New Hydrological Era | ARC1003 | Victor Perez-Amado & Celina Balderas Guzmari
Course Description:
Revere was the first public beach in America and Boston’s primary pleasure ground in the late 19th century through the mid-20th century. The opening of the Charles Eliot-designed beach catalyzed a flurry of housing and highly speculative development that attracted some of the most demographically diverse groups in the greater Boston area. Once boasting an array of amusement rides and attractions, the area fell into abandonment during the 1970’s - so Wonderland became not so wonderful anymore. Therefore, recent effort in revitalization, renovation, and water quality has positioned Revere as a center for major renovation.
The studio’s site is at a nexus of many systems, transportation, hydrology, ecology, public recreation and many more. However, because the site is ecologically sensitive and at a risk of flooding the siting of any project is critical.
The studio will be based on different exercises:
· Master planning and the creation of a new hub for Wonderland
· Siting, grading, and the study of ecosystems
· The study and design of architectural housing prototypes that respond to future hydrological conditions.
This studio invites speculation, rethinking and reinvention of the typical suburban planning methods and housing typologies to develop new urban and architectural systems for Revere Beach that are able to mediate physically and culturally between ecosystems and the city. - Victor
