Crawford Center : housing for an urban revival

The concept of this thesis developed from two major concerns. The first, on the macro scale, deals with the problem of a deteriorating central business district of a small city. The second issue deals specifically with the housing needs, both physical and psychological, of the senior citizen.The proposal is designed to satisfy the needs of both of these issues; revitalizing the town and the people by integrating within the CBD, housing, new shops, offices, student housing, parking and a public meeting space. The town benefits from renewed business revenues and civic pride, as does the elderly individual from his proximity to physicians, stores, entertainment, and government offices.Admittedly, the problems of urban neglect cannot be solved on an architectural level alone, but it can provide the initial confidence required to stem the exodus from our urban centers to satellite malls. It is not suggested that this project alone will revitalize the CBD of Crawfordsville, Indiana, but that it act as an inspiration to private developers and entrepreneurs.The project specifically deals with the idea of community involvement as a method of discouraging senility and withdrawal in the senior citizen. Shared community facilities, apartment entrances, and dining room encourage interaction between the residents and local senior citizenry. The need for privacy is also acknowledged by private balconies and individual kitchen units which allow the residents to retain their autonomy. Even these so-called "private" balconies, however, discourage withdrawal by allowing the resident to "people watch" in the public space on the ground level below.This study investigated the compatibility of elderly housing and urban environment on purely an academic level, but I feel that the results warrant additional study and development. The needs of the senior citizen can best be provided in an urban environment and the city, in turn, can benefit from the introduction of a full time residential community and it's accompanying economic advantages.College of Architecture and PlanningThesis (B. Arch.