‘12Parsons The New School for Design

Amy Jane Johnson

Master of Architecture

2012th

esi

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S p r i n gResponding to a global departure from a veneration for the handmade, my thesis re-envisions an abandoned powerhouse as a home for a new craft-based, intergenerational community com-posed of:

: a series of leasable, shared workspaces and tools dedicated to woodworking and metalworking projects, particularly those requiring large-scale fabrication space: residences for selected apprentices and mentors, introducing an inventive live-work setting: a public educational program providing both the resources to support the development of young, local fabrication businesses as well as workshops and events geared towards curious neighbors

Situated along the Gowanus, this thesis hopes to stitch adja-cent residential and industrial neighborhoods back to the canal. Through a careful balance of circulations and proposed inter-actions, the facility will provide new opportunities for a public engagement of the working waterfront.

With a focus on perpetuating light industrial trades through the creative exchange of digital and analogue production, this project seeks to transfer expertise across generations, foster an existing collection of young fabricators, and attract a future generation of innovators.

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FABRICATION INCUBATOR:generations generating

Abandoned MTA PowerhouseGowanus CanalBrooklyn, NY

Thesis Advisors: Reid FreemanAstrid LipkaJing LiuPaul GoldbergerPeter WheelwrightMark Rakatansky

(January, 1902)

existing woodworkersexisting metalworkers

transportation analysis water analysis

LOCALCOMMUNITY

PUBLIC

USERS PROGRAM RESULTS

RESIDENTS

mentors apprentices

LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

WOODWORKERS + METALWORKERS

• business exposure/growth

• improved craft

• connection to NYC

• potential for collaboration

• job placement

• access to workspace and equipment

• business mentoring

• private classes/lectures/events

• public classes/lectures/events

• exhibition space/store

TOOLS

STORAGE

OFFICE

STORAGE

EXHIBITIONWORKSTATIONS

CONFERENCE

MATERIALS LIBRARY

LECTURE HALL

MENTOR AND APPRENTICE RESIDENCES (2ND, 3RD, 4TH, 5TH FLOORS)

CLASSROOMS

COMPUTER LAB/CLASSROOM

MAIN LOUNGE

ENCLOSED TOOLS AND INFORMAL WORKSPACES

MENTOR AND APPRENTICE RESIDENCES (2ND, 3RD, 4TH, 5TH FLOORS)

SHARED KITCHEN

ENCLOSED TOOLS AND INFORMAL WORKSPACES

the history of industry + waterfront: can we reintroduce the public?

ground

01 (main entry)

02

03

3RD

AVE

4TH

AVE

NEV

INS

STRE

ET

BON

D S

TREE

T

2ND

AVE

3RD STREET

6TH STREET

7TH STREET

CARROLL STREET

PRESIDENT STREET

PRESIDENT STREET

UNION STREET

SACKETT STREET

1ST STREET

1ST STREET

2ND STREET

workers residents

public goods

site circulation

residential studies

existing conditions

private/public workspaces with potential to expand into circulation

ground

utilize the existing gantry:

:move goods from ground floor to elevated workspaces through operable doors:provide additional, flexible workspace for large-scale projects:transport public throughout factory in small educational viewing groups

ground

workspace/circulation studies

BOAT DELIVERY

TRUCK DELIVERY

TRUCK PICKUP

final section renders

HEAVY/OPEN

LIGHT/ENCLOSED

cnc laser

primingpaintingfinishing

assemblingdryingsetting

SMALL SCALE

LARGE SCALE

drills + sawslathes

press breaks/ planers/shears

sanders/buffers

diagram: locations of work + tools:

proposed metal/wood facade