found

could you use these for the swapbox idea?
found them near the new Barnes Foundation.

So this video is a little odd at times, but I think that the mission of the group is pretty interesting. This is a link to their website: https://carrotmob.org/ This obviously has the potential to make huge social, political and environmental impacts, but is not immediately spatial. I think, however it is a great example of how manipulating a system, or reinventing how that system is used (rather than actually looking to change the system completely) can create beneficial changes. 

CONFETTI_ sistema de iluminación urbana diurna/nocturna

Project I used for a case study while studying abroad. It is primarily about creating outdoor human scaled spaces. A temporary exhibit utilizing color gels to create an outdoor ceiling.



Olafur Eliasson also does temporary architectural interventions, some really interesting projects including color and light, and human perception of space.
Olafur Eliasson

collaborative design show: above | below | beyond

Hey everyone:

It took a while, but we finally launched our kickstarter to raise funds for a student exhibition of Temple and UPenn undergrad design work for Philadelphia's unused railroad corridor. Please take a look at the video and share the kickstarter with classmates, friends and family!
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/348743890/above-l-below-l-beyond-futures-for-a-former-railro

Exchange Ideas

Still, with uncertainty whether it is a “tactical” approach, I decided to open the question of design solution to the general public.  I went back to the concourse at south Broad St holding a piece of paper with a simple question on it: I would like to see _____ here.  To me, the space is like the blank on the paper waiting to be filled out with answers.  It was not a hard question, and I had 87 people’s answers in one and half hours.  

After summarizing and diagramming the result, I realized it still covers a broad range of topics.  I don’t think a quantitative method will offer a good solution, not to mention this is not a big sample to begin with.   So I choose to equalize every idea. It is like a parking spot with a meter; a cabinet in the locker room; a massage chair with a coin slot.  It is public but not sharing. It is equal to everyone with a time limit.  I call it a space that we can exchange ideas.  

In-House composting system

In-house composting system.

This system out of Germany allows the entire composting process to be done in doors and, more importantly, in a dwelling.
www.nilsferber.de/kitchen-composter.html

Mount Moriah Cleanup 9-22-2012

Apps Vs Songs

The number of Apple app downloads cough up with iTunes song downloads. What does it mean for the future of our cities?

El Campo de Cebada

These are my photos from El Campo de Cebada which is a collective formed by neighbors who decided to take a position on the degradation of this empty lot situated right in the city center of Madrid, Spain.I used to live was two minutes away so I would frequently stop by and participate in the events: open air movie nights, and urban design exhibits, salsa classes open to the public, DIY furniture workshops etc.

At El Campo de Cebada it is believed that public space should originally reflect the wishes and desires of the society that creates it. And it’s working! The project has been a finalist of the European Prize for Urban Public Space, an initiative of the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona. I’m really interested in following up on the story of this initiative, especially since the municipality is planning to use this central location to build another shopping mall…

Philly Open Data

Don't know if this would be of any help to anyone, but this site has a bunch of useful Philly data.

Open Data Philadelphia

Philadelphia Freecycle

If anyone was interested in Philadelphia Freecycle you can access the website here.

Walk Philadelphia

During the first class I had brought up that Philadelphia had a great pedestrian signage system.  Well I have learned a little more about it with a brief conversation with Peter Bressler whose firm was tasked with creating the signage, the signs designer is Joel Katz.

One thing that sets this signage system apart from the standard ones implemented in other cities is the orientation of the maps.  Whenever you see these signs up is the direction of view, not north.  The reason this is rarely done is because each sign has to be customized for its location and each side of the sign needs to be different.  

Some of the problems with this system that exist through no fault of the designers is the connectivity of the five areas across the city.  When you are walking in the Rittenhouse Square District all you have is an arrow pointing north saying Parkway Museum District with no detailed information.  

Philadelphia is a very walkable city so it is important to get people out and into it and taking stock of all the great things they have around them.  

http://www.centercityphila.org/docs/walkphila_infosheet.pdf

how to design an exhibit

Interview Transcript

Date: 9/15/2012

Student Name: Susan Kolber Interviewee Name: Aaron Goldblatt, Metcalfe Architecture 

Group / Association: VIADUCTgreene

General Topic / Interest: Exhibition

 @ Next American City

This past Friday week my exhibition teammate, Amy Syverson, in organizing the show met at Next American city with Museum Exhibition Architect, Aaron Goldblatt, to give us advice on how to arrange our show. Aaron is a member of VIADUCTgreene and offered to talk to us. Kate also in the photo above, is a recent city planner grad from PennDesign and now is an intern Next American City.

