West Philadelphia Land Use Critique

 I. The purpose of this assignment was to criticize two previously proposed land use schemes which involved the creation of playgrounds, landmarks, gardens, and a pathway/golf course based off of previously developed information from earlier classes. We (Alice, Junko, and Charlie) began by considering how this land use plan could fit the same criteria that we used for our miniature golf course design in studio. The proposal was to celebrate urban waters. Therefore, our first criteria for criticism combines the following factor maps: Topography (lowest is better for collecting urban water), Old Streams (closest to the water would be better), and Sewers (closest to the sewers would be better). We then matched this value map with Ed's and Alice & Junko's land use proposals.

 

 

This is the Value Map consisting of topography, sewers, & old streams, that was used to judge the two proposals.

 

 

Ed's Land Use Proposal

 

Alice & Junko's Land Use Proposal

   Overall Alice and Junko's land use proposal seems to be more successful in terms of celebrate urban waters.

 

 

 

 

II. After we criticizied the overall land use proposals based on the criteria of celebrating urban waters, we began to examine the four elements of the land use proposals ( gardens, landmarks, playgrounds, and pathways) in terms of their socio-economic values. These values were Safety (areas furthest away from crime spots are the best), Industrial complexes ( areas furthest away from the buildings are better), Commercial areas ( areas closest to commercia areas are the best), and Institution ( areas closest to the institutions are better).

 

This is a Value Map consisting of safety, industrial complexes, commercial areas, and institution, that are used to judge the two proposals.

 

  Each of the following maps indicates how the four elements of both land use proposals were successful in terms of their socio-economic values. These factor maps were overlaid on top of their overall land use proposals which are indicated in light green.

 

Ed's Gardens

 

Alice & Junko's Gardens

 

Ed's Landmarks

 

Alice & Junko's Landmarks

 

Ed's Pathway

 

Alice & Junko's Pathway

 

Ed's Playgrounds

 

Alice & Junko's Playgrounds

 

Gallery