08A Design Intervention Description – Final
I.Research Questions
1.How does tactile experience help support care in public space?
2.In what forms can landscape buffers be integrated with seating to respond to existing environmental factors and improve vitality
II.Abstract
General
Light, tactile and auditory elements can influence how and when communities experience urban spaces. Particularly, a contrast of light, textures and a defined urban soundscape may help to develop connection to space/community and promote well-being. The proposed intervention will explore how materiality, light, and greenscape forms can enhance elderly engagement while serving at the possible intersection in the care of young children. As such, the intervention considers the connection between light/shadow, ground, seating, and landscape elements to create sheltered and connective spaces. The identified demographic is primary elderly women who may be caring for themselves, others, or may be cared for. At the stage wherein elderly women may be caring for others, in this case, young children, seating will need to be flexible so that it can support both caring and play needs. It is through light, texture, and materiality of seating and possible play elements that both identified users can begin to connect with and identify spaces based on these qualities. The green buffer, then forms as a vital element to accentuate space and promote a diverse natural soundscape that may help to improve mental/physical well-being while and enhancing relationship to existing place.
Specific
To investigate this design concept, the Arduino sound sensor will serve as a key tool to identify existing soundscape variations. Sound recordings throughout the site can also be used to consider the possibility of identifying spaces based on their sound characteristics –ground materials/textures produce sounds and if natural sounds are present. To study light/shadow and tactile elements, points can be determined through the previously established hotspot locations. A catalog of materials and sounds at these locations can help to identify possible intervention elements that can improve tactile and auditory experience. Additionally, it would be important to also note the patterns in which people gather at these locations and develop existing and possible intervention forms based on these observations. With respect to light/shadows, a ladybug shadow analysis can help to determine areas of contrast and confirm connection between shadow/the zones where people gather. In summary, the Arduino sensor will serve as a baseline sound analysis while the on-site observations and catalog will help to clearly identify existing shadow, sound and tactile elements that may influence how spaces are currently use and where the design intervention may be suitable.
III.Outline
1.Abstract
Light, tactile and auditory elements can influence how and when communities experience urban spaces. Particularly, a contrast of light, textures and a defined urban soundscape may help to develop connection to space/community and promote well-being. The proposed intervention will explore how materiality, light, and greenscape forms can enhance elderly engagement while serving at the possible intersection in the care of young children. As such, the intervention considers the connection between light/shadow, ground, seating, and landscape elements to create sheltered and connective spaces. The identified demographic is primary elderly women who may be caring for themselves, others, or may be cared for. At the stage wherein elderly women may be caring for others, in this case, young children, seating will need to be flexible so that it can support both caring and play needs. It is through light, texture, and materiality of seating and possible play elements that both identified users can begin to connect with and identify spaces based on these qualities. The green buffer, then forms as a vital element to accentuate space and promote a diverse natural soundscape that may help to improve mental/physical well-being while and enhancing relationship to existing place.
To investigate this design concept, the Arduino sound sensor will serve as a key tool to identify existing soundscape variations. Sound recordings throughout the site can also be used to consider the possibility of identifying spaces based on their sound characteristics –ground materials/textures produce sounds and if natural sounds are present. To study light/shadow and tactile elements, points can be determined through the previously established hotspot locations. A catalog of materials and sounds at these locations can help to identify possible intervention elements that can improve tactile and auditory experience. Additionally, it would be important to also note the patterns in which people gather at these locations and develop existing and possible intervention forms based on these observations. With respect to light/shadows, a ladybug shadow analysis can help to determine areas of contrast and confirm connection between shadow/the zones where people gather. In summary, the Arduino sensor will serve as a baseline sound analysis while the on-site observations and catalog will help to clearly identify existing shadow, sound and tactile elements that may influence how spaces are currently use and where the design intervention may be suitable.
2.Background Theory
Nabian, Nashid, et al. “Data dimension: accessing urban data and making it accessible.” Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers-Urban Design and Planning 166.1 (2013): 60-75.
Nabian et al present projects related to the collection, synthesis, and the dissemination of data. They note that composing data for visualization in public space must be accessible and consider socio-cultural factors that might also enhance its legibility. Data in the bench/buffer intervention can be primarily acquired through sensor application but may also be capable of collecting and responding to data from user feedback such as GPS tracking. This can also expand to a network of sensors where users can understand real-time environmental conditions, this case heat, and can collectively asses if the data is being communicated appropriately to strengthen its “validity”.
Norberg-Schulz, Christian. “The phenomenon of place.” The urban design reader. Routledge, 2013. 292-304.
Norberg-Schulz’s delineation of phenomena provides a lens in which to understand how phenomenon may construct place. It is through human experience, particularly the identification of the self on the environment, that place can be explicated. His work analyzing phenomena highlights the importance of ensuring that spatial configurations enhance connectivity. Through this interpretation, the proposed intervention addresses how textures and tactile qualities of place can promote a “sense” of place.
Bailo, Manuel. “22@ 10 years”
Bailo traces the transformation of the 22@ district as a manifestation of the various public works that occurred prior to its development. He details how Poble Nou grappled with its shift from a predominantly industrial land use type to one that was focused on accelerating human capital. This document provides insight into how our proposed intersection aligns with the regeneration tactics while still focusing on the human scale aspect of public use “infrastructures.
3.Contextualization
Stortorget Square // Kalmar, Sweden // Caruso St. John Architects
Hafencity Public Spaces // Hamburg, Germany // EMBT
4.Data Collection (Nuria + Return to Site)
The phenomenology studies at Nuria provided a basis for the development of an intervention that approaches concept of care through tactile experience. The diverse ground textures present in Nuria informed the analysis of the ground textures currently present at the C/ de Puigcerda and C/ de Venecuela intersection. In Nuria, the textures that formed the man-made landscape and natural terrain marked the types and possibilities of spatial experiences. In contrast, the overall limited variability in textures at the site does not enhance the walking experience or provide for distinctive streets.
4a.Vall de Nuria Phenomenology Diagram – Textures
5. Intervention Assessment
Due to the current activity on the sidewalk facing the Mercandona supermarket, it would be important to first collect quantitive information on how many people use the sidewalk spaces and capture the time that they spend (not actively moving) on the sidewalk. This base data can then be applied in comparison analysis when studying the activities present on the site after the intervention. A tactical method to assess the viability of the intervention is through informal seating elements such as fabric folding chairs or wooden stools that can invite people to actively select a seating type. In addition to this, it might be useful to apply a material change to the existing ground plane, whether it be through artifical grass or other elements that might promote engagement. The intervention could be perceived to be successful through the active engagement and increased collectivity within the designated intervention spaces.
6. Findings
Such as the ground textures of Nuria denoted place or delieanted safe and accessible spaces, the application of textural elements on the ground plane and street furniture can enhance how the elderly community navigate, gather, and engage with the proposed area. Textural quality can not only accentuate and help the elderly to define place, as Norberg-Schulz notes in the phenomenoligical approach, but it can also respond to mobility and visual concerns that may be more prevalent in elderly communities. Developing a care-ful place through materiality may encourage elderly to manage self-care while also ensuring that they can successfully manage caring for others.
11. Conclusion
Rendering care visible in public space requires that spaces be able to accomodate diverse groups, particularly the elderly. The proposed intervention synthesizes the studies conducted in Nuria to form a design concept based on materiality and tactile experiences in the urban environment. Considering textural elements provides an opportunity to experience the making of place through individual identification and connection while also ensuring that the street is design to take care of those who are caring for themselves or others. The proposal emphasizes material quality and texture as a type of care element that forms part of a broader infrastructure for care.