THIS WAS NOT RECORDED….this is the gist:

 [AG] Who is you audience?

[SK/AS] Students and the surrounding community. We want to introduce the site through student work, show our process, and get people excited.

[AG] Those are two completely different audiences and you need to be clear on the story you want to tell. Be careful about your audience, a non-design community will not understand a lot of your work. (He references an exhibition at the MOMA on rising sea levels) Focus on a Hierarchy of information. For words use 28 font size or larger.

[SK/AS] What about making a large scale model of the railroad?

[AG] In my experience maps and large scale models are useless. You do not have a lot of time, consider other alternatives of images and objects hung or propped up.

[SK/AS] What about using this wall to show these awesome maps?

Not everyone can understand maps. Try to avoid making your walls books.

[SK/AS] What kind of the foam should we use to mount the boards onto?

Either reinforce basic foam boards (because they tend to sway) or use alligator board.

[SK/AS] What kind of lighting should we use?

You’ll probably spend the most on lighting, go to Home Depot and get clip on lights.

[SK/AS] Where can we get tables for models?

Make saw horse tables.

urban nature walk

railroad exploration: 9/15/2012

saving a cemetery

 Interview Transcript

 

Date: 9/19/2012

 

Student Name: Susan Kolber Interviewee Name: Paulette Rhone

 

Group / Association: Friends of Mount Moriah

 

General Topic / Interest: Cemetery

 

 

I was introduced to Paulette this past March in an old church basement, where a public Friends of Mount Moriah Board meeting was being held. I hadn’t visited Mount Moriah, but my friend Jared told me about this amazing cemetery in West Philadelphia that had been left untouched for years. Jared and I were the youngest in the room by 20 or 30 years. But my gut reaction to this well run meeting was that people were extraordinarily passionate about this cemetery and caring for its revival. My first visit was at 6:30 am on a cold morning in March, and the eerie but stunning experience of walking in and around ivy overgrown 20ft tall monuments struck me. When do you experience nature and history and culture in such a juxtaposed setting. This is an American ruin-- Mount Moriah Cemetery.

I’m still piecing together her history, but Paulette has taken on the challenge of restoring this 150 acre abandoned cemetery. While a group called “Friends of Mount Moriah” has existed for several years, when the cemetery was officially abandoned in 2011, Paulette became president of their board. Her husband is buried in Mount Moriah, but her deep connection with reviving this idle sight goes farther than honoring the space of where her husband lies.  It’s about connecting the community surrounding this cemetery with their history; connect people to their untold history. While many cemeteries in Philadelphia were racially segregated, Mount Moriah possibly since its opening in 1855 has allowed all burials. Different religious communities owned sections of the cemetery, but it was not controlled by one religious organization.  The diversity of the cemetery’s history is what excites her, what she feels called to unveil and share.

For the past year she and the small board organized mass volunteer groups to come clean the cemetery. While for me I have mixed feelings about “the cleaning” strategy. Its clear that people feel a duty to care for the grave sites.

Tonight we spoke briefly.  This Saturday 200 Villanova student volunteers are coming to the Mount Moriah to clean. It will probably be their largest clean up.

Here’s what we talked about:

 

[SK] [Because the cemetery is legally abandoned, the city formed a appointed but volunteer board to begin figuring out what to do with the space] Can you tell me about the board for Friends of Mount Moriah?

[PH] “We are moving to meetings every two weeks. It’s slow. People are cautious about their commitment and liabilities.”

 

[SK] Can you tell me about what’s happened this summer? Has there been exciting moments for you?

[PH] “We found three African Americans buried at Mount Moriah prior to Henry Davis in 1862. We had heavy equipment come out twice, bobcats took out a hundred of those (invasive I can’t remember what she said) sumac looking trees. Big 40ft dumpster hauled away a lot of trash. There’s just one big pile left. Yeadon looks very big—it’s been a collective effort.

To see that accomplishment, to see people come back, ride through, bring flowers, work on their family plot, see kids ride their bikes through the cemetery….theirs life—its just not death. There’s still so much to do, but when you see a mother cry and say thank you for cleaning her murdered son’s gravesite…it’s the little things. People helping.

 

[SK] What’s happening this weekend

[PH] A hundred plus  Villanova volunteers are coming to help clean and take a photo inventory of a tombstones  in the cemetery we have no record of. We need team leaders (you should come). Build on and Friends of Cobbs Creek are coming too.

