2008 OTR Infill Design Charette

Saturday, January 19th, 10AM-6PM, at the Cincinnati Art Academy, 1212 Jackson St.

Admission is free, but number of seats is limited. Please reserve yours in advance.

At 10AM, all participants will hear an explanation about different approaches to new construction in historic areas, and what decisions about these approaches mean to the aesthetic future of OTR. In short, some architects feel that infill be very distinct from existing buildings, while others feel that it is important to retain historical design elements for continuity with the surrounding fabric. Over-the-Rhine is the nation’s largest urban historic district and has hundreds of buildable, vacant lots sandwiched between historic buildings, so the approach and standards applied to filling these “missing teeth” will have a dramatic impact on how the neighborhood looks and feels in the future.

Following the initial introduction, participants will be assigned to work with a team of architects to brainstorm and produce a vision for specific building sites and the rehab of one existing building. There will be a green building element to each property. Architects and U.C. students will do the drawing and explain code and other requirements, so no particular skills are necessary and participation should be very entertaining for everyone interested in OTR’s physical future, regardless of whether they possess any architectural or development expertise. At 4:30PM, each team’s work will be displayed at a happy hour reception. From 5PM-6PM, the architects will discuss what the teams produced and answer questions about the design process and approach.

The charette is being conducted in collaboration between the National Historic Trust, the Cincinnati Preservation Association, the Architectural Foundation, the Art Academy, and the Over-the-Rhine Foundation. It is also made possible by the contributions of the participating architects, their firms, and the Niehoff Design Studio.

For more information, otrfoundation@aol.com