Hard + Soft Architecture

Abstract

Changes in manufacturing and production, modes of communication and transportation have resulted in the dispersal and relocation of industrial production to outlying areas and beyond. Many cities that once were manufacturing capitals bear the physical evidence of this shift; de-industrialization has left behind remnants of a declining economic model. The selfish capitalist motives of corporate America with support from government agendas have damaged not only our cities but also our ability to prosper and ultimately, for some, to live the American dream. As a result, the once vibrant communities supported by these industries have been left behind and forced to fend for themselves. Many individuals have sought alternatives such as bartering or other alternative grey economies to support the necessities of living, not to mention the physical wasteland left in the wake of the decentralization of our manufacturing base. This thesis seeks to investigate these cultural transformations with a desire to create an authentic architecture that connects to an evolving sub-culture. This thesis investigates the opportunities presented by post-industrial landscapes such as Muskegon, MI as a medium to foster a grassroots organization by serving as a conduit for advancing the success of the entrepreneurial spirit. The grassroots organization will replenish the de-industrialized wastescapes with an independent concentration of employment and economic production.