An urban village for downtown Indianapolis, Indiana : a live/work/play community

Abstract

The idea of an Urban Village can be interpreted in many different ways. The general idea consists of a building or a group of buildings that contain a variety of ammenities that people need in their everyday lives. Whether this concept is applied at a large scale across a neighborhood or a town, or at a smaller scale within a group of buildings, the objective re-mains the same. This concept evokes the imagery of America's early towns and villages where homes, schools, shops and parks were tied together in small neighborhoods. Each neighborhood became a pedestrian friendly area where people could live, work, play, and socialize with their neighbors. Today, this model could create a sense of neighborliness within an urban setting and give residents the amenities they need within walking distance rather than having to depend on the automobile for every need.This thesis is an attempt to take the concepts that defined towns and villages in America's early days, and apply them to a limited scope. I believe that a single, mixed-use building could apply these same ideas and create a successful urban village. This "urban village" would provide the things people need everyday such as places to live, work, eat, and shop with attractive public spaces, both inside and out.