erica brooks
INTERIOR DESIGN
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NEWH National Competition Winner
Challenge: This project requires the designer to create seven experiences for a guest in a hostel. The building, occupancy, and location is undetermined. Everything should be designed sustainably.
Solution: The Cork Factory is an old warehouse in the Art District of Baltimore, MD. It falls on the edge of an urban revival movement. It is a youth hostel that encourages young travellers to explore and truly integrate themselves into the Baltimore community by participating in service projects such as community gardens and house renovations in a poverty-stricken area, directly Northeast of the hostel. To the Southwest is the Art District, with a young, creative, rapidly developing community. The location is excellent for public transportation, as well as easy walking distance to many local attractions. This is a work in progress that will further develop into an urban development study.
Software: Revit, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign
Location Analysis
The city of Baltimore has undergone many drastic changes in the last decade. In the 1970’s, the city was at an all-time low. The industrial revolution had slowed down, leaving many abandoned warehouses and unemploy- ment. Frequent riots and strikes created a social upheaval and many streets still remain barren. The 1980’s led to an upswing in the inner harbor. The city promoted educational, economic, and retail developments and the downtown city saw a drastic improvement. By 2000, this development had pushed outward and the central city was labeled the Art District. In the mid-2000’s, this district became home to high-end housing and a thriving economy. However, the economic push hit a barrier around 2008, due to the financial crisis. The Northeast side of Baltimore now remains abandoned and poverty-stricken. Crime rates, which dropped consistently over the last few years, leveled out. Unemployment rates increased. A very distinct economic border formed through the Art District, dividing the city. As the economy recovers, the city begins to pick up where they left off.
Housing Income Levels (%)
Housing Levels
Population Density
Concept Sketch
Concept Sketch Applied to Baltimore Street Grid
Timeline of Baltimore
1706 | Port of Baltimore
Baltimore serves as one of the United State's most dominant trade centers
1827 | B&O Railroad Opens
Baltimore swells as one of the United State's most dominant trade centers
1840 | Immigration
A variety of nationalities such as German, Irish, and African Americans live in Baltimore, creating a heterogenous patchwork of neighborhoods
1861 | Civil War Riots
Because of the diverse population, the city was torn by the Civil War. The city was declared Confederate, but opposition was so strong that it caused riots and turmoil
1880 | Manufacturing Increases
After the Industrial Revolution, manufacturing replaced trade as Baltimore's primary value, and housing construction increased significantly for workers
1904 | Great Baltimore Fire
Seventy blocks were burned in the fire, causing Baltimore to face their urban crisis, by developing and modernizing the city with municipal administration
1943 | WWII Manufacturing Peaks
Baltimore served as a major production center for WWII, primarily through the Bethlehem Steel's Fairfield Yard. The population increased again as migrants seeked employment
1951 | Police Narcotics Squad
Heroin became more popular over the following decade, and prices soon skyrocketed, causing an increase in shoplifting, robberies, and overall crime
1968 | Baltimore Riots
Eight days of riots followed the assassination of Martin Luther King. This resulted in six deaths, 700 injuries, and 5,800 arrests, as well as an $12 million of damage (equivalent to $77 million today)
1974 | Teachers' Strike
Teachers, municipal officers, and police officers conducted strikes, further disrupting the city's development
1980 | Population Drop
The white community gradually moved into the suburbs as integration of public ammenities increased, leaving an increased black population. Service and knowledge professions in the suburbs replaced manufacturing in the city. The Inner Harbor was neglected and scattered with abandoned warehouses
1981 | Harborplace
An urban restuarant and retail center opened, followed by the National Aquarium and some museums
1992 | Light Rail
This form of public transportation helped to integrate the suburbs with the city and furthered economic growth
2002 | Art District
This district developed further Northeast of the Inner Harbor, pushing the development out of a small radius
2007 | Central Luxury Housing
Upper income housing developed in this area, encouraging movement back into the city
2008 | Economy Crash
The momentum of the urban development faltered after the crash. Since then, little has been done to restart the movement
2014 | Hope for the Future
With the recovered economy, we need to find a way to rekindle the economic development. This must be done not only to salvage the city, but to help provide employment oppurtunities, increase school standards, and instill security in dangerous areas. Large portions of the city are abandoned, and provide architectural shells to potentially complete this task efficiently, affordably, and sustainably
Concept
This sketch is an illustration of the design intent of the hostel: bringing parallel paths together. The paths are applied to the floor plan to create circulation and intersect at moments of impact throughout the space, to encourage and enhance visitor interaction. It also divides the space into quadrants, creating design more intimate design opportunities.
Sustainability
The sustainable aspects of the hostel will not only make the building efficient and beneficial to the surrounding community, but it will serve to bring occupants together through green education. Since visitors come from all over the world, this education will be dispersed not only throughout the building and community but universally as well.
Sustainable Cycle
Access to Public Transportation
Surrounding Population
BWI Airport | 30 min train ride from location
Encourages international visitors
Easy and short trip from airport
Penn Station | .3 mi from location
Connects to BWI Airport
Washington D.C.
New York City
Philadelphia
Boston
Richmond
The Cork Factory is located near John’s Hopkins campus, Baltimore City Public College, and Maryland Institute of Art. This draws a large population of students into the area. Because the housing is less expensive in the Northeast, many young professionals also live in this area, as well low-income families. Since the hostel is located in the Art District, there is also a large population of artists and musicians. This stimulates a young, lively, and creative community. The hostel serves as a means to bring these groups together.
Light-rail | .3 mi from location
Connects to BWI Airport
Hunt Valley
Inner Harbor
Camden Yards
M&T Bank Stadium
Maryland Zoo
University of Baltimore
Lexington Market
Bus Station | .1 mi from location
Connects to Inner Harbor
Camden Yards
Maryland Zoo
Little Italy
National Aquarium
Fort McHenry
The Art District is an inspired community with many small local businesses, farmers markets, and creative forms of art. The hostel is easy walking distance to any of these attractions, and only a few stops away from the inner harbor, Maryland Zoo, and International Aquarium on the bus. Visitors are also encouraged to utilize bikes provided for the hostel by receiving a discount on their stay. Since Guilford Avenue is undergoing the process of becoming a Bike Boulevard, anywhere in the community becomes instantly accessible.
Local Activities
Space Planning
1 Arrive
2 Relax
3 Gather
4 Create
5 Rejuvenate
6 Integrate
7 Rest
