The Convergence- The Intersection of Two Extreme Typologies in Cities

In the early 20th century, downtown areas were the primary centers of commerce, industry, and cultural activity in many American cities. However, with the rise of suburbanization, many of these downtown areas began to experience economic decline and population loss. Factors that contributed to this decline included the decentralization of jobs and economic activity to suburban areas, as well as the increasing availability of affordable automobiles that allowed people to commute longer distances.

As more people moved to the suburbs, downtown areas became associated with problems such as crime, poverty, and decay. This led to a further decline in urban areas as businesses and residents left for the suburbs. This is how the edge cities started to rise. Transit development is a significant impact on the shift of population to edge cities. The term "edge cities"was coined by Joel Garreau in his 1991 book "Edge Cities: Life on the New Frontier". which are suburban areas that have become significant employment centers and have developed downtown-like characteristics. These urban areas are driven by factors such as the desire for walkable neighborhoods, access to cultural amenities, and job opportunities that are like urban downtowns.

The Thesis proposal explores combining both suburban and urban lifestyles resulting in a hybrid environment that offers the best of both worlds. It will provide the sense of community and neighborhood that is often found in suburban areas, along with the convenience and accessibility to urban amenities and services. The concept will be addressing how horizontal living (Suburban) and how vertical living (Downtown) would address a different lifestyle that will give access to a range of shops, restaurants, and entertainment options within a short walk or bike from home, as well as having park spaces and playgrounds connecting between the buildings will help to thrive for better and healthy communities. This project will also offer the benefits of urban living, such as the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, access to cultural events and activities, and the convenience of public transportation. This idea of convergence is focusing on the newly proposed purple line transit corridor and Adelphi-West Metro Station, Maryland. It envisions a unique urban fabric that will set into action to reduce reliance on cars by promoting more sustainable way of life.