KICK-OFF (NOV)
WORKSHOPS (NOV-DEC)
Meet with community to discuss overarching project goals.
“Words in Grey” Session 1: explore existing use and conflicts of site through creative writing and drawing.
Analyze existing condition. Preparation for engagements and workshops
“Words in Grey” Session 2: develop design options and wishlists through sketches.
ENGAGEMENT (NOV) Hang out with Patten Towers residents and people from surrounding communities to understand the stories and challenges. Allowing people to speak freely and share will be key during these sessions.
PROJECT TIMELINE Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
REFINEMENT (JAN-FEB) Refine the design and present final concepts to stakeholder and community. Begin collaboration with contractors who will build the project.
CONCEPT (DEC-JAN) Develop concepts to reflect the needs of residents and users. Showcase the proposed concepts organize feedbacks from community.
IMPLEMENTATION (APR-JUL) The design team will guide and participate in construction to achieve collective vision.
PRODUCTION (MAR-APR) The design team will convey selected interventions to the crafts persons, community, and collaborators who will build/create. The goal is a project that uses many hands, including our own and those who traveled this journey with us, to create the final product.
The idea was to gather where the tenants would hangout without a big agenda, without a big speech, simply meeting, and hanging. Often times, the best insight would come from these meet ups. We’d link at pickle barrel for drinks, we’d hang on the benches on pretty days, walks to get a pack of smokes.
These meetings, I’d call “micro” sessions.... because it’s not the main workshop (Words in Grey), however an element of the workshop is there. Meaning, after we talk about life, family, etc. I’d shift the energy to where they live. Writing down different things that were laid down over drinks, during walks, or over hugs on the bench. The first couple weeks started as venting sessions. Once the conversation shifted to “so how do you like living at Patten Towers?” We’d hear mostly the pain, the irritation, the things that made it hard to live there. That made it hard for their grandchildren to stay there.
INITIAL ENGAGEMENTS: MICRO-SESSIONS Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
It was important to have these “micro” sessions before the main session (Words In Grey), because it allows tenants to be fully heard without fearing management in the room.... or unfamiliar suits, or unfamiliar faces. You can get it all out.
After several micro sessions, we then had our “Words in Grey” session in Miller park. This meeting was extremely positive, with the very same tenants that vented in the microsessions about the homeless coming over to their space, now poetically expressing why they need to keep them in mind in a loving way, in the new design. All the ideas and poems, it all shared a very loving tone. People began to get excited about authoring the design of their space, their home.
“Words in Grey” is a creative explorative workshop that uses poetry and language to navigate the hidden things within.
WORDS IN GREY: POEM EXERCISE Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
We had another session in Patten towers where a different group of tenants (some coming from words in grey session), then draw what they’d want to see. Some went small, some ideas where big (a guy shut down a whole street to put a pool in), it was again super positive and beautiful. These sessions all pulled out things that would be difficult to sift through in purely questions or voting on what we thought they needed. I. This way, we explore what the tenants really wanted (whether possible or not).
WORDS IN GREY: SKETCHING EXERCISE Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
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THE DWELL US DISTRICT HOTEL COURT
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GATHERING OUTPOST PICKLE BARREL
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CHATTANOOGA PUBLIC LIBRARY
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THE EDNEY
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
IMPROVEMENTS DIAGRAM Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
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CHATTANOOGA CITY HALL 1
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Design Interventions and Additional Improvements
Sidewalk Improvements
Crosswalk Improvements
Make these into seating, they add nothing to the space.
Like the art feature
Love the games! Will this be ADA accessible?
Faded quickly: The wear and tear would be a lot
Add more greenery Like the modular seatings and planters
Like the street paint
Close this section of Georgia Ave. so the residents can activate the space Love the permanence of these planters
THE POOL Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
Easy to install and adds color and life!
Like the community aspect, but worry about the maintenance of the planting Love seating past Bingo’s Market
Planting adds life and color to the area
Swings are great elements to invite kids into the space Concern about number of plants, “adopt-apot” program with the residents Good seating option, how do you keep it from getting stolen? Add modular seating
Paint the street Combine this with pool concept
Is the pot breakable? Nice plants, but high maintenance? Would like to see permanent planters instead of pots
THE GARDEN Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
What happens if plants fall over?
Add some turf
Love multiple seating options
Add low cost games that can be replaced easily when damaged or stolen
Worry about dog waste on astro turf
Lawn chairs provide comfort to relax and chat Love that seating extended to the front
This provides always green space that require no maintenance
Create a stronger bulb out, add more efforts to restrict traffic
Good seating option for a bare wall Concerned about accessibility of raised spaces
THE LAWN Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
PATTEN TOWERS
PRECEDENTS REACTIONS Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
COMMUNITY
PATTEN TOWERS
COMMUNITY
$2000 $1600
$1500
$1400
$1400
$1400 $1200
$1200
Traffic Calming
Power Outlets
$1300
$1300
Tabletop Games
Traffic Calming
$1000
$500
$0
Swings
MONEY EXERCISE RESULTS Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
Sidewalk Painting
Diverse Seating
Sidewalk Painting
THE QUILT: AXON Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
THE QUILT: FROM MARKET STREET Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
THE QUILT: FROM GEORGIA AVENUE Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
Adirondack Chair (Flat) loll Designs Seat height:12” 28.5” x 34.75” x 33.25”
Tessellate Slope Modular & Expandable Planter loll Designs H:18”& 24” W:8”&12”
Windmark Chair w/o Arms LandscapeForm 22” x 19” x 31”
Bay City Bike Racks Forms + Surfaces H:24.5” L:26.5”
Tessellate Jut Modular & Expandable Planter loll Designs H:18”& 24” W:8”&12”
Windmark Table LandscapeForm 42” x 42” x 29”
SITE FURNITURE INVENTORY Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
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THE EDNEY
GATHERING OUTPOSTS & INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
CHATTANOOGA CITY HALL
GEORGIA INTERSECTION E
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY
WAREHOUSE ROW
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WAREHOUSE ROW OUTPOST GATHERING OUTPOSTS & INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS Patten Towers Public Realm Chattanooga, Tennessee
MILLER PARK OUTPOST Swings
Modular Seating
Existing Tree
Painted Crosswalk
Adirondack Chair
Bike Racks
Improved Planting
Painted Sidewalk