The Incline

I have been doing some research on the area and found something interesting, the Duluth Incline.   The Incline ran on 7th Ave. W. from Superior St to Skyline Dr.   It dates from about 1891-1939.  In some versions the trolley cars were large enough to hold a horse and carriage.  For some time it was the only and safest way to the top of the hill.  It was also motivated by development at the top of the hill.  There is a bar downtown that gets it name from this. 

http://www.shorpy.com/Duluth-Incline-Railway

http://www.salmelaarchitect-clureproject.blogspot.com/

Duluth Collage

Here is a small collage of what I have found Duluth to be.  Although, if you have been to duluth there is much more to it.  Some of these are my own while the others are findings from flickr.com.   The past week and a half I have been working on some site analysis and a small scale model.

Nodes Knots Connections

I see a transportation terminal similar to a doorknob.  Just as the doorknob is the handshake to a home, a terminal is a handshake to a city or region.  So I was wondering what makes duluth such a great location, a location that draws so many people to it?  Duluth already has a history of being a transportation hub, transporting goods.  This shipping hub is the inner most port of the country, linking the midwest to the oceans.  Mix that with the natural resources in the area, iron ore, taconite and timber and the region booms.  Today, the port is still used to export iron ore and taconite as well as import goods for the midwest.  This along with the parks and trails have opened up tourist attractions that draw people to the area.  People want to experience the history.  People want to experience nature and wilderness.  The city of Duluth exists because of its natural resources, yet the built environment tries to respect nature.  The area shows a balance in support of nature and the built environment. In the end they are each interconnected and supporting eachother.

Site Information

Region- Upper Midwest
City-Duluth, MN

Site- A portion of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) parking lot

This site (orange) was chosen because of its location and convenience to a cultural entertainment and tourist center in Duluth. First, it has local to the BNSF right-of-way, which is important for a high speed rail line. Along with that, it is near the Historic Depot (in purple.) With emphasis towards transportation, it was important and appropriate to be able to link to the skywalk which ends in the DECC.

Landmarks and tourist attractions are numerous. Adjacent to the site are: Bayfront Park, Great Lakes Aquarium, The Depot, William Irvin Ship. Other major local attractions include: the Aerial Lift Bridge, Canal Park, Grandma’s Saloon and grill, and Enger Tower to name a few.

Bing Maps, Google Maps, DECC.org

Some background info

Last semester was spent researching the subject and finding case studies.  In the end I will be publishing a thesis book holding all of my findings and my design for the Multimodal Transit Station in Duluth, Minnesota.  Time this semester will be spent reviewing, editing and making due changes to the document.  The design is taking place on a hypothetical site in Duluth.  The project allows for a holistic approach to the design process, I hope to be sharing some of that with you soon.  I will be getting some things on here to show some of my research.

Statement of Intent

The influence of conditions set by the transportation infrastructure often dictates the design of the built environment at the junction of the two, the node.

The transportation infrastructure allows the transfer of people, products and resources from point A to point B, the endpoints or nodes of a transit system.
Transportation infrastructure lies within the right of way which ultimately influences the design and shape of what happens at the nodes.
Built environments at those nodes must adapt to the demands and changes within the transportation infrastructure for a seamless society to function within the built environment.

The transportation infrastructure ultimately influences a set of conditions upon the built environment at the nodes.

The built environment needs to be the forerunner subjecting the transportation infrastructure to the needs of the built environment.

Advances in transportation technology or simply a new development, for better or worse encroach the size and access of an urban site as well as the mode by which we get there. A cumulative approach with a focus on the built environment at these nodes provides a better functioning city or town environment.

Welcome

Hello!  I would like to welcome you to my design thesis blog.  I have created this blog to show you, colleagues, friends, family or any other onlookers what I am working on in my final semester at North Dakota State University.  I have also decided to use this as a form of documentation.  Though it is not possible to put everything on here due to timing, media and space; it will serve as marking checkpoints, breakthroughs or other changes throughout my thesis project.  I will try to keep up with my work.  Since I have been working on it for a semester already, I am already behind!  I am striving to make this project the best it can be.  I am using a free spirited approach and letting it take me where ever it needs to go.  Please, by all means, feel free to make comments, suggestions or even pose a question.  I look forward to seeing what this semester has in store for me and I hope you enjoy my adventure.