Project Summary

In Boston, there are multiple empty or deserted lots that communities don’t use or don’t care about. When spaces go unused, they may become unsafe or simply useless. We aim to turn these unused empty lots into areas that people and communities can use and enjoy while also being safe. On the right is Lederman Park, a site that we are focusing on and are trying to improve.

Lederman Park

Why this site

When selecting a site, we wanted to find a place in a high-traffic area that wasn't currently being used. We also wanted to find a place that already has development around it such as restaurants and other entertainment. After researching places around Boston and Cambridge, we came across Lederman Park, located on Sturrow Drive across from MGH. It sits next to the Charles, meaning it's right next to part of the Charles River path. It already has baseball fields around it in a neighboring park but Lederman itself remains empty and overgrown. It has the potential to become a highly used space as many people drive past it every day or walk by it when they are walking along the Charles.

Location

Cambridge

Boston

Site Visit Summary

Users + Activities

• Dog owners and joggers mainly use the space
• Activities at the space are dog walking, playing with dogs, jogging, baseball, walking, nature viewing

Pedestrians

• Most people were positioned along the Charles River path next to the site
• We found that only about 5 people walked by when we were there for 30 minutes, two of which had dogs.

Parking

• Very little amount of parking along the side, as well as handicapped parking in front and drop-off parking in front.

Space

• Forgotten, empty, overgrown, unmaintained feeling

Zoning Diagrams

Iteration #1

Zoning Diagrams

Precedents

+

Dimension Drawings

Conceptual Models

Final Models

Final Photos

Reflection

Redesigning spaces such as Lederman Park is essential in our world today since it connects communities and gives forgotten spaces a purpose. If our park design were to be implemented in Lederman Park, a place to play, socialize, or simply walk your dog would be born, benefitting everyone in the area. We learned a lot throughout this project, specifically the architecture process, how to do site research, how to 3D model + print, and how to communicate ideas through sketches and diagrams.

Overview | Kroka Expeditions

In a wilderness setting, one always needs to be ready to adapt to the present moment. Kroka values the importance of a developed sense of intuition in combination with leadership skills. The four core principles of intuitive leadership are:

• Observing the world around us
• Working with the elemental forces
• Practicing skills for self-reliance
• Acknowledging the unseen world

Kroka's curriculum is centered around simplicity, authenticity, gratitude, and cooperation. As much as possible we source our food and gear locally, we engage with communities that we travel through, we value adaptation and mindful decision-making, and we encourage appropriate risk-taking.

-Kroka's Website

Overview | Vision

• Must fit the Kroka campus aesthetically
• Not allowed to use any electronics
• Must use Kroka materials
• Principles of Inefficient Design

Goals

• Communicate meaningfully with a client
• Create a lasting physical impact on a community
• Design something without electronics that can be built by hand

Design Constraints

Project Timeline

Visit #1

Initial Proposals

Project Pitch

Visit #2

Secondary Iterations

Zoom w/Client

Visit #3 (Overnight)

Final Presentation

Raising Boats

Efficient Cooking

Wood Drying

Visit #1 | Proposed Issues

Issue

Design Constraints

• Able to be operated by a single person
• Must include a locking mechanism
• $250 Budget

Boats at Kroka are stored in the boathouse. To pull boats up, two people at each end of the boat are needed and there is no locking mechanism.

Issue

Design Constraints

• Aesthetically beautiful
• Can hold three pots
• Durable
• Above Knee height

Most meals at Kroka camps require three pots, and currently, they don't have a stove that can do that while surviving the weather conditions at Kroka.

Issue

Design Constraints

• Fits with the Kroka campus
• Can be long term
• Doesn't have to be implemented immediately

Kroka goes through about 30 chords of wood a year and it is stored in large cylinders that are exposed to the elements. Floods and winters can often wipe out a lot of wood.

Visit #1 | Issue Analysis



Proposal #1 | Pulley System

System 1 - 7:1 w/Winch - 28:1

System 2 - 2:1 w/Winch - 8:1

System 3 - 4:1 w/Winch - 16:1

Mechanical Advantage

Proposal #2 | Rocket Stove

Proposal #3 | Kiln Research

• Current moisture content of wood pre-drying = aprox. 35%
• Moisture content post dry = aprox. 15%
• Estimated content post kiln dry = 8-10%
• Wood circles: 330 ft^3 = aprox. 2.5 cords of wood.
• Farmhouse winter storage = 920 ft^3 = aprox. 7.2 cords of wood
• Summer camp storage = 950 ft^3 = aprox. 7.4 cords of wood
• It takes 6-12 months to dry black cherry wood to a moisture content of 15%.

• With a solar kiln, it would take 4-6 weeks. That's a 1200% increase in time efficiency.
• Solar kilns reduce moisture content to 8-10%, an increase of 30% efficiency in moisture content.
• Solar kiln dried wood is 10-25% more carbon efficient compared to traditionally dried wood.

