Scaleless Buffer Zone
This set of drawings closely analyzes the spatial conditions found in and around the empty space under James White Parkway in Knoxville, TN. The construction of this overpass, and I-40, which it connects to, segments off the Old City and generates a stark contrast between the articulated, pedestrian-scaled space to the west of the site and the bare, semi-truck-scaled space to the east. The parking lot occupying the site acts as a pedestrian reflector: people only come to the underpass to leave it. Likewise, semi trucks stick to their side of the overpass as well. Only the car seems to slip between both spaces, existing within yet submitting to each scale by speeding up as soon as it crosses under the buffer toward the warehouse zone and slowing down as it approaches the Jackson Ave/Central Ave intersection, the peak pedestrian zone. Typologies in the built environment reflect this vast disparity: To the west, buildings are detailed, with diverse materiality and a high range of color. Doors are scaled to the human hand. To the east, buildings are scaleless; walking past them generates an odd feeling of having walked for miles and gotten nowhere all at once. Warehouses are painted over in uniform grey. Doors are scaled to the semi trailer. This fragmentary action by interstates and highway overpasses occurs throughout the country, so logics proposed by this drawing set and the Public Condenser could be implemented in other locations.
