Granville Mall Shake it up!
Victoria Lane
Brian Jeffcock
Katie Hall
Kate Mitchell
Objective
We want to shake things up in terms of how Granville Mall looks and how it’s used. Our objective is to focus on people’s opinions and use and build on them to turn Granville Mall into a vibrant arts and culture space unique to Halifax.
Our approach consists of taking the heritage feel of the space and shkaing it up with new and interactive ideas. The new space will play a larger role in the community, bring more attention to NSCAD and draw more locals and visitors alike to the area.
Current Space
There are many issues with the Granville Mall space. The area has an empty, unused feeling which does not attract or encourage people to take advantage of it. The clutter and mess of the space is clouding the natural eclectic “vibe� and potential of the space.
Current Space
Cigarettes litter the cobble stones as well as the flower gardens.
Broken flower beds and fountains are unsightly and pose a safety hazard.
Open ashtrays are large, bulky and allow cigarettes to blow out onto the ground. They are also mistaken for garbage cans.
The lack of benches causes people to sit on the edges of the fountains and flower beds. This encourages people to throw their cigarettes in the soil.
Current Space
The large bulletin boards are an unsightly mess of staples paper and rotting wood.
The main Duke Street entrance to Granville Mall is uninviting. The clutter distracts from and obstructs the beautiful architecture and character of the space. There are currently not enough bike racks, so people lock their bikes to benches. The benches themselves are uncomfortable and cold. Overall there is not enough seating.
Public Opinion
We surveyed a number of different users an non-users, both students, business people and locals alike. Many similar points were brought up: - People like the cobble stones even though they are hard to walk on. - More green space. - More events and things to do.
- More bike racks. - Less litter, mess and clutter. - More seating options. - Many people said they really like the historic architecture and the “old� feel the space has.
What people said
“
“This place needs a face lift! More green space.” - Kathy “I love the architecture of the surrounding buildings.” - Mike “I like how it has an old school feel.” Danielle “I love the cobble stones even thought they are hard to walk on.” - Will
“I don’t like the bulletin boards, they look like one big staple!” - Richard “The benches are always taken.” - Neil “When it’s warmer I like to sit in the sun and eat my lunch.” - Jeff I don’t use the Granville Mall that much, just for getting to school.” - Megan
”
Granville Mall Shake it up!
Look and Feel
The unique feel and heritage of Granville Mall is important. We wanted to enhance the eccletic historical experience with our Shake it up! concept. Based on user opinions we decided to incorporate cobble stones, greenspace, shelter, seating options and a dedicted NSCAD entrance and bicycle area into our concept. We mixed the heritage look that so many people love with modern, playful and eclectic whimsy. Essentially, we wanted to shake things up.
Granville Mall Shake it up! Our concept
Pedway
User Zones
Our concept consists of 6 zones, each with its own unique purpose
Gallery
Split Crow
NSCAD
Shops
Boston Pizza
Entryway and multi-purpose zone
Interaction zone, cobble stones and caverns
Hanging display system and lighting
Garden zone
Bike zone and NSCAD entrance
Multi-purpose market and eating zone
Multi-purpose event/hang-out zone
This zone is the first impression for Granville Mall. We kept it open and versitle. This zone will have “public square� feel, perfect for hanging out outside the split crow. We shook up this zone by creating seating that can be removed or rearranged to allow events and performances to take place. In addition this zone will also feature recycling, garbage and cigarettes bins designed to be interesting and noticable by NSCAD students. This will encourage people to keep the Granville MAll clean.
Hanging display system Our Shake it up! concept features a wire and pulley display system that challenges the way we view art. The display wires will allow NSCAD students to display their work “airing their laundry� so to speak.
The displays will draw people into the space and get people interested in NSCAD as well as encourage them to look up at the Architecture of the buildings which is so often overlooked.
This display system could also be used to screen outdoor movies or be customized to work this specific events such as Nocturn: Art at Night.
lighting
Another way we wnt to highlight the architecure and make the area more exciting is with dramatic and customizable lighting highlighting the buildings.
Bike zone and NSCAD entrance
We are going to shake up the bike situation by opening up the currently unused Granville mall foyer turn it into a vibrant student area with student designed bike racks and public bulletin boards.