 

SwapBox

As my research has progressed I came up with the thought of trading up and bartering, specifically how can we improve the lives of those in Philadelphia by trading an item for an item?

What would happen if there were designated spaces throughout the city in which you could place an item that still has life but you no longer want, all while potentially taking the item that was already there?  Call it a hobby swap, trading up, or simply swapping.

Identifying a decaying city infrastructure, newspaper distribution boxes, as the source of such public swapping boxes.

12th and Pine

19th and Market

12th and Locust

9th and Walnut

16th and Spruce

There are also countless stories about how these newspaper distribution boxes in their current form have become boxes of blight.

CBS Hundreds of Philly Newspaper Boxes Labeled for Confiscation

Philadelphia Weekly Stuck on Philly

Neighborland Want Newspaper Boxes Redesigned or Removed

A potential diagram of the process may be illustrated below;

Practicing Influence                                                     ARCH 737, Fall 2012

Interview Transcript

Date:    9/19/2012

Student Name:             Sylvia M Kline              Interviewee Name:       Ashley DiCaro

Group / Association:    Interface Studio

General Topic / Interest: Pedestrian Corridors / Spring Garden Greenway

Interface Studio is currently working on the Spring Garden Greenway in collaboration with Sam Schwarts Engineering.

 [SK]:  What are your firm’s primary responsibilities associated with the Spring Garden Greenway Plan?

 [AD]:   We are responsible for community engagement and public relations associated with the project. We host public meetings, are responsible for branding of the project and marketing. We primarily are responsible for getting the name out to the community. Community meetings are held in association with the Spring Garden Civic Association.

            We are working closely with the Sam Schwarts Engineering firm, but primarily responsible for publicity within Philadelphia and the local communities.

[SK]: What is your company’s personal interest in the project?

[AD]: We were approached by the engineering firm to assist in the project’s development. We are the local firm for the project and the utilization of our local resources and contacts are utilized for the development and publicity.

The mission of the project coincides with our current mission’s goal of creating greener community oriented space, as is posted on our Website.

Mission Statement ( http://interface-studio.com/about/)

“Interface Studio LLC is a full-service planning and urban design practice based in Philadelphia.  Founded in 2004 with the intention to start as a small, collaborative office and remain so, we are today a successful company of seven professional planners working together on a diverse array of projects ranging from neighborhood plans in Philadelphia to corridor studies in Chicago and Macon, a master plan for Hamtramck to an industrial strategy for Detroit.  Our plans have been recognized with state and national awards, including three American Planning Association National Planning Excellence Awards, two for Grassroots Planning (2009 and 2012)and one for Public Outreach (2010) as well as a national award forPlanning and Analysis from the American Society of Landscape Architects (2010).

We believe the process of urban planning is evolving, becoming increasingly graphic, grassroots-driven, and interactive.  With the growing presence of technology in our world comes near-constant visual stimulation, unprecedented access to information, and an empowered generation of do-it-yourself activists.  Interface Studio’s planning approach celebrates these shifts.  Our brand of urban planning is steeped in color, accented with humor, fluent in today’s technologies, and calibrated to create platforms for resident-experts to contribute in meaningful ways to plans that will guide the future of their communities, cities, and civic spaces.

Described as hip and nimble, we are a team of creative thinkers and doers.  We strive to be accessible to all audiences with a style that is approachable, artistic, playful, and intended to welcome the public into the planning process.  We believe big ideas require incremental steps to sustain momentum from the planning process and build confidence that positive change is coming.  Our ideas thus balance long-term goals with short-term or temporary projects and events that bring people together, raise money, and shape local policy.

We offer a unique approach to planning, communication, and implementation tailored to today’s culture and economy and committed to revitalized urban futures.”

[SK]: What are the project’s goals (whether required by Philadelphia or personal for the firm) for the Philadelphia Green Way?

[AD]: Create a commutable corridor, which is accessible for pedestrians, bikes, and develops traffic control. The Project is to create a complete street. It is about everyone, not about being likeable or being “super green”, but being likeable and useful for all participants.

[SK]: How does the planning of the Spring Garden Greenway coincide with the larger scale plan of the East Coast Greenway?

[AD]: The plan is along with the same primary goals and connections created through the East Coast Greenway. The Coastal Greenway appoints state representatives who then hire firms to design and complete the work. The state committees are crucially important to the creation of the individual greenway paths throughout the state.

           

[SK]: What are your personal thoughts on Philadelphia’s walkability and pedestrian areas?

