While looking up parking requirements for our site, I came across this:
http://city-egov.cincinnati-oh.gov/Webtop/ws/council/public/child/Blob/19292.pdf;jsessionid=88D53B14C2C7AAB99062056AC26440DA?m=18317
It also includes goals for the Urban Mixed zone, and set backs,

To sum it up, one parking space is required per residential unit, plus parking for the the Make part if the building.  This can be provided on site, or there are ways to negotiate with neighboring buildings. [ I suspect the church and its Sunday crowd would miss the existing parking lot on our site if it were gone]
Residential Units require a 10 foot Front Yard set back (all other uses do not.)  There are no Side Yard set backs for any use.  Every use requires a 10 foot Rear Yard set back.  The maximum height for any building in the UM (urban mix) zone in 45 feet.

Cincinnati & Clifton Inclined Plane Railroad

http://www.cincinnativiews.net/inclines_2.htm

I was researching the Bellevue Hill Park adjacent to our site and came across this, its totally cool.

I think that is our building on the left, the station was right on our property.  There are some great pics on that site.

Craig

Digital/Physical Models

Models and Descriptions

With the first group of models I experimented with plaster in 3 different forms.

This was made by creating a form and using plastic wrap as a mold for the plaster.

The second attempt was pouring plaster into a plastic shopping bag. 

The third and final attempt was with canvas.

Getting the right texture with a fluid form was something I really focused on accomplishing.  I tried using the plaster in a way that showed the organic shape, which can be made when the material of the form, if it is used carefully.  The part that interested me with these models is the fact that plastic is this liquid form but is never represented as such.  I wanted to explore the fluid nature that plaster can accurately show.

The next iteration dealt with integrating site analysis data into the form.  But with this attempt I used a much lighter fabric instead of the canvas.  I wanted to show even more the organic aspect that plaster can have. 

 In this case the higher/lower the form represented the high/low percentages of families below poverty.

I then used a heat gun to wrap a piece of acrylic around the curved shape.

This next model was originally designed in Rhino.  I sectioned the pieces, printed them out, and cut them out of 1/4 plywood using a band saw.  I also cut notches out at the intersection points so the model would assemble with no needed connections.

I wanted to keep using the acrylic so I made a vacuum form shown above for the previous model shown made out of the 1/4" plywood.

I took the plastic sheet, heated it in the oven and stretched it over the wooden form.  I placed both on the vacuum form and switched it on to produce tightly shaped plastic sheet that will display the ribs of the previous form.

This is the final plastic shape before I cut it out to assemble it into the final model.  (excuse the windex)

I cut the plastic out of the formwork and attached it to a 1/2" piece of plywood to start assembling the hydroponics planter.  I also used a heat gun and stretched plastic water bottles through until they fit perfectly.

I attached the tubing which would become the water supply to the plants.

I then hooked up the pump with a water basin and connected the tubing to keep an continuous loop of water circulating through the bottles.  The tubes had small holes that would allow the water to leak into the bottle, through the rocks and to the root of the plant, feeding it nutrients.

Then I threw some LED's on the top and bottom.  I feel like you can never go wrong with some LED's, it gives the project an entirely new personality.

The next phase of design was massing models.  All of these forms currently follow the same concept of living, breathing, architecture.  I am really interested in exploring how architecture weathers and researching how I can take that and make it an advantage for the design as well as aid the people in Over-The-Rhine.  I also want to incorporate part of the last model, using hydroponics to create a knowledge base that the people in OTR can use and apply it to their own lives.

I focused on creating this massing model to directly take shape from the proposed human movement on the site.  This created the opportunity for gathering spaces in the voids in the sides of the mass.

This model explored the use of habiting the roof structure.  So much of the mass is roof, so I wanted to make use of it, whether it be gathering spaces for residents and workers, or more private outdoor spaces to be used for the residents.

The digital files are fairly large, I will compress and upload asap.

