The project we are proposing is called ARTfarm and as the name suggests, it derives inspiration from the Bronx Museum and the local farmers market. The site selected was a Step Street on 180 E 165th Street between Grand Concourse and Sheridan Avenue in Bronx. There is a weeded, run down area surrounding these steps. The site has multiple levels that allows us to transform this space into an interactive urban space for the local community. A farmers market is held every few days close to the site which gave us the idea of creating a green community space. The site is also close to the Bronx Museum which gave us the reason to make this space not only communal and green but artistically inclined. Our proposal included planters of varied sizes, shapes, colors and materials with perennials that last the season and longer. We have been working with found objects like cabinet doors and elliptical tubing materials to create these planters.
Other than that we have been trying to get the local community involved in the process of creating this communal space. With the help of the Bronx Museum, we participated in their family affair day where the children from the community painted planters. We plan on encouraging ownership of this space by asking neighboring households, bodegas, etc to adopt a planter in the site and look after its upkeep. The installation will sport a mix of community, culture and art.
Architecture for Humanity New York is the New York City chapter of Architecture for Humanity. We provide a platform for socially responsible design advocacy; partnering design professionals with local non-profit organizations, schools, government agencies and community groups, we create innovative, sustainable, affordable solutions to humanitarian issues. (Learn More)
