Understanding a site requires observation and expression.  Two-dimensional representations of observations and understandings were accomplished in the previous project to represent phenomena and everyday characteristics of the neighborhood.  Three-dimensional modeling of the site was developed to gain an in depth understanding of the site. This process commenced through the creation of several study models in order to experiment with appropriate concepts and appropriate materials to represent several phenomenal happening within the Faubourg-Marigny and Bywater Neighborhoods. After experimenting with materials and concepts the decision was made to model gentrification with in the Marigny and Bywater.  Several iterations were produced, each containing a change in materiality and meaning.  Iteration A attempts to define gentrification on basic terms to serve as a foundation for the exploration of gentrification.  Iteration A contains a base of fiber board with several varieties of colored plastic stapled together while becoming attached to the fiber board, which represents a specific parcel of land.  A separate piece is constructed of two sheets of clear acrylic with only green plastic placed between the two layers.  This portion is bolted together and designed to interface with the fiber board.  When the acrylic layers are placed over the fiberboard the analogous colors of the plastic and their attachment to the board become less clear and begin to fade.  This models was a spring board into the controversial issue of gentrification while providing a simple illustrative method to describing the effects of gentrification. Iteration B introduces the study of the forces of gentrification.  A homogeneous population is represented by solitary and regular piece of clear acrylic attached to the surface by two magnets.  A Heterogeneous population is represented by individual magnets woven together to form a complex network.  This represents the attachment and connections of a local and native population.   By relocating the heterogeneous population, the push and pull forces of gentrification are explored. Iteration C attempts to take these concepts a step further by introducing direction, attachment, and time while placing this concept within the context of landscape in that of the Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods.  The vertical acrylic panels represent long term residents.  The height of these vertical panels represents attachment to place or total investment in place.  These panels are attached on an axis of steel rods representing the direction of forces exerted.  Elastic bands place the forces of push, pull, and stress among these panels.  The model is illustrative as well as active.  As time has progressed several of the vertical acrylic panels have cracked and been displaced due to the stress of the elastic bands.  The panel and the stress of the elastic are removed creating a visible void within the model. Iteration D further experiments in appropriate materials while placing the concept of gentrification within a recognizable urban form.  Iteration D was combined with the visible forces of Iteration C in the production of the final. The final model consists of a acrylic plane with structures organized within the urban gridiron.  Wooden dowels connect the residential units to the base and represent residents, which are the anchor of the community, exposing themselves to others through interaction.  Structures lacking wooden dowels represent industry.  Industry in the area does not have a strong attachment to the area resulting from the exodus of the wharves and regional/international shipping on the Mississippi River in this particular area of New Orleans.  It is an empty non-contributing aspect that could potentially be redeveloped.  The third form represented on the base plane is a series of empty structures.  These empty structures are structures that are not currently in use.  These empty buildings as well as the industrial buildings create a network of structures in conditions that are ripe for redevelopment.  An empty lot is represented through a hole in the acrylic plane, creating a vacuum for development.  A chipboard plane interfaces with the acrylic plane representing development that could result in gentrification. The development plane is under force by compression springs that  push it into into the acrylic plane when the enabling knob is engaged.  The end result is an expression of development and gentrification and the changing face it can have upon a local community. New opaque structures protrude into the existing acrylic base plane with no respect to their surroundings and residents uninterested in interaction.  Setbacks change, views are altered, and traffic is created.  These are just a few aspects of gentrification relevant to the Marigny and Bywater that can alter place. Understanding a this site requires sensing.  Sensing requires observation.  The second component of this project employed analog sensing and organization to create a digital document representing the temporal aspects of a site in a two-three hour period. The observation point  was located at the eastern end of N. St. Peter Street and the southern end of St. Ferdinand St.  This position allowed a wide perspective by sitting on the ecotone of three urban environments.  To the north the order and regularity of the mixed-use community remains intact while to the west there is a strong presence of a blend between light industry and commercial space.  East, directly adjacent to the observation point lies the NOCCA Institute as well as an adaptive reuse residential project.  This position was chosen to observe temporal change in as many different environments that could be observed in one sitting.  This specific site due to its location and lack of inhibitors would be a logical continuation for larger scale change within the neighborhood while the backdrop of the established neighborhood remains within close reach.  Observations located within close proximity of the observation point were juxtaposed by those observations down the St. Ferdinand corridor reaching deeper into the inner gridiron. Observations began at 1:17 p.m. and ended around 3:30 p.m.  A 2-3 hour observation period allows one to get a small understanding of the changes that occur on a site.  Observations recorded consisted mainly of changing weather, light, the influx of traffic, a variety of sounds and the occasional Saturday biker/jogger.  More activity occurred down St. Ferdinand as joggers, bikers, and pedestrians flowed in and out of this corridor. Understanding change is crucial to understanding a site.  In order to truly understand a site it is imperative that one knows how a space is used and the processes and forces that inhibit change.  These uses change throughout the day as well as throughout the week and year.  This will effect your assessment of the elements that lie within this site that could ultimately influence a design or program of use.

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