#foodiesbytheyarra qing ping
Title: Foodies by the Yarra Audience: Tourist / Families / Youths / Homeless Location(s): Enterprize Park Time/Date: 6pm / 30th March 2014 Duration: 5 hours
Intervention Summary This intervention started with the idea of questioning if different demographics could be brought together through the common topic of food. This is to develop a common ground of interaction between different demographics of the city and the possible translation of this into my design.
The users perception of safety along the Yarra and activities to activate the Yarra was the secondary layer to this experimentation. To test this, the intervention was to be carried out across the span of afternoon to night to observe the change of users of the space. Data will also be obtained through active participation from the community on their opinions of this urban space along the Yarra.
3 _ Introduction
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Location Map
4 _ Site
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Site Photographs
The site is at Enterprize Park, which is located between Queens Bridge and Kings Bridge. The site is currently used mainly as a thoroughfare for residents and tourist, the park itself is frequented by families and youth groups, while the homeless live under the pylons of the rail lines.
This site was chosen due to its rich untapped history of the discovery of Melbourne and its strong connection to the Yarra. This site also provides the possibility of activating the space and form an engagement with the urban community.
5 _ Site
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PLAN
BBQ
Fairy Lights
Interactive Board
PERSPECTIVE
Plan & Section
Milk Crates
6 _ Design
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ATTRACTION NODE
INHABITING SPACE
INTERACTIVE BOARD
INTERACTION BETWEEN DEMOGRAPHICS
Diagrams
The intervention sought to involve all demographics of the community and obtain their opinions of the space. It also tries to develop a lingering space which promotes interactions between social classes of the community.
There are a series of elements proposed to engage with the community. A free BBQ was to attract users of the space together through food. Interactive boards provide an outlet for people to share their opinions and participate. The milk crates and fairy lights seek to explore how people engage with a pre-defined space and promote interactions between different demographics.
7 _ Design
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Installation
Installation of the intervention took about 2 hours, from promoting our project through flyers, to purchasing the food products, to setting up the BBQ. Strategic placement of the various elements of the intervention was important as signage needed to engage with the crowds and the crates were placed for a view of the Yarra.
8 _ Installation
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Observation
People responded well to the interactive boards as the community wanted to be involved and contribute to a better built environment. There was a strong engagement from all demographics who wanted to express their opinions on the usage of the space.
The BBQ on the other hand attracted a specific set of people of the homeless and youth groups. They would engage with and claim these spaces that we set up. However due the lack of food variety and assurance of food quality, tourist and older demographics were not as open to lingering in this space. 9 _ Observation
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Results
10 _ Observation
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Conclusion The intervention was able to engage with a wide array of users of the space, most of the people were open to be involved and give their opinion on how to improve this space. This shows and encouraging fact that the urban community is looking for an outlet to engage with for the betterment of the built environment. There is a high potential to develop an urban community in this space. This River front promenade was actively used by a wide range of demographics across the daylight hours. However from the feedback, most of the people did not feel safe here due to its empty and isolated atmosphere at night. There is a need to activate this space to improve usage and passive surveillance.
From observations, people frequented the river front promenade and would linger at seating spaces looking towards the Yarra. Also from the data collected, most people considered that the Yarra is an important part of the city providing a natural element to the CBD. However, in its current state it feels isolated from the city. It has large untapped potentials which would lead to the improvement of the city of Melbourne.
From the survey, it was interesting to find that there is a strong interest in developing an urban garden for the community, as responses stated that it adds to the natural aspect of the Yarra and could bring together a community.
11 _ Conclusion
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