Shelter From The Storm

Design Interventions for Public Spaces was a special Studio session to showcase this new program to our Board of Directors, Advisors and collaborators.

The challenge: As cities adapt to the next wave of Covid-19 and colder weather, what urban design interventions are needed for our public spaces like washrooms, food service, sheltering infrastructure and open markets? 

We quickly discussed temporary and permanent design interventions for places like public washrooms, bus stops and transit, restaurant service, semi-open structures in parks and boulevards, etc.... and then narrowed the topic down to one type of space through a poll asking what urban design intervention for public space should we focus on tonight?

1. Public facilities for health and safety (public washroom/sanitary facilities…)
2. Places for congregation(open markets, small business pop-ups…)
3. Food service (meal sharing, restaurants, outdoor eating, access to food/meal and grocery programs, community gardens…)
4. Sheltering infrastructure (semi-open structures in parks and boulevards…)

Participants choose semi-open sheltering infrastructure by 39%. 

While we waited for the drawings to be sent to the mural board, Vanessa Richards asked us how does your body feel when you are music? She sang a call and response song by Scott Grace.