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The controlling visual images of Morningside Heights are
its academic institutions: Columbia University, Barnard
College, Teacher's College, and the Manhattan School of
Music. Technically, the boundaries of Morningside Heights
are defined by street locations from 106th to 125th Street;
however, I�ve chosen to reinterpret the district and have
redefined its periphery by the boundaries of the respective
academic institutions (this includes street locations from
110th to 122nd Street).
Based on the observation of the site, I have chosen four
sites as probes for my strategy of design. Each site
represents a unique spatial character as a element of urban
space which enable us to exam the district�s changes both
literally and figuratively.
The first probe is on the corner of 110th Street and
Broadway, where a commercial tower was proposed as a
district node. A shopping mall, theater, night club, and
restaurants reside on the twin tower�s lower levels; its
basement is connected to the 110th subway station. To
accommodate this proposal, the zoning code would need to be
changed to make the cross street between Broadway and
Amsterdam Avenue a commercial district.
The second probe is the open space around St. John�s the
Divine, which is located on the corner of 110th Street and
Amsterdam Avenue. Regenerizing the area is a amphitheater
and some smaller scale spaces that are coordinated by the
fragmented new structures along Amsterdam Avenue. By linking
these diagonal elements a directory for the tourists from
St. John�s the Divine to Columbia is forged, and it helps
them move through the landmark buildings. The typology of
space in this probe would serve as a regional cultural
center, providing such outdoor activities like jazz
concerts, performing arts, and exhibitions.
The third probe, located on the north corner of Morningside
Park at 122nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue, abuts an existing
park and elementary school. I�ve proposed to place a new
civic center and dormitories for Columbia University on the
site. In plan, the new structures share an open common
quadrangle. The placement of elements serves a dual
function: not only does the open space visually lead
visitors to Morningside Park beyond, but the buildings also
provide a framed entrance to the park.
The fourth probe is on the corner of 122nd Street and
Broadway, where the underground subway reaches street level.
This area is enclosed by two schools: the Manhattan School
of Music and the Seminary. The building typology after 122nd
Street is quite different from the one preceeding it (110th
Street to 122nd Street), and this makes the site very
special as a conjunction point to Broadway. I proposed to
place a landmark here which links the is a formal structure
site force. It also serves as a public space for students of
the two institutions.
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