Abstract:
THE AIM FOR THIS PROJECT IS TO RECONNECT THE POPULATION WITH NATURE AND A HEALTHIER LIFE-STYLE. THIS WILL BE REALIZED THROUGH THE ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE MONON RAIL CORRIDOR INTO AN ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR FOCUSING ON BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIANTRAFFIC.FOR YEARS WE HAVE BEEN DEPENDENT ON THE AUTOMOBILE THAT IS POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT, MAKING US LAZY, AND INCREASING THE HOURS WE MUST WORK TO SUPPORT OURSELVES. AS THE DEMANDS OF WORK AND THE COST OF LIVING INCREASES, MORE PEOPLE ARE SEEKING ALTERNATIVES TO THE NORMAL LIFE-STYLE. THEY NEED LESS EXPENSES AND MORE FREE TIME FOR FAMILY AND RELAXATION. By CONVERTING THE MONON RAIL LINE INTO A BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN TRAIL A NEW ALTERNATIVE IS CREATED TO THE AUTOMOBILE DOMINATED WORLD. THE TRAIL LINKS THE MOST HEAVILY POPULATED AREA OF INDIANAPOLIS WITH MANY COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.THE PROGRAM OF THE FACILITIES ALONG THE MONON TRAIL WOULD INCORPORATE THOSE FUNCTIONS NEEDED FOR BICYCLE COMMUTING AS WELL AS FOR RECREATIONAL USERS. A PLACE TO STORE THE BICYCLE, CLEANSE, AND CHANGE BEFORE WORK, NEED TO BE PROVIDED FOR THE CYCLIST. OTHER SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED ARE A WORK STATION TO MAKE EMERGENCY REPAIRS, ALONG WITH GATHERING SPACES FOR THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY THE RECREATIONAL USES OF THE TRAIL. THE FACILITIES WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ITS CONTEXT AND ANY OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE AND ENCOURAGE THE GATHERING OF PEOPLE.THE CHARACTER OF THE SPACES INTEND TO EDUCATE THE USER OF THE POSITIVE EFFECT THEY HAVE HAD ON THE ENVIRONMENT. EACH FACILITY SHALL HAVE ITS OWN CHARACTER RELATING TO ITS CONTEXT AND BE SENSITIVE TO THE ENVIRONMENT INITS OPERATION.THESE SPACES COMBINE INTO AN APPROXIMATELY 1750 GROSS SQUARE FOOT STRUCTURE. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS PROJECT IS $120,000 (IN 1990 DOLLARS) FOR EACH FACILITY.THE DESIGN CONCEPTS FOCUSED ON THE MOVEMENT THROUGH SPACE AND HOW IT IS AFFECTED BY THE BICYCLE. THE SEQUENCING OF SPACES WAS ORGANIZED TO CREATE A CEREMONIAL PASSAGE FROM THE REALM OF THE BICYCLE TO THE REALM OF THE PEDESTRIAN. A STRONG CONNECTION WITH NATURE WAS KEPT TO REMIND THE USER OF THE INFLUENCE THAT THEY HAVE UPON THE ENVIRONMENT. To PROMOTE THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY LARGE AND SMALL GATHERING SPACES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO INITIATE SOCIAL CONTACT.THIS THESIS PROJECT IS THE FIRST STEP IN A SERIES OF DESIGN EXPLORATIONS I PLAN TO PURSUE AFTER GRADUATION. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT PATHS TO EXPLORE FOR THIS PROJECT. THIS THESIS HAS THE POSSIBILITY TO EXPLORE THE DESIGN POTENTIAL A SERIES OF THESE FACILITIES AS THE TRAIL PASSES THROUGH THE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND CONTEXTS. THE ISSUES RAISED DURING THE FINAL JURY COULD ALSO PROVIDE AN AVENUE OF FURTHER STUDY.
