An exhibition celebrating the participatory design process
in NYC capital projects through interactive elements that share each step of
the collaboration process.
By its very nature, architecture is typically designed by a small group of professionals without the public's direct input. Participatory design opens up the tools of architectural thinking and making by breaking down architecture's exclusivity, turning the public into collaborators, and bringing voices historically underrepresented by design to the fore.
By its very nature, architecture is typically designed by a small group of professionals without the public's direct input. Participatory design opens up the tools of architectural thinking and making by breaking down architecture's exclusivity, turning the public into collaborators, and bringing voices historically underrepresented by design to the fore.
Contributions
Project Management
Production
Installation
Photography
Collaborators
Annika Bowker
Piper Cain
Allen Gillers
Todd Higuchi
Joey Rake-Delaney
Shawn Watts
Pankah Khadka (Event Photography)
Project Management
Production
Installation
Photography
Collaborators
Annika Bowker
Piper Cain
Allen Gillers
Todd Higuchi
Joey Rake-Delaney
Shawn Watts
Pankah Khadka (Event Photography)
During the summer of 2018, Leroy Street Studio (LSS) worked
with local teens from Sunset Park's Center for Family Life (CFL) to create a
sculptural window shading system for the new Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)
Sunset Park Interim Branch. Working with LSS architects and teaching artist
Mauricio Trenard, students created designs to capture their visions for
community, the environment, and the importance of life-long learning.
By incorporating the students' designs into the project,
this process highlights this community's culturally diverse voices through
visible, lasting inclusion. This collaboration not only yields far more
grounded and situated architecture, but it also elevates the work by
challenging assumptions, and bringing more perspectives to the built
environment.
Behind the Screens showcases the complex process of building the interim library with four main components. A recreation of one of the student’s
sculptural window shades.
Zine-styled pamphlets explain each step of the particpatory design process:
(1) The Pitch, (2) Dream Up, (3) Make It Happen, (4) Sweat Equity, (5) Follow Through.
(1) The Pitch, (2) Dream Up, (3) Make It Happen, (4) Sweat Equity, (5) Follow Through.
Two scupltural stands hold the collection of zine pamphlets. The stands were custom designed and fabricated from leftover materials from the project.
Lastly, the exhibition includes a timeline that gives context to Brooklyn Public Library Sunset Park's brand new, soon to be finished building and the library that was built for the community in the interim. It serves as a road map and key to the exhibit and highlights collaborators who have contributed along the way.
View project ︎︎︎
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