Underlying Research

Major Takeaways

Blueprints for Solar Kiln

Post-Proposal Changes

Raising Boats

Efficient Cooking

Wood Drying

Result

Next Steps

• Prepare to install pulley system
• Create risk assessment framework

Kroka is satisfied with the proposed pulley system, and is excited to see the effectiveness of the implemented system.

Result

Next Steps

• Continue to research & brainstorm stove ideas
• Prepare for site analysis

Kroka is on board with the creation of a rocket stove on it's campus. During our second visit, they will show us two potential sites and the available materials.

Result

Next Steps

• Because creating a solar kiln is no longer possible, it is no longer a critical priority
• Continue background research

Kroka is open to building a solar kiln in the future, but is unable to physically commit to such a large-scale project presently.

Visit #2 | Overview

Overview

After our first visit, we had finished a pulley system plan, and started brainstorming for a final rocket stove prototype. In order to progress our rocket stove prototype, we needed to find and assess available materials as well as potential sites.

Objectives

• Install pulley system prototype
• Assess potential sites for rocket stove
• Assess available materials for rocket stove

Visit #2 | Pulley Implementation

Visit #2 | Stove Site Analysis

Site 1 - Pizza Oven Location

Site 2 - Staff Village

Pros -

• Easy access for summer camp
• Close to other major stovetop

Cons -

• Harder for year-round staff to access
• Close to other major stovetop

Pros -

• Easy access for year-round staff
• Contributes to current Kroka project-staff kitchen

Cons -

• Harder for summer camp staff to access
• Sloped building surface

Visit #2 | Material Analysis

Available Materials

Material Constraints

• Bricks are not uniform size
• Slight damage to cinderblocks, bricks
• Limited number of flagstones, not enough to build a base

• Cinderblocks
• Gravel/dirt
• Bricks (some believed to be fire-resistant)
• Flagstones / masonry stones
• Ceramic Tiles

Visit #3 | Overnight Stay

Overview

Having finished our first pulley prototype, we were eager to improve and finalize it. In addition, the schematics for the rocket stove were complete. Our third visit was planned over two days, where we would help with farm chores alongside our project work.

Objectives

• Install pulley system prototype
• Assist Kroka with chores and daily tasks over the span of multiple days

Visit #3 | Life At Kroka

Visit #3 | Life At Kroka

Visit #3 | Fixing Pulleys

Visit #3 | Stove Construction

Conclusion & Analysis

Raising Boats

Efficient Cooking

Wood Drying

Result

Next Steps

• Continue to increase gear ratio
• Add progress-capture device

The pulley system and wench were installed successfully. Currently, the gear ratio is 8:1, allowing one person to raise the boat. The current prototype is missing a progress capture device.

Result

Next Steps

• Research & order proper materials

Due to the lack of heat-resistant material we were unable to create a permanent structure. Created working prototype with the available materials.

Result

Next Steps

• Continue to research solar kiln designs
• Create final design scale

Kroka is open to building a solar kiln in the future, but is unable to commit to such a large-scale project presently.

Final Reflections

Reflections

Skills Built

• Client Interaction
• Project Framing & Scope
• Project Management
• Time Management
• Risk Management
• Scheduling & Efficient Workflow
• Final, Physical Deleverables!

• Permanent construction takes a long time!
• Mortar is difficult to use without proper equipment
• Long distance workflow is a challenge

Project Statement

Unerasable is a series of monuments celebrating the solidarity, defiance, and resilience inherent to the queer experience. Using street art aesthetically inspired by the radical queer movements of the 1970s, Unerasable reclaims space for the parts of queer experience that have been buried for public view. Thus making the impact of queer people Unerasable.

Starting Point

Sketches

Early Exploration

Precedents

Kara Walker

We like the provocative/disruptive energy as well as the aesthetic

Gay Community News

Community driven newspaper that provokes action and showcases solidarity

+

The Rag

Prototype 1

Rapid Prototype 2

Site Analysis

Fag Räg Printing House

The Haymarket Bar

Nuvu Innovation School

Feedback Sessions

1) What/Who's story are we telling

2) Unmarketable stories

3) Hone in on our scope (Resilience, Defiance, Solidarity)

4) The History Project is a incredibly valuable resource

Sythesizing Feedback & New project direction

1) What/Who's story are we telling

2) Unmarketable stories

3) Hone in on our scope (Resilience, Defiance, Solidarity)

4) The History Project is a incredibly valuable resource

Site Decision

Research

Plaque Development

Final photos

Pass-through takes place in big, crumbling house in Vermont or New Hampshire over the course of two days in October 2023. The denizens of the house - a woman named Catherine, her two children and mother in law - fight frequently as they try to collectively come to terms with the death of Catherine's erratic husband two years prior. They rarely talk about him and have not cleaned out his office yet at the start, but when they do a whole lot of unwelcome feelings and memories will be coming at the family very quickly.

Outline

Kody White, November 2023

Kody White, November 2023