how can it be transformed to become the representation of Australia in the next 100 years? Through education
• Most livable and viable city
• Intercultural capital
• Canberra has no Presence and identity – through multiple scales and connection to the res