Aquarama Terminal

Abstract

One of the major challenges of the 21st century is the rapid growth of many cities<br />and the decline of others.<br />There are many cities like Cleveland which were built to serve a far greater population<br />than currently inhabits the city. Infrastructure built for 800,000 now services<br />400,000 leaving creating surplus capacity and derelict spaces; urban voids which<br />have fallen into disuse. Manufacturing and shipping industries occupy valuable<br />waterfront space, highways create rifts and large civic public spaces designed<br />with the best of intentions create vacuums.<br />Cleveland is not dealing with the issue of growth but with transformation; in its<br />remaking as a place of mixed communities and neighborhoods. Understanding<br />the city spatially is the first part of an exploration into devising interventions that<br />can utilize existing infrastructure, reclaim and re-purpose spaces to generate new<br />uses and new vitality. This thesis is concerned with identifying an opportunity and<br />proposing a programmatic and spatial transformation.