PLUG - IN
PLayful Urban Grid: stimulating social interaction
Judith de Blok | Ivan Glenn Leinse | Fernanda Moreira | Martha Seitanidou
NEIGHBORHOOD INFORMATION - WOENSEL WEST EDISONPLEIN Meeting point of different directions
FRANKLINSTRAAT Playful route for schoolchildren
WESTSIDE STORES Shops by entrepreneurs as initiative
AREA ANALYSIS
EDISONSTRAAT The backbone of area’s structure
SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSES Mainly prewar social labor housing N
H
IN SHORT
STRIJP-S
_Bad reputation in the past > today improved image
H
_Initiatives for improvement CITY CENTRE
_Residential area,commercial functions on Edisonstraat
STRATUMSEIND
_Multicultural neighborhood
Woensel
West (also called Groenewoud) has had a bad reputation in the past, as there were problems with prostitution, drugs and incidents of violence. With the help of the citizens and much voluntary work, the image of the neighborhood has improved. Examples of initiatives are the redesign of the Edisonstraat and the area around the Celsius Square. Woensel West is located just outside the inner ring of Eindhoven, next to the train station Eindhoven Beukenlaan.
4125 inhabitants | 53,58% men 46,42% women mean: 1.7 persons per household 62% one person, 21% partner + kids, 17% partner, no kids
People visiting the popular area of Strijp S are using this station or they are traveling through Woensel West to come there.
cross, the Edisonplein is situated. It has the opportunity of becoming the meeting point of different directions.
Overall, the neighborhood is a residential area, with some commercial functions located on the Edisonstraat. This street is one of the backbones of the urban structure.
Not many meeting points or attractive public spaces are available at the area, while at the same time the need for it is high.
Another backbone is the Franklinstraat, on which a playful route is created for children. The route starts at a school and ends at a big playground. Where these two streets
Woensel West is also a multicultural neighborhood with people of many different nationalities. Within these social groups, the bonds are strong, however, the social cohesion as a whole is less.
AREA ANALYSIS
WOENSEL WEST
20 people interviewed Age
What do you want to address/change in your neighborhood?
<20 20-30 30-40 40-50
65%
35%
More activities
Social cohesion issues
50-60 >60
What do you not like about the neighborhood?
Nationality
DATA ANALYSIS
Dutch 60%
Various 40%
How do you feel about the neighborhood? Like it
Lack social interaction Not enough liveness Miscellaneous Nothing
Who should implement changes? E.g. municipality, company/companies, citizens, a combination? Municipality Nobody Companies
Needs improvement
Dislike it
Citizens Combination
What do you think of using technology in public space (think sensors, open-wifi, etc)? Suspicious
40%
no personal info Bad No opinion
What do you think happens to all the data collected in public spaces? Nearly
5 of 10
are anaware
Would you like to know more about how technology is used and what it is used for?
Yes but I do not try/have no time No/Not interested Yes
“Not personal data and always anonymous” “It should be mentioned clearly what is the purpose” “Anything -with certain private boundariesneeded to improve peoples lives”
Conclusions from data analysis _People of different age groups agree that there is lack of a lively public space. They would like more activities in their neighborhood. _ Lack of interaction between different ethnic groups is mentioned as another important issue. _Almost 50% of the people interviewed are not aware about how data are collected and for what reason. _In general people would like to learn how technology is used and for what purpose. _Regading the information collected in public spaces the greater percentage of 40% believe that personal information should not be collected.
DATA ANALYSIS
Good
According to your opinion, what kind of information should be collected in public space?
PLUG - IN
events
Goals of intervention The intervention aims in creating an interactive and lively public space. The square can be a point of gathering and interaction between people who belong in different age and cultural groups and have different social background. Through the organization of events this public space, located in the heart of the neighborhood, can be revitalized helping in achieving social cohesion in this multicultural neighborhood. Project in 2 phases 1st phase [action-data collection] The square accommodates various functions and users’movements and routes on the square are recorded. 2nd phase [reaction-redesign according to data analysis] The collected data is analyzed and the square can adapt its structure according to users preferences. Phase 1
DESIGN
action-data collection
the square accommodates different functions and residents’ use is recorded
Phase 2 reactionredesign according to data analysis
data is analyzed and the square changes its form according to users choices
interaction social cohesion
Short description of proposal A grid is applied on the square and the square is divided in smaller boxes. These boxes are movable and different forms are constructed. The square can accommodate different functions such as exhibition area, concert area, sitting area with benches, open air cinema, street market, sports arena etc Regarding data collection; sensors located on the corners of the square can capture and track user’s route on the square. Collected data can be presented on ‘heat maps’ showing which parts of the square are used more and during which function.
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DATA TECHNOLOGY
With
the findings of the interviews in mind, several conclusions are used to design the intervention. First of all, the basic need of the inhabitants is to create more meeting points in the public space, in order to increase the social cohesion of the area. At the same time, the interviewed people showed that they are suspicious towards the collection of personal information in order to design these spaces. Therefore, the intervention only collects information in an anonymous way. The data visualized is not
connected to specific persons, but to the whole user group of multiple users during a longer period. Furthermore, the data is gathered in a clear playful way, making sure that people feel at ease. Participants of the interviews also told that gathering information from them is fine, but only when it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take too much time and effort. Because the data is gathered while people are using the square for leisure, it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel like it is taking up their free time. Lastly, many people stressed that they want to know when
data is gathered and what it is used for. By placing the digital board next to the square, it is communicated that their usage of the square is sensored, as well as that the data is visualized for the neighborhood. Regarding the used technology, Raspberry pi cameras can be applied on each conner of the square for optimal line of sight and collected data can be shown through flow maps and heat maps on the digital board. Users are both creating data as well as they are informed about the meaning of it.
The square can be used in many ways. The front of this booklet shows a scenario in which it is used as a market place, but another example of the usage could be as a sport arena. This is a lively function and during a sports event many people are involved. It is a fun way to make people interact with each other.
DATA TECHNOLOGY
Next to the interactive square, a digital board is placed. Users of the square can here see what events are planned for it. Also, the data measured by the sensors is visualized, which shows them the movement of people on it and a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;heat mapâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; of the usage of the square blocks.