Daylighting Urban Removal










Project Text

Gallery  /  Index
Studio Advisor: Katherine Ambroziak
Team: Grace McClean
Term: Spring 2021
Site: East Knoxville, TN
Program: Public Works Memory Scape

Daylighting Urban Removal represents a commitment to revitalizing the soul of the East Knoxville Community. Our vision extends far beyond the physical transformation; it takes an approach that seeks to breathe new life into the community’s cultural identity. We recognize that the pain inflicted by urban renewal are deep and will not be erased; they serve as a stark reminder of past injustices and struggles. Rather than attempting to erase history, our mission is to honor it by carefully crafting interventions that address the historical damages while preserving the lessons they hold.

Through our efforts, we aim to mend the torn fabric of this community, meticulously weaving together the essential threads that once formed the vibrant urban tapestry prior to renewal.

Project Goals: Daylighting Urban Removal is a beacon of hope, not only for the physical landscape but also for the hearts and spirits of East Knoxville’s residents. By nurturing a renewed sense of pride and cultural richness, we aim to foster a resilient, cohesive, and thriving community. Our hope is to build a future that celebrates the past while embracing the potential for growth and prosperity, ensuring that the East Knoxville Community is bright for generations.

Bridge + Park Landscapes: The Fiscal Bridge Scape and the Ecological Park are the two threads that tie this project together. The drawings show newly day-lite First Creek Gully with First Creek flowing through the middle of the site. The bridge’s are shown in the distance as this monumental structure providing access from East Knoxville to Downtown and allows for the reintroduction of black owned businesses to the area. The site intervention occurs within the First Creek Gully. The plan is to daylight First Creek, which is currently below James White Parkway. As well as convert the preexisting highway into an accessible and ecologically sensitive park-scape. Overall, the goal is to restore the ecological and fiscal threads of the community fabric through our interventions with the Bridge Scape and the Park Scape.

Urban Renewal in Knoxville, TN: The diagrams and images depict Knoxville, Tennessee, in the era before federal urban renewal policies were implemented, as a dense urban area that was home to majority black and low income residents that took pride in their community. After the renewal policies were implemented, the interconnected and flourishing neighborhood of East Knoxville was razed to make way for massive federal infrastructure projects leaving residents without any options other than to relocate.