Mobile Community Place-Makersteam # 259

Activity

Site

little or no activity centralized activity dispersed activity

one parking space

two parking spaces

Multiple nodes encourage a dispersion of activity; lines of movement intersect and dynamically flow into the city.

The automobile was a result of large scale dreams of industrial progress and social mobility. In order to support this car-centric freedom a conceptual network of wide roads and large parking lots were rendered into urban realities. The creation of these spatial forms broke up the once close-knit fabric of cities and towns and forced the ironic individuality of transportation networks to supersede social networks.

In this reality, freedom is proportional to distance, the further you go the freer you become. However, in recent years the notion of self-empowerment through local motion has become a popular mode of operation, triggering a desperate desire to reclaim the voided public spaces reserved for cars. Now, people imagine the myriad of activities possible in these flat lots.

This proposal transforms this flat square into a cube. This cube is then sliced into quarters and dissolved into six overlapping zones of community gathering, trading and entertaining. Four cafes mark the corners of the lot and welcome visitors with local foods, arts and crafts. In the center stands the hub of activity: a performance stage and seating terrace where folks enjoy shaded lunches during the week and lively performances and markets at peak times. The intent is to create a space that inspires robust uses both day and night, work week or holiday weekend.

Looking into the future, it is imagined that these objects will be transported to other under-utilized spaces throughout Flint serving as a mobile beacon of community place-making.

Giving volume to a Flat Lot

Axis to University Entrance

Pedestrian access from park

Vehicular access to West Flint

Pedestrian access through Bailey Alley

Vehicular path to cross Flint River

Vehicular access from Hwy

North

Flint River

1st Ave.

Kearsley St.

Saginaw St. Brush Alley

Weekday

STAGEMaterial Dimension QuantityRate Cost

Finished plywood 5/8” 4 $40 per 48” X 96” sheet $160Frosted hollow Polycarbonate Sheet .629” 48 x 96 N/A N/AWood studs 2 x 4 x 8 N/A N/AWood beams 2 x 6 x 8 16 $5.51 per unit $88Wood columns 6 x 6 x 18 8 $35 per unit $280Wood slats 2 x 2 x 8 160 $3.30 per unit $528

N/A

$1,056

TERRACEMaterial Dimension QuantityRate Cost

Finished plywood 5/8” 26 $40 per 48” X 96” sheet $1,040Frosted hollow Polycarbonate Sheet .629” 48 x 96 4 $150 per 48” x 96” sheet $600Wood studs 2 x 4 x 8 24 $2.97 per unit $71Wood beams 2 x 6 x 8 14 $5.51 per unit $77Wood columns 6 x 6 x 18 9 $35 per unit $315Wood slats 2 x 2 x 8 120 $3.30 per unit $396

Subtotal$2,499

CAFESMaterial Dimension QuantityRate Cost

Finished plywood 5/8” 14 $40 per 48” X 96” sheet $560Frosted hollow Polycarbonate Sheet .629” 48 x 96 4 $150 per 48” x 96” sheet $600Wood studs 2 x 4 x 8 70 $2.97 per unit $208Wood beams 2 x 6 x 8 24 $5.51 per unit $132Wood columns 6 x 6 x 18 N/AWood slats 2 x 2 x 8 96 $3.30 per unit $317

N/A Subtotal$1,500

x 4Subtotal

$5,055

Subtotal$8,610

SubtotalHardware, tools 30% of total $11,193

SubtotalUnanticipated material cost 20% of total $13,431.60

Labor, transportation, permitting industry standards $11,000

Total$24,431.60

Stage - 163’Terrace - 163’Cafe - 8’ x 16’ x 16’

Transformation

Budget

Cafe - 8’ x 16’ x 16’

Cafe -8’ x 16’ x 16’

Cafe - 8’ x 16’ x 16’

local produce

fresh flowers

Open cafes encourage The Flat Lot to generate revenue and become self sustaining. They provide space for a variety of local vendors including craftsman, artists, food purveyors and farmers.

A square becomes a cube: becomes four cubes: becomes a stage a terrace and four cafes

gifts

lunch

beverages

The simple and light weight design of the cafes allow for them to be moved from The Flat Lot and re-used throughout the city.

Materials used in all structures are sensitive to the sites simplicity and context. Wood slatting provides shading from the sun as well as optimal visibility while finished plywood and corrugated plexi create smooth, dynamic, and attractive surfaces.

finished plywood

wood framing

cedar slatting

frosted plexi

vendorCafe

Stage

Terrace

Cafe

Cafe

Cafe

customer

customer

customer

customer

vendor

vendor

vendor

Summer Festival