[AD]: They defiantly need a lot of work. We hope that through the Spring Garden Greenway creates a progression which will propel the city in the right direction. We hope that this project becoming a reality propels other good existing plans into a reality as well.

[SK]: Can you or your firm be contacted in the future for other Philadelphia planning, Spring Garden Green Way, and other projects your firm may be associated with?

[AD]: Absolutely.

Contact Information: Ashley DiCaro, LEED AP
ashley@interface-studio.com

P: 215.925.5595

Interface Studio

Spring Garden Greenway Project

Practicing Influence                                                     ARCH 737, Fall 2012

Interview Transcript

Date:    9/19/2012

Student Name:             Sylvia M Kline   Interviewee Name:       Robert Pierson

Group / Association:    Farm to City

General Topic / Interest: Pedestrian Corridors /  Farmers Markets

 [SK]:  What is the primary goal of the Farm to City program?

 [RP]:   Our mission is to connect communities, planners, residents and farmers; to create opportunities for access to good, fresh, healthy food.

[SK]: What is the most successful part of the Farm to City program?

[RP]: Although the Farm to City program consists of five or six different programs associated with the connection between the rural farm and people within the urban context. The most successful of these programs is the farmers markets program and the second most successful is the farm share.

[SK]: How are the locations for the farmers markets chosen and by what criteria?

[RP]: The majority of our information about where to place farms is through personal interviews and suggestions. The majority of the locations are placed in ordinance with the fact that the success of the farmers market is entirely dependent upon word of mouth and visual recognition throughout daily life. Most people when asked how they found out about the market or learned up it, have heard from a friend or saw it when passing by and decided to stop the next time. 

            These findings mean that farmer markets are placed in highly visible locations with lots of walkers. It is necessary that each farm have local partners for publicity and support.

            Local regulations, permits and a specific neighborhood’s history and existing knowledge of the project as a whole is also crucial to each markets success. Specifications must be met for how good a community is and how much they are willing and able to spend for the goods. Along with this, the selected farmers supplying markets must meet the neighborhoods specifications for pricing and demand. The specific farmers depict the individual prices for the goods sold. The majority of current farmers markets are in demographically high income areas, due to the price of the products that are sold and the farmers required price in order to meet their own financial needs.

            Each farmers market must have a strong social mission and a desire for improvement within the neighborhood, connections, and sustainable practices.

           

[SK]:How does the program work, for example, are farms picked by the organization and give a place to sell?

[RP]: Within existing markets, farmers are selected for what they are capable of growing and what their sale expectations for their product are. These are matched with the needs of specific markets and neighborhoods.

            If the prospect is for a new market then the sale expectation as well as needs of the community, found through various surveys, are of primary importance to the location of the farmer market. Farmers are also encouraged to suggest their own location for farms.

            The primary importance in farms chosen and location of farmers markets is about balance and supply for a community in need.

[SK]: How is the program expanding?

[RP]: One attempt at expanding that has yet to be reached is the idea of whole sale markets. It is a personal goal to have this accomplished within the next year. It has been on the books for two years now. This is currently in the market phase, where it is advertised through pamphlets hoping to gain further support. The idea of whole sale markets is to create an opportunity to help low income communities. This, although a strong component of the mission, has yet to be reached due to the needs of the farmers. The hope is that the introduction of whole sale markets will be able to reach the low income communities within Philadelphia.

 Farmtocity.org

Practicing Influence                                                       ARCH 737, Fall 2012

Interview Transcript

Date:    9/19/12

Student Name: Sylvia M Kline              Interviewee Name:  Patricia Freeland

Group / Association:  Spring Garden Civic Association

General Topic / Interest: Pedestrian Corridors / Spring Garden

 [SK]:  What is the primary goal of your organization?

 [PF]:    We have many goals as an organization, but our primary goal is to promote a good quality of life for the Spring Garden residents. We want to create a truly mixed income community, preserve our historic architecture, and create beautification through implementing green gardens and planting trees through the Philadelphia horticulture. We hope to foster harmony within the neighborhood, promoting working together towards the goal of beautification of the neighborhood and promoting community gardens. We also encourage and promote the education of our “youngsters” and furthering education.

[SK]: How is your organization involved in the Spring Garden Greenway Project?

[PF]: We have been very active in implementing meetings and developing a community wide response to those meetings. We have created the opportunities for community interest meetings to take place.

            After a call today, it seems as though the engineering firm, Sam Schwartz Engineering Inc., is interested in us initializing and discovering a meets of fundraising. Although is a large surprise, we will do whatever it takes by whatever means possible to create an opportunity for the completion of the project.

