Where theory meets the park...

 

Remember classes where the teacher bored you to tears with things like making you do fractions over and over again on paper instead of using practical examples like making you halve a favorite recipe?  Lessons are all around us, but often school favors the theoretical over the useful.  This wasn't so for the students in UT's 10 week design/build studio this summer.  Instead of designing for an imaginary place these academic students are paired with community members to create something real.  Instead of a drawing on a computer screen the students leave with blisters on their hands and the community is left with something tangible.

Last year students designed and built a moveable tool shed for our southern neighbors at Holly Neighbors Helping Neighbors.

This year our neighborhood was lucky to be selected for a project and an obvious place to create something was...you guessed it...our park!

In early June, Coleman Coker and Laura Edwards from the UT School of Architecture's Center for Sustainable Development met with the neighborhood association to present the idea and the project rapidly grew from there. 

 

 One of the main goals for the Public Interest Design practicum is community engagement so logically the next step was for us to meet the students.

On a warm Texas evening we met with the students who instead of being equipped with note pads came armed with smart phones that they set on the picnic table between us to record the conversation.  Together we had a very honest conversation about the park's history and its future.  We discussed past crimes, illegal dumping, housing buyouts, floods, young neighbors desires for a cool playground and more.  The students left with more information then they probably imagined was possible when it comes to a little piece of land with lawn and pecan trees but also with a sense of how important this community space is to neighbors.

 

They digested the information and several weeks later sent very detailed plans to the neighborhood for planned kiosks.  When many neighbors first heard that they were planning kiosks we imagined that they'd create a post with some cork board tacked to it and maybe a shelter but the plans we got were for architectural pieces of public art with an interpretive connection.

In all there were three groups, three designs, and three kiosks created.  The designs were tweaked by the Parks and Recreation Department but stayed true to the students initial vision.

Human Kiosk - Highlights human intervention with the creek by drawing the eye towards the transition from the creek with natural sides to the concrete channel.  Students interviewed community members who frequent the Conely-Guerrero Senior Activity Center and incorporated their memories into the piece.

the design

 

 

the reality

 

Canopy Kiosk - Provides a space to recline and relax while staring into the trees' canopy.  Middle school students provided poems and thoughts about the park in English and Spanish that were etched into the wooden slats.

the design

 

 

the reality

Riparian Restoration Kiosk - Draws the eye toward the creek which due to urban flow patterns cuts deeply into the landscape and isn't easily seen.  It highlights some of the native plants being used in the restoration and the wildlife that it supports.

the design

 

the reality

Once the students had the greenlight from the Parks and Recreation Department and our group they started to order materials, cut, haul, screw, weld and more.  They spent many HOT hours in the park patiently building their pieces while answering questions from curious passer-bys and doing it only for their class requirement and the occasional popsicle or slice of pizza from one of us.

 

 

Before we knew it the summer was almost over and on August 14, 2013 we came together to learn more about the students vision, thank each other and break bread.  Click here to see more photos of the entire process.

 

THANK YOU to the professors and students for making a difference while learning.  We look forward to seeing you in the park!