A space like this will encourage more people to use bikes and give people who already do more space to park them. Aside from providing a better place for bikes this zone will also become a more defined entrance for NSCAD
Cobble Stone zone
Most people we spoke to liked the cobble stones for their historic appeal, but found them difficult to walk on. We decided to literally shake them up and change the way people interact with them. Our concept involves forming the cobble stones into graduating hills, as if someone had picked them up and shook them like a rug. This will allow users to interact and enjoy them by using them to hang-out, eat lunch or watch performances instead of having to walk across them Moss between the cobble stones will add the green space.
Cobble Stone zone The two largest cobble stone hills will function as semi-open shelters. They will be recessed into the ground but still open on the sides. This will provide a roofed shelter to get out of summer or winter weather while still not feeling too enclosed. Inside there will be seating, lighting, tables and wifi access. The galleries can also use them to display art. For security there is the possibility of closing the hills off at night.
Garden zone
In keeping with our Shake it up! theme we created a more modern and innovative greenspace involving a vertical garden or “green wall� as a focal point.
This zone will be relaxing and inviting and serve a variety of pruposes from sitting enjoying the sun to hosting buskers or outdoor lectures.
Trees, shrubs and flowers will enhance the garden environment and the NSCAD lions that many people have become attached to will be placed amongst the trees.
A stairscase that doubles as seating extends out of the Garden and into the pedway from which people can access the Halifax Harbour Walk. Likewise, people walking inside the pedway will be drawn out into the space.
Eating and Market zone
The back of the Granville mall to the side of the NSCAD building is current;y a bland and unused, We shook up and repurposed this zone by extending the green space into it and turning it into a Market area where food vendors can set up or where NSCAD coud have art sales. Turning this space into more of a destination and maing it more inviting will draw people into the Granville Mall from Hollis street and the pedway.
User Experiences
To illustrate how this space will be used we have created two user characters based on a combination of the people we interviewed.
NSCAD Nancy
Nancy is a 3rd year NSCAD textiles student. A typical school day for her starts at 9am and ends at 4pm. Nancy lives in the downtown area and rides her bike to school.
Business man Bill
Bill works in an office in one of the Purdy’s wharf buildings. He parks his car in Scotia Square and uses the pedway to get ot his office. He is married with two children and lives in a residential area outside the downtown area.
NSCAD Nancy – September In the morning Nancy parks her bike in the bike area and goes into school
When her class has a break she comes out and gets a coffee from Sam’s, she sits in the sun on the edge of one of the cobble stone hills and drinks her coffee. At Lunch she meets some of her friends and they eat together under one of the hills to get out of the hot sun.
In her afternoon class they put some of their textile work out on the display lines. As Nancy gets her bike to go home she shes a poster on one of the bulletin boards for an artist talk that is happening that night in the garden. She comes back after supper to enjoy the lighting on the buildings and attend the talk.
NSCAD Nancy – January In the winter Nancy takes the bus to school. She walks to school from the bus stop on Barrington Street via the pedway. On her way down the stairs she sees a poster for an art opening hanging on a display line.
She has her coffee break and lunch in one of the cobble stone hills to avoid the wind but still enjoy some fresh air. At night shes comes back down on a date to enjoy the spectacular lighting and go to the art opening.
Business man Bill – September Walking through the pedway in the morning Bill notices how nice the area looks and decides he will go down there later for lunch.
At lunch he gets a hotdog from a vendor in the market area and sits at a table by the vertical garden. After noticing how nice the garden was at lunch he decides to have his afternoon meeting with a client there. While there, he sees a movie screen being hung from a display line. That evening he remembers about the movie and birngs his wife and kids down to see it. They bring a blanket and sit on top of the cobble stones to watch the movie.
Business man Bill – January On his way through the pedway in the morning Bill sees that even though its freezing outside there are people sitting in the cobble stone hills drinking coffee and working on laptops. They look warm and cozy so he decides he’ll come back out for lunch. At Luchtime he brings his lunch and laptop out to the cobble stone hills for a change of scene. That night, remembering how warm and inviting the hills were, he meets some friends there and then they go to the split crow for a beer. After, they hang out in the front area and people watch and enjoy the lighting of the buildings in the dark.