Functionalism: as a product of industry

FUNCTIONALISMas a product of industry

Creating a new identity for something as industrial as a grain elevator requires substantial knowledge about the structure and processes that originally drove the massive machine into existence. This supplement is created to submit these findings to the reader, so that they are able to see the development of the building and understand it through the eyes of the architect.

Standard Grain Elevator

a supplement to better understand the existing conditions of the archetypal industrial modernist structure

conditional exploration02

existing conditions10

site research04

principle application08

structural elements12

location16

grain storage20

mechanical elements28

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conditional explorationinhabitation of industrial space

Detroit, MI

Cleveland, OH

| site research

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This exploration begins with the placement of symbiotic architecture onto a utilitarian industrial structure as it decays, with hopes of creating for it a new human centered identity. Just as stem cells or bone grafts act as catalysts for creating biomatter, the building reacts to that new identity to become a metabolic, adaptive microcity of variable sensational spaces. Progressively, a series of filters at descending scales is applied to all major postindustrial cities in the northeast United States until three sites of different function and scale are chosen.

(left & above) The “geotagging maps” of Eric Fischer utilize websites like Flickr and Instagram to find what objects people are photographing and where the photographers are from: blue lines are local photographers, red is tourist, yellow is unknown, and the red dot is the site location.

Buffalo, NY

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United Artists Theater: Detroit, MI

Telescope Mill: Cleveland, OH

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Standard Grain Elevator: Buffalo, NY

These maps are cross-referenced with historic industrial maps to find the sites that meet all of the selected criteria: historic local significance, industrial form, public interest, and accessibility. Certain principles are applied in their own unique fashion to each of the three sites. Natural light is regarded as a softening element to the imposing industrial feel of the building, the human scale is enhanced in context of the industrial scale, and public accessibility is accentuated.

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(left & above) These three sites were the only ones that survived the layers of filters used to establish the ideal existing industrial structure. They each present an abundance of opportunities for development.

| principle application

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The Standard Elevator in Buffalo, NY is chosen as the test site for the thesis due to its unique and specific form. It presents the greatest challenge for modification as well as the greatest opportunity for structural development and social integration. The European modernist masters were heavily influenced by the American grain elevator, as the significance of its symbolic formal qualities are undeniable to any architect that has looked into them with some scrutiny.

The grain elevator is neither form, nor function, nor symbol. It is all three. -Lippert

In reality, we frequently continue to appreciate elements whose function has been lost over time; the value of these artifacts often

resides solely in their form. -Rossi

Thus we have the American grain elevator, the first fruits of the new age. The American engineers overrun with their calculation

our expiring architecture. -Corbusierpr

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existing conditionscontextual and structural research

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Some Text Regarding the Standard Elevator(copied from the Historic American Engineering Record HAER No. NY-241)| structural elem

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Some Text Regarding the Standard Annex(copied from the Historic American Engineering Record HAER No. NY-241)

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12” O.C. spacing

6” O.C. spacing

12” O.C. spacing

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Battle at the Stalingrad Elevator

On September 18, 1942, less than 40 Russian soldiers were called to defend the grain elevator in Stalingrad as the German army pushed its way through the city. 400 footmen, accompanied by 12 tanks, made 10 attempts to attack the structure over three days. The Germans pounded the massive concrete structure with artillery, antitank guns, mortars, and tank guns, setting the grain on fire. Hand-to-hand combat raged through the structure, which finally fell to the Nazi forces on September 21, 1942.

Such resistance is proof of the intense structure necessary to preform the tasks of the grain elevator.

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Buffalo, NY, once an industrial giant, has become decrepit and misused as the advancement of technology has long since bypassed the city’s usefulness as the agricultural gateway to and from the Northeast. Frozen in time, what appears to be a graveyard of functionalist structures may actually be a breeding ground for development and architectural innovation.

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The Standard Elevator is the last functioning grain storage facility in the Old First Ward, Buffalo, NY, USA. It boarders the winding Buffalo River as well as a struggling neighborhood only one mile from the center of the city, along a well travelled radial road.

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A simple blackboard is used to keep track of which bins store each type of grain, the date they were updated, and how many bushels are stored in each.

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West Workhouse &Drying Tower

Mobile Marine Leg 1 Mobile Marine Leg 2

Standard Elevator (1928)

River Facade of the Standard Elevator

| grain storage

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East Workhouse &Train Loading

The functional needs of the elevator were directly responsible for the materialization of its simple geometric form. Le Corbusier, Mendelsohn, and Gropius saw a new school of architectural thought in the massive functionalist structures that were symbolic of prosperity and mass production.

Standard Annex (1941)

(above) Transverse section through mobile marine leg (west workhouse in background). The marine leg moves into position, raises the grain from the boat, measures and weighs it.

Boat to train (shown) - process of the movement of grain from import by water to storage, and from storage to export by land.

| grain storage

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(above) Longitudinal section with central workhouse and ghosted marine leg for reference. The grain is stored by “turnspout” or “conveyor and tripper” in the desired bin until it is demanded.

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| grain storage

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(above) Longitudinal section with central workhouse. When needed, the grain is emptied onto a lower conveyor and transported to the central workhouse.

The same process may also be completed backward, depositing grain from the train to the barge.

(above) Transverse section through the central workhouse and train depot. At the central workhouse, it is lifted and weighed again to be dispersed properly to the awaiting train cars.

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River Elevation with mobile marine tower

Marine Leg Track

River Dock

Deployable Arm

Workhouse & Bin Floor

V-Spouts

Vertical movement of grain (which occurs in full cycle three separate times) occurs in one of four towers: one on the west end, two mobile marine towers to the south (shown), and one located between the original elevator and its annex.

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Longitudinal Section (center)

Hoppers & Conveyors

Foundation

Storage Bins

Turnspouts & Conveyors

Longitudinal movement of grain along the length of the elevator occurs either on top of the storage silos or in the basement, leaving the majority of the building in the middle for storage.

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A

A

The marine legs running along the south face of the elevator serve to move grain from barges running along the Buffalo River, weigh it, and store it in the correct bin.

(1)

(2)

(3)

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transverse section through the marine leg and storage bins (A-A)

Steel Hopper (3)Long. Conveyor

Grain Barge

Grain Lift Arm

Scale and Hopper

Tripper (2)Turnspout (1)

V-Spout

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B

B

(1)

(2)

(3)

The Eastern Workhouse (located between the original elevator and annex) serves to move grain between storage bins and train cars when it is ready to be shipped.

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transverse section through the east workhouse and railroad loading (B-B)

Train Loading Dock

Train Unloading (3)

Marine Leg Track (2)

Grain Lift

Turnspouts

Scale and Hopper (1)

Grain Measurement

Longitudinal Conveyor

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Structural research and existing site images in this book are thanks to the Library of Congress Historic American Engineering Record. Drawings, diagrams, and collages are by the author.

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Tyson Keen PhillipsInstructor: Aki IshidaMay, 2013