Annotated images of digital and physical models - 10-17-12
Jeff Estes:

The following models are based on a program-less (also scaleless) building on our site, as it would be influenced by the four factors.

Human Needs

Digital A

Physical A

I looked at the basic human needs of shelter - four walls and a roof.  Digital A shows the simple form, while Physical A divides the building into individual spaces where program can be housed.

Material Study

Digital B

Physical B

Now that I had a form that suits basic human needs, it needed a material; but how would that material influence the form?  Both Digital B and Physical B show how a concrete would change the basic form.  The building could be constructed with a reinforced concrete truss system.

Energy Systems

Digital C

Physical C

How about natural energy systems?  If the building were to take advantage of natural solar energy, it would be rotated so that it has one long side facing southeast, and a shorter side facing southwest.  

Style

Digital D

Physical D

Now, that basic form would change, based on stylistic influence.  Digital D takes local materials and scale into account.  Physical D explores local scale.

I feel that I went far off course with this, but maybe it will prove useful later.

Great Infographics

All-
As you develop diagrams of program relationships and other elements, use this for good ideas:
http://pinterest.com/prettylethal/infographics-iconography/

3 Industrial and 3 Apartment buildings

Industrial #1

Packard Automobile Plant

Albert Kahn

Detroit Michigan

When the building opened in 1903, it was called the most modern manufacturing plant in the world. Built of reinforced concrete, it was Detroit's first industrial building of that type.

After Packard closed in 1958, the building was used as a warehouse, but the last tenant left in 2010. Over the years, the building has faced vandalism and the elements, but thanks to its reinforced concrete, still stands mostly intact.

Today, the building is home to its caretaker who describes the building/his home as an indoor farm. The plant is due for demolition, but there is a dispute over who actually owns the property.

Industrial #2

Volkswagen Assembly Plant

SSOE

Chattanooga, Tennessee

VW's new plant, opened in 2011, is the first automobile manufacturing plant to receive LEED certification. The building utilizes the passivhaus philosphy.

The building is divided into three sections: body shop, main assembly, and paint shop. Along the assembly line are three major check points – one following each shop. The circular plan allows for a short walking distance between checkpoints, because inspectors must communicate across checkpoints when problems are encountered.

The plant is intended to be flexible so that it can manufacture any of VW's cars. (it just can not assembly trucks, which are not a major part of VW's lineup.)

Industrial #3

Fagus Factory

Walter Gropius, Adolf Meyer

Alfeld, Germany

This factory to produce Shoe Lasts (the form for shoe making) opened in 1913, with additions completed in 1925.

The company's owner wanted a building that departed from history to usher in a new age in manufacturing, and show the company's new direction. Both Gropius and Meyer were influenced by Peter Behrens' design for the AEG building. During the time Behrens was working on AEG, Gropius and Meyer worked with him.

The complex consists of multiple buildings. They are constructed of different systems, but because they utilize the same materials, they appear as one whole.

The Fagus Factory building was constructed along side railroad tracks, its design is influenced by its response to that line of modern (at the time) transportation.

Apartment #1

Floating Apartment

Waterstudio

The Netherlands

These 60 luxury apartments are floating on water, and construction began in 2009.

The design goal for this project is energy efficiency.

The designers say it is a response to rising waters, but it is a region where living near or on the water is common.

Despite floating on water, the apartments still have generous terraces and parking for all.

Apartment #2

Prefab Apartment Complex

Interface Studio Architects

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The apartment building was constructed from 80 prefabricated modules, and contains 72 housing units.

The building is housing for students, and is LEED rated.

Apartment #3

Condominium Trnovski Pristan

Juri Sadar, Bostjan Vuga

Trnovski Pristan, Ljubljana, Slovenia

They claim the pixel-like effect alters the perception of its size, but for me, it it only blurs the location of windows.

This apartment was completed in 2004, and has a tiled facade. The tiles are colored to create the pixel-like effect.