Activating Alleys: Spatial Strategies of Abstract Painting

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Activating Alleys: Spatial Strategies of Abstract Painting

Submitted to the Department of Architecture in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture at the Wentworth Institute of Technology, April 2021

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title: Activating Alleys: Spatial Strategies of Abstract Painting

creator: Marissa T. Nelson

subject: Art and architecture; Painting, Abstract; Public spaces; Alleys, Massachusetts, Boston, Designs and plans

description: Providing identity and activation to alleys that lack color, light, and occupation by deploying interventions that focus on strategies of layering, entanglement, and movement. There are few public recreational areas in the tight living spaces of the Back Bay and the South End of Boston. Since alleys have been reduced to spaces for trash, parking, and back of house access, there is an opportunity toredesign them to provide recreational space with the community in mind. Analysis of Abstract Expressionist painting as active compositions generates a specific architectural language to activate and provide a common identity across the alleys. Spatial strategies of layering, entanglement, and movement are identified from abstract painting and translated into a kit of parts of architectural interventions that provide opportunities for different activities. The kit of parts is made up of elements that define threshold, provide partial shelter, and a variety of community activities. To create an urban kit of parts that can be used in multiple contexts, thisthesis conducted case studies with two alleys, one in a residential area, and the other in a commercial zone. The demographics of the area dictate the activity of the intervention. The residential area focuses on creating a shared amenity space for its residents. Meanwhile, the commercial zone focuses on providing areas of rest for those passing through.

publisher: The Douglas D. Schumann Library and Learning Commons, Wentworth Institute of Technology

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date: 2021

type: Thesis

format: .pdf

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language: eng

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rights: https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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