C3530911
CAPE CUBA
SEMESTER 1
Place / Non-place are subjective
PLACE
Place seeks to modify human behaviours and relations through designed programs that aim to involve members of the population to interact, whether that be in a positive or negative form.
NON-PLACE
Non-place are spaces of transience that do not hold enough social significance to be considered places where people remain strangers.
PROJECT 01.0 MONTAGE/CONSTRUCT
CANALS
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ROADS
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HOMES
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CASE STUDY
CELEBRATION
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The colour on the mapping increases
to represent the growing community.
The colour grows from the canals as the water is the
main draw of the area.
Through experiments the shine of the background both imitates the reflectiveness of the canals as well as adding a dynamic element to the model.
Negative space to show canals
Roads
PROJECT 01.1 MONTAGE/CONSTRUCT/PROJECTION
PROJECT 0.1.2. MONTAGE/CONSTRUCT/PROJECTION
DIAGRAMMING
PROJECT 02.0. REIMAGING/REIMAGINING SYSTEMS OF MOVEMENT AND PUBLIC
SPACES
The final model included all of the adaptations made throughout the stages of development,
which includes the reflective background of each map and the watercolour to show the growth of community around the water.
illustration of commercial architectural vernacular
In the Pine Island Road area of Cape Coral it is particularly commercial consisting of supermarkets and strip malls.
The architecture is basic and repetitive.
Although this area of Cape Coral
is primarily commercial the majority of the land along this
strip of road is designated to car parking as highlighted on the map above.
SITE VISIT
CAPE CORAL
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CAPE CORAL VS. FORT MYERS
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PLACES OF SOCIALISATION IN 1950s CAPE CORAL
DINER
SUPERMARKET
PUBLIC POOL
DINER
SUPERMARKET
PUBLIC POOL
Common in the 1950's for teenagers to use diners as a main social space away from parents and school.
Although the supermarket seems like an odd place to socialise, in the 1950s families did not really leave the house and going shopping was a means, particularly the women of the home, to socialise with their friends and neighbours.
The public pool at the Yacht Club in Cape Coral was used by all ages as a place to socialise with friends and neighbours. This continued into present day until the Yacht Club could no longer be used due to damage by Hurricane Ian.
HURRICANE IAN
Hurricane Ian which made landfall on the 29th September, 2022, was a large and extremely destructive Category 4 Atlantic hurricane that was the deadliest to strike the state of Florida since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.
Sustained hurricane-force winds were confirmed in several places at the landfall point in Southwest Florida, including one report southeast of Cape Coral, where the location recorded a wind gust of 140 mph.
On September 29, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, whose jurisdiction covers Cape Coral and Fort Myers, estimated that thousands of people may still be trapped in floodwaters. President Biden said the storm could end up as the deadliest in Florida's history.
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SPECIALIST RESEARCH
THE CUBAN AMERICAN DREAM
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CAPE CORAL CULTURE
PUBLIC POOL
ENTERTAINMENT
SAILING
CUBAN CULTURE
FAMILY
MUSIC
FOOD
PURPOSE
To create a 'community' (hub)
FUNCTION
Boating, entertainment, public pool,
music, food, family
USE
Snowbirds, locals, cuban immigrants
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The original Yacht club which opened in the 1960s was the community hub of Cape Coral where the entire town could congregate and be a community in one space, however through the site visit and research I have discovered that the original yacht club has barely been updated since its completion and is situated in an inappropriate place that does not necessarily fit the needs and wants of the community.
- The original infrastructure is located in an incredibly vulnerable area that leaves it at risk to the elements and in particular, hurricanes, which was proven by the arrival of Hurricane Ian when the club and surrounding area were almost completely destroyed.
- The site is entirely surrounded by privately owned residential land that limits the clubs ability to expand and the existence of the infrastructure adds additional traffic to the area, causing issues for the surrounding neighbours.
ORIGINAL LEFT TO OVER GROW TO BECOME A NATURE RESERVE AS IT IS IN PRIME LOCATION THAT DOES NOT DISTURB THE LOCALS
PURPOSE
To encourage the development of flora and fauna in the area.
FUNCTION
Nature reserve and visitor centre.
USE
To be used by locals and visitors alike.
(click through gallery to see development)
MANIFESTO AND INTENTION FOR SEMESTER 2
Cape Coral is a community which could still be considered to be in its infancy which perhaps is one of the reasons for its lack of an identifiable culture. The community is predominantly white and of an older age range, limiting the diversity considerably and pigeon-holing the town into a demographic which prevents them from developing into a useable and welcoming environment. The culture that they do have is based around boating which when experienced for myself is used mostly as a display of wealth rather than an aspect that invites community.
The Cuban community is rooted in family and when the word family is used it is not just referring to blood relatives but to the community as a whole creating a strong bond which they celebrate this through music and food. Unfortunately, due to political and financial issues in the country of Cuba many citizens have fled, leaving their home country to join new communities in America and in particular Florida. Although Cuban immigrants have joined towns all over Florida they have made a considerable impact on Miami, they brought life back into the city of Miami through their arrival, bringing their culture and their love for food, music and community.
Since 2002, only 3 Cuban immigrants have settled in Cape Coral and this project aims to attract more, allowing a safe place to bring their vibrant culture to their new home. The key to this project is allowing a balance of culture where the Cuban culture and traditions do not replace the Cape Coral traditions but instead elevates them, similar to the revival in Miami. The project will take the community aspects of Cape Coral that have been prevalent since the 1950s; boating, socialising at the public pool/yacht club and combine them with the community aspects of Cuba; food and music to create a dynamic, vibrant hub that can be enjoyed by many.
