Thesis: The research develops the concept of an urban “pulse” in order to establish more effective techniques of resuscitation within the voids of blighted neighborhoods. The work critiques both top-down generic master planning and current pop-up temporary strategies, which often lack enough weight to keep a lasting impact.In neighborhoods susceptible
to cycles of decay, urban infill projects using traditional and contemporary
tools of redevelopment often fail to revitalize and resuscitate. The rhythm of
the city in these neighborhoods—differing perceptually from the more vibrant
districts—is paced by the constraints of its own lack of activity, limited
visibility, weakened infrastructure, high volume of criminal occurrences, and
its unused voided sites and buildings.
As an urban defibrillation
strategy, this thesis implants itself into the under-utilized crevices within
San Francisco’s blighted Tenderloin, serving to provide “duration-based” pulses
of activity and usage—benefits that can be measured by reinforcing the existing
beat—strengthening the walls of the neighborhood through surges of program with
varying intensities.