URBAN MODEL PROPOSAL FOR HYPER DENSE TRANSIT NODE DEVELOPMENT @ CHAMONIX PLACE (RALEIGH, NC, USA)

This is a quickly hashed together collection of images, Google Sketchup generated, for an proposed urban revision of my current home neighborhood at Chamonix Place, Raleigh, NC. My proposal utilizes the setbacks, street widths, and block build out benchmark models I've created over a period of some several months. The street widths illustrated here are typically more generous than demanded by my model plan, to be further illustrated at a later date. The model plan, illustrates, "minimum," setbacks, building separations, and street widths, so as to meet fire code, emergency egress, and access to views/exposure to sun and sky. The images presented here are put together so that the taller buildings are built to the West and North extremes of the site as pictured.

First though, we have the site as it exists:

SOUTH IS ALONG BOTTOM OF IMAGE

SOUTH IS ALONG TOP OF IMAGE

Now here is my proposed urban intervention:

SOUTH IS ALONG BOTTOM OF IMAGE

SOUTH IS ALONG TOP OF IMAGE (Remember this neighborhood would house between 5900-7500 people or more)

In order to crunch some numbers for you, the built out (modified) portion of the illustrated site extends approximately 1700ft from North to South, and 1906ft East to West. The development occurs around two main existing roads (Craddock Rd, splitting the low slung courtyard blocks and low rise development running East/West; Glendower Rd, running North/South the length of the high rise development). The area is equal to 11.6 percent of a square mile or 30.1 percent of a square kilometer.

The area is not entirely built out, because a cemetery exists at the Southeastern terminus of the site, and because an existing street of tightly spaced single family homes (center East of site) is not disturbed in my proposal, neither are some low drainage points from the area, wooded plots of land, and an existing apartment/condominium community just beyond the North terminus of the site.

Remembering the area equivalents, and trusting my building design standards that will be later explained, I have located 2,976 living units (condos, apartments, homes) on the site. We will use an average of 2.25 persons per home. The site would house 6,696 persons as shown. Given the 30 percent buildout of a square kilometer, as illustrated, we arrive at 22,320 persons housed on a square kilometer built out in this fashion. A square mile contains 2.59 square kilometers giving us 57808.8 persons per square mile. The position I hope you take away from this is as follows; an urban scale intervention as illustrated here would support its own retail, commercial activity, industry, entertainment, and transit, independently capable of success (though symbiotic and synthesizing) with the existing Raleigh, urban fabric. It wouldn't require parking facilities or auto dependency, except for delivery/take away of goods and external visitors, in which case I suggest a transit oriented kiss-and-ride facility/turn-out.

I have designed and incorporate a variety of housing and building types in order to welcome the creative process of architects, engineers, and designers. I wish to explore urban generative methods at a street-scale level, as block and building design inputs breed an incredible diversity of solutions to cope with topography, hydrology, access to sun, views, privacy, and public/private realm modulation.

I am made certain, through urban experience, and both qualitative and quantitative methods that a neighborhood development of this size (designed to be car free) and relying on the creative genesis of occupants and entrepreneurs would have few difficulties in attracting a broad swath of the overall population. I will continue with further description, analysis, and illustration at another time, but for now I will send you off with a few more views in and around this proposal

Without further adeiu:

View overlooking the low-rise area, illustrating its focus around an existing cul-de-sac. This area receives full solar exposure without the shadow of larger buildings (to the North and West). A large, "central park" is visible mid frame.

9 Story mid-rise buildings have rooftop patio space and gardens, and the setback allows for low level terraces and ground level landscaping. Where the street turns into this neighborhood a kiss-and-ride transit stop is recommended.

Looking again over the low-rise area we see a large, "central park" area framed by 9 story buildings and terraces where presently there exist ONLY private single family homes

Typical view from street level within the low-rise area

View from 9th story tower setback terrace overlooking the landscaping and a broad shared pedestrian/bicycle/transit boulevard below

View from 27th story tower setback terrace overlooking "central park" area and low-rise in the distance.