            I personally, the organization and the general community are very excited about the prospects of the project and its success.

[SK]: What about the project do you personally feel is missing or lacking?

[PF]: After today’s evaluation, funding is the primary missing point of the project, much to our dismay. We had previous been told that the funding was in place, but after a phone call received today it seem as though our organization will be responsible to provide and initiate some of the funding in order to complete and specifically to finalize the beautification of the Spring Garden Greenway Project.

            As we have previously experienced in this neighborhood, previous funding to initialize a project is only able to go so far. We have numerous very generous community members who have provided the means to complete projects in the past and we just have to hope that those type of community members will be able to provide in this project as well.

            As a community, Spring Garden is very enthusiastic to the beautification and the continual process to create pedestrian friendly neighborhoods.

[SK]: What is your favorite location in Philadelphia?

[PF]: I think it goes without saying that Spring Garden is my favorite location within the city. We truly are trying to create a neighborhood which is proud of its surroundings, its community, and its outputs into the rest of the city of Philadelphia.

[SK]: What are your thoughts on Philadelphia’s walkability and pedestrian areas?

[PF]: I think Philadelphia’s primary problem associated with walkability is an issue of connectivity.

            I use to bike a lot around River drive and always found it very difficult to get around without dogging pedestrians and specifically cars.

            The parkway is doing incredible things to invest and revitalize this area; to connect it to the remainder of the city. Spring Garden becoming a pedestrian walkway and the removal of cars from this area is a lofty goal, but an attainable one.

            Spring garden has a large disconnect to the remaining of the city, Center City, East of Broad, and the riverfronts. Connections become our main problem within the community and the hope is that the Spring Garden Greenway will provide an ease to this disconnect. The goal is always to have more people walking.

            I believe these are the viewpoints of the general area of Spring Garden and it’s residents.

           

An interactive LED light system lightens up your shadows as you walk by the wall.  

Pedestrian tunnel under the railway, Dandnes, Norway

Design by Skjelvik Design 

Article about a social experience in China to create awareness about a rising carbon emissions in China.
Greener Walking

Honest Tea

An interesting social experiment preformed by Honest Tea in the six largest U.S. cities.

Public Forum: The Creative Eco-System: Re-viewing Sustainability - SEPT 20TH, 5:30 PM

A potentially valuable event to attend... Check it out!!

September 20, 5:30 PM: 

Public Forum: The Creative Eco-System: Re-viewing Sustainability

Join us for an interactive forum led by artist/educator/activist Marc Bamuthi Joseph featuring a respected panel of community leaders, artists, urban planners and scholars aimed at exploring new modes of collaboration, community engagement and creative artistic responses for at-risk communities that have been ravaged by environmental depredations that affect their health and welfare. The panel will feature:

Katherine Gajewski, Director of Sustainability, City of Philadelphia
Amy Hillier, Assistant Professor, University of Pennsylvania School of Design 
Aaron Levy, Executive Director, Slought Foundation
Kira Strong, Vice President of Community and Economic Development, People’s Emergency Center 

Admission is free, but a ticket is required. Click here to reserve your seat. 

Graphic Resources for Diagramming!

Hey guys!  Great class on Thursday.  I wanted to provide you with the name of the two books Keith and I mentioned that have great examples of visual and spatial information.

Data Flow

and

Data Flow 2

Ponder these for some graphic inspiration!

have a great weekend and good luck with your calls and interviews (templates coming!)

I think this is a good example of a "what if" question and an interesting solution/test. Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw&feature=player_embedded

Organized Compost

Collection and processing of compost

COMPOST from neighborhoods, schools, hopitals, hospitality

To collect and process in a centralized location/s, things are needed

Vacant  lots

               - For compost gathering sites

               - To store and process the compost

The city's vacant lot program

               http://www.phila.gov/qualityoflife/Vacant_Lot_Criteria_.html

Campaign to take back vacant land

               http://takebackvacantland.org/?page_id=122

Article on non-profit in West Philly that processes compost, using fallen leaves and kitchen waste from neighborhood residents.

               http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2012/06/20/vacant-lot-in-west-philadelphia-converted-into-dirt-factory/

Outside of Philadelphia

NYC Department of Sanitation
Compost Pilot Program http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/compost/collections_schoolfood.shtml

NYC composting program that collects school food for compost.
               http://greenschoolsny.com/

