Project 3: Site-Specific Work
As a studio project, you will develop a site-specific work that will reflect your attitude and interest in a particular place. How you choose to address “site” is up to you, but your work will reflect an understanding of the issues and topics addressed in class.The project will be broken into 3 phases: Site Analysis; Reflection & Interpretation; Synthesis & Response. There will be handouts and assignments for each phase.
In Site Analysis, you will gather information about the site through research and field visits. In Reflection & Interpretation, you will use the information you have gathered to develop an attitude and approach to the site that will result in a proposal. In Synthesis & Response, you will develop and execute a means of engaging the site that is in line with your attitude and approach.
Although these are separate phases, in practice there will be considerable overlap as you work through them.
the site
Due to the circumstances of the class, your project will be limited to the area of Civic Center Park in downtown Denver. This includes the park itself and the buildings and urban condition(s) that immediately frame the park itself: the “cultural campus” of the Central Library and Denver Art Museum, the State Capitol, the City and County Building, the Colfax edge of the Downtown District, the Webb Municipal Building. You are not responsible in your project for all of this area; your task is to address some part of it.
Civic Center Park is the disputed heart of Denver. It is the central point for the workings of the city and state governments. It is historically significant in many ways. It is alternately claimed and rejected by a variety of demographic groups and constituents. It is the troubled symbol of the city, where high and low coexist, where the powerful and powerless cross paths.
The class will go to Civic Center Park on Thursday, Sept. 23 as an initial site visit. Your job will be to record/document your impressions and observations of the park and its surroundings. We will meet at the park at 12:30 in front of the Denver Art Museum at the old entrance on 14th Ave. There is a light-rail stop at 16th & California for the H and F lines that run from DU; you can then take the 16th St. Mall shuttle to Broadway and walk across Colfax to the park. There is also metered on-street parking around the park as well as a parking garage at 12th & Broadway (entrance on 12th). We will spend about 1-1/2 to 2 hrs at the park.
