DIY Softwalks Kits Let You Turn Ugly Scaffolding into Fun Pop-Up Parks!

Posted By Molly Cotter On August 13, 2012 @ 1:35 pm In Green Space,Manhattan | 1 Comment

• Tweet ^[1]
• Share on Tumblr ^[2]
• Email ^[3]

 

^{[4]  [5]}

New York certainly has no shortage of unsightly scaffolding ^[6] on its streets, but what if all of that unused area could be turned into mini pop-up parks? A green initiative called Softwalks ^[7] has come up with a way to use existing scaffolding as support stations for fun and lively modular public spaces using their awesome little DIY kits ^[8] that contain easy-to-build pieces such as a chair, a counter, and a green trellis ^[9]. The components latch onto the metal beams to create simple impromptu hang-outs and rest stops for busy city dwellers, making the possibilities for sidewalk beautification endless.

  ^[5]

^[10]

The Softwalks initiative was born out of the MFA Transdisciplinary Design ^[11] program at Parsons, The New School ^[12]. Students were inspired by the Department of Transportation’s ^[13] amazing makeover of the city’s traffic heavy areas into giant pedestrian walkways like in areas like Herald Square and Times Square ^[14]. The group banded together and created simple kits with chair pieces, a counter, a light fixture, a planter, and a green trellis ^[15] that anyone can pick up and install onto the beams of their nearest scaffolded area ^[6]. The initiative aims to transform nearly 6,000 construction sites, equalling 189 miles of covered sidewalk.

The project’s greatest aspect is that anyone can get involved. The kit pieces are modular ^[16]and lightweight, making them easy to install, take down, and reuse in new areas. The kits also create a public art activity, involving the community to brighten up their construction-heavy ^[17] areas. Whether its a coffee break spot or a new community garden, Softwalks allows anyone to activate a once drab sidewalk shed into a fun and functional public space.

+ Softwalks ^[7]

via PSFK ^[18]

Article printed from Inhabitat New York City: http://inhabitat.com/nyc

URL to article: http://inhabitat.com/nyc/diy-softwalks-kits-let-you-turn-ugly-scaffolding-into-fun-pop-up-parks/

URLs in this post:

[1] Tweet: http://twitter.com/share

[2] Share on Tumblr: http://www.tumblr.com/share

[3] Email: mailto:?subject=http://inhabitat.com/nyc/diy-softwalks-kits-let-you-turn-ugly-scaffolding-into-fun-pop-up-parks/

[4]

[5]  : http://inhabitat.com/nyc/diy-softwalks-kits-let-you-turn-ugly-scaffolding-into-fun-pop-up-parks/softwalks-scaffolding-city-parks-6/?extend=1

[6] scaffolding: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scaffolding

[7] Softwalks: http://www.citysoftwalks.com/

[8] DIY kits: http://www.citysoftwalks.com/kitofparts

[9] green trellis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trellis_%28architecture%29

[10] Image: http://inhabitat.com/nyc/diy-softwalks-kits-let-you-turn-ugly-scaffolding-into-fun-pop-up-parks/softwalks-scaffolding-city-parks-4/

[11] MFA Transdisciplinary Design: http://www.newschool.edu/parsons/mfa-transdisciplinary-design/

[12] Parsons, The New School: http://www.newschool.edu/parsons/

[13] Department of Transportation’s: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/home/home.shtml

[14] Times Square: http://inhabitat.com/nyc/new-report-shows-that-times-square-pedestrian-plazas-in-nyc-improved-our-air-quality/

[15] green trellis: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trellis

[16] modular : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modular_design

[17] construction-heavy: http://www.citysoftwalks.com/cityaslab

[18] PSFK: http://www.psfk.com/2012/08/nyc-scaffolding-miniature-parks.html

Click here to print.