STREET DESIGN AND BUILDING DESIGN GUIDELINES
Cincinnati needs an accessible public place, a place to spend time with urbanites. There has
been a lot of effort put into The Banks area through the riverside park development, but there is no place or pause that can serve as a vibrant ‘entrance to the city’. Our vision for the block is to provide this platform of urban milieu that can serve as a successful entrance to the city.
Location
CONTEXT
The block between Freedom Way and Second Street, and between Joe Nuxhall Way (Main street) and Marian Spencer Way (Walnut Street) in Cincinnati is the focus of our proposal. After the demolition of the Reds Riverfront Stadium in 2002, the block was a clean slate. Today, it is primarily composed of residential apartments and restaurants on the ground floor, including two levels of public parking space. We propose to achieve the vision through a ‘pedestrian-first’ urban space, that not only takes care of the through traffic and pedestrian friendly pathways, but also create a sense of urban room through landscapes, pedestrian commercials and a public plaza.
STREET DESIGN
THE SECOND STREET
ISSUES FOUND ● Lack of retail diversity ● No on-street parking ● Noise pollution from I-71 and 2nd street ● A lot of fast traffic ● The garage above retail disconnects the residents from the street ● Constant retail and restaurant shade ● Pedestrian garage entrances are located poorly for retail benefit. ● Vacant lot at the corner of Marian Spencer Way and 2nd street
PROPOSED
CURRENT
PROPOSED
CURRENT
URBAN DESIGN
OBJECTIVES
1. Activating the ‘South-West corner’.
2. West Facade compliments the ‘monumental wall’ of National Underground Railroad
Freedom Center (NURFC).
3. Separated Public/Private Area—The ‘main form’ sits over the recessed Pedestrian-
Commercial.
4. The pedestrian-commercial in the north facade considers the design continuity from
adjacent building.
DESIGN GUIDELINES
TRANSPARENCY
WEST FACADE
PRIVATE-PUBLIC SPACE
2040 ...the future of the street is a place for people
WALNUT STREET
DESIGN PRICIPLES Removal of surface parking. Reclaiming of streets by pedestrians. Autonomous Vehicles functioning in full efficiency. Dedicated lanes for bike and shuttles. Two-way two lane street.
PROPOSED
CURRENT
PROPOSED
CURRENT
STREET DIMENSIONS