Miami -
Verde Gardens
A live-in community garden which employs homeless and give them a place to live.
Miami is a leader in lowering the homeless rate.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/09/verde-gardens-homeless-organic-food_n_1868237.html

abandoned spaces

above | below | beyond
Inspiration: the high line, Philadelphia's 3 mile long unused railroad corridor, spring arch studio, VIADUCTgreene, temple's landscape architecture spring studio
Idea: Currently I am collaborating with two Temple students to put on a joint exhibition of the Student Designs of the Philadelphia's 3 mile long unsued railroad. Its opening October 5 at Next American City. The reality is that for the past ten years this space has inspired many student studios and we want to begin showcasing the work as a way of sharing with Philadelphians the student process and most importantly re-imagining the space themselves.
 Here is our mission: 
above l below l beyond is an exhibit showcasing Temple University and University of Pennsylvania student designs for Philadelphia’s three mile long unused railroad corridor. By sharing the process of the students' work, we hope to expose Philadelphians to the in-depth analysis of the railroad’s location, history, and ecology, highlight the creativity the space has provoked, and encourage people to consider and invent their own possibilities for the railroad.
 http://www.facebook.com/AboveBelowBeyond
http://abovebelowbeyond.org/
http://pinterest.com/susankolber/above-below-beyond/ \
Create a plan to introduce all Philadelphians to the site.
Collaboration potential: Already we've had student film makers and musicians from different universities help implement the project, we'd like all surrounding neighborhoods to have an introduction to the space, get all Philadelphia architects, politicians, landscape architects involved......

Mount Moriah Cemetery
Inspiration: There is a 150 acre abandoned cemetery at 6201 Kingsessing Ave, Philadelphia, PA. An amazing group of people lead by Paulette Rhone have been trying to clean the cemetery and cut the grass by organizing volunteers. The space has incredible history and an amazing landscape.
Idea: There are very few young people and virtually no design minded people involved in the process of the cemetery's revival, I see the place and think beautiful nature paths with tombstones popping out of the flora...awesome. Anyway its a ruin. Begin the process of re-thinking this cemetery.
Collaboration potential: architects, historical preservation people, landscape architects, artists, community members, everyone

check out Mount Moriah Photos

student work, gardens, artists

hello dear classmates,


 [Plants]

1. Crack Garden
Inspiration: Steve Wheen the pothole gardener, Landscape architecture firm CMG ,  
Idea: find potholes and concrete cracks in the city and fill them with plants, 
Materials: cracks in the sidewalk, pothole in the street, plants
Collaboration potential: PHS,  landscape architects, graphic designers, willing building owners,  artists, students

CMG Landscape Architecture

Steve Wheen London Pothole Gardener

2. Moss Graffiti
Inspiration: a fellow student told me about it, MOSS Graffiti
Idea: Make awesome and beautiful 'graffiti' with plants
Materials: moss, walls


Collaboration potential: PHS, graphic designers, willing building owners,  artists, students

3. Learn Cultural History through Plants

Inspiration: I buy glass jars and collect them because they are beautiful and I don't want to throw them away, Terrariums are beautiful, These artists: installation artist Andre Woodward, Designer Kristyna Pojerova, Mathieu Lehaneur

Andre Woodward

Kristyna Pojerova

Mathieu Lehaneur

Idea: I don't have space for a garden, just a lot of glass jars. So one day I decided to make my own terrariums and I went to Penn's biopond and then Woodlands Cemetery and dug up plants. Maybe you could make terrariums made of plants from different parks, gardens, and cemeteries in Philadelphia, then showcase them, telling the history of the city through miniature landscapes. The idea of promoting Philadelphia's history and green space.

Collaboration potential: Landscape architects, PHS, graphic designers, historians, artists

Terrariums made from glass jars, and plants stolen from Penn's Bio Pond and Woodlands Cemetery

4. Paulownia Tree Poster Campaign/ Map/ Find Paulownia Trees
Inspiration: Paulownia Trees grow in the most hostile environments in Philadelphia, they are strange looking as saplings, a book "Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast" by Peter Del Tredici 

Idea: This year I have been introduced to Paulownia Trees, and now everywhere I see these amazing trees happily growing in the strangest places. In an effort to uncover the relationship between the way urban citizens view wild un-managed plants,  I think somehow caricaturing these trees would reveal the intrepid reality of wilds plants and their importance to our urban ecology.

Collaboration potential: Landscape architects, PHS, graphic designers, urban explorers 

paulownia tree

paulownia tree

paulownia tree

paulownia tree