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Prepared by: Jackson Davis, Fall 2024
A thriving economy is thriving people. Creating spaces that promote human interaction is the most effective method of boosting local economies; it is as simple as creating a place where people want to be. When designing a space, it is important to give people a reason to stop on a long trip in a small town, or a reason to park their food truck on 16th avenue instead of 13th avenue.
A thriving economy is thriving people. Creating spaces that promote human interaction is the most effective method of boosting local economies; it is as simple as creating a place where people want to be. When designing a space, it is important to give people a reason to stop on a long trip in a small town, or a reason to park their food truck on 16th avenue instead of 13th avenue.
Methods of triangulation are plentiful, but all effective in their own way. For someone to stop at a coffee shop on a Saturday morning, perhaps it is best to create a space next door for people to sit and absorb sun. For people to stop on their road trip at your rest area, perhaps it is best to create an inviting welcome sign. The following two case studies represent different ways of promoting human interaction. They focus on creating curiosity and promoting activity.
Methods of triangulation are plentiful, but all effective in their own way. For someone to stop at a coffee shop on a Saturday morning, perhaps it is best to create a space next door for people to sit and absorb sun. For people to stop on their road trip at your rest area, perhaps it is best to create an inviting welcome sign. The following two case studies represent different ways of promoting human interaction. They focus on creating curiosity and promoting activity.
The Salmon Tree Cycle Sculpture Project
The Salmon Tree Cycle Sculpture Project
Location: St. Helens, Oregon
Date Designed / Built: Phase 1 was completed in 2014 and Phase 2 was completed on August 30th, 2017.
Client: Arts and Cultural Commision in coordination with the City of St. Helens, Oregon
Designer: Rhiza A+D
Project Context
Project Context
The Arts and Cultural Commission of St. Helens, Oregon began an initiative to slow traffic and invite people to explore their small town. The Salmon Tree Sculpture Project was a continuation of this Gateway Sculpture Project, placing thematic art installations at both entrances to St. Helens.
Project Description
Project Description
Rhiza A+D, an architecture and art design firm (and the designers of these installations) describe them as a representation of a Columbia River basin sustained by the integral roles of trees and salmon. Nitrogen-rich salmon fertilizes riverside trees whose roots give home to aquatic wildlife. Made of painted steel and translucent colored panels, these pieces are abstract and don’t literally convey their symbolism. Curiosity from abstract design creates conversation and makes learning its message and interpreting new messages a more involved experience.
Project Significance and Impact
Project Significance and Impact
The project was entirely publicly funded and was celebrated with a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony upon its completion. The Salmon Tree Sculptures are currently recognized as a staple, defining feature for the city of St. Helens.
Takeaways for Design
Takeaways for Design
Evoking thought with interpretive art is an effective way to drive discussion. These abstracted pieces provided a reason to stop and pause in St. Helens.
Placemaking does not have to be expensive; St. Helens was able to place landmarks at their two major city entrance points for just under $65,000 (all publicly funded).
A sense of place can come through installations like these. These sculptures tell the story of salmon and riverbed trees and their importance to local ecosystems.
For more information:
For more information:
Images courtesy of Rhiza Architecture + Design for the one time use of this case study.
Warwick Junction
Warwick Junction
The Music Bridge in Durban’s Warwick Junction marketplace. Photo by Kyle LaFerriere/WRI
Location: Durban, South Africa
Date Designed / Built: 2009, just before South Africa hosted the 2010 World Cup
Client: Durban City and the Warwick Junction Urban Renewal Project
Designer: Asiye eTafuleni (AeT)
Project Context
Project Context
Warwick Junction is a public marketplace; vendors visit to sell goods (similar to a farmer’s market in the United States). Previously underdeveloped and heavily policed, the area was redesigned by Asiye eTafuleni (AeT) as part of the Urban Renewal Project. AeT saw the threat of redevelopment and the looming 2010 World Cup as an opportunity to reinvigorate the space into a healthier, safer marketspace.
Project Description
Project Description
AeT worked with street traders, storage companies, formal shopkeepers, and all who regularly used the existing space to determine what was best for its future. Through outreach methods and community studying, AeT were able to make improvements in infrastructure that provided protection from weather and created storage facilities for traders and their products. Large canopies stretch the site with tables and structures for vendors to set up. The large space quickly fills creating a bustling, busy atmosphere.
Project Significance and Impact
Project Significance and Impact
The redevelopment was a success; additions to storage and weather preventative features allowed vendors to sell larger quantities and higher quality products. Better infrastructure and a safer environment drove more customers and vendors to the site, driving economic growth outside of and near the site as well.
Toe Shozi, bead vendor and tour guide, gives a tour of Warwick Junction. Photo by Kyle LaFerriere/WRI
Bead vendors in Warwick Junction’s Bead Market. Photo by Kyle LaFerriere/WRI
Design Takeaways
Design Takeaways
Event hosting is a great motive/reason for redevelopment; South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup was an accelerant to develop the site and AeT used the timing to revitalize a space used by locals.
Prioritizing locals when developing local economies works faster than reinventing a space; renovating an existing space allows the users of the old site to appreciate and transition to the new site, rather than them being displaced.
Creating a site for event use in place of recreation drives economic growth. Warwick Junction is an epicenter for daily economic action through street vending.
For more information:
For more information:
https://prizeforcities.org/project/warwick-junction
Sources:
Sources:
“Gateway Sculpture Project Phase 2.” Gateway Sculpture Project Phase 2 | City of St Helens Oregon, www.sthelensoregon.gov/bc-acc/page/gateway-sculpture-project-phase-2. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
“Placemaking on Main Street: Revitalizing Rural Communities.” RSS, www.pps.org/article/rural-placemaking-and-main-street. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
Salmon Tree Cycle Sculpture Comes to Life in St. Helens | News | Columbiacountyspotlight.Com, www.columbiacountyspotlight.com/news/salmon-tree-cycle-sculpture-comes-to-life-in-st-helens/article_dc87f335-fdd8-5da2-8ab2-c18c427e6ef0.html. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
“Salmon Tree Cycle.” Rhiza A+D Architecture + Design, 19 Feb. 2023, www.rhizaaplusd.com/portfolio/artwork-portfolio/salmon-tree-cycle/?_gl=1%2A12ai6qz%2A_gcl_au%2ANDg4ODYwMzE4LjE3MjQ0MTU1MDk.%2A_ga%2ANTc0MzAwNzkuMTcyNDQxNTUwOQ..%2A_ga_T25MNBBTJB%2AMTcyNDQxODE5Ny4yLjEuMTcyNDQxODIwOC40OS4wLjA.
Sources:
Sources:
Asiye Etafuleni, aet.org.za/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
Maassen, Anne. “Urban Transformations: In Durban, Informal Workers Design Marketplaces Instead of Getting Displaced by Them: .” TheCityFix, 23 Sept. 2020, thecityfix.com/blog/in-durban-informal-workers-design-marketplaces-instead-of-getting-displaced-by-them-anne-maassen-madeleine-galvin/.
“Warwick Junction.” WRI Ross Center Prize for Cities, prizeforcities.org/project/warwick-junction. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
“Warwick Junction Urban Renewal Project (Durban, South Africa).” Participedia, participedia.net/case/79. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.
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