WORKSHOP ONE - DREAMHAMAR

A COLLABORATION ECOSISTEMA URBANO

A COLLECTION OF IMAGES, DRAWINGS SKETCHES, COLLAGES, IDEAS & EXPERIENCES

GROUP MEMBERS BRANDUR OLSEN EMIL KLAGENBERG REGINA ROSTAD MIKKEL SCHMIDT SIMON LVDAL TOM HOBBS

Contents

03 06 12 16 27

SURROUNDING CONTEXT REFERENCE PROJECTS INTERVIEWS DESIGN EXPLORATION PROJECT DEVELOPMENT YOUR SPACE

The Site
To task to isolate a public open space within the city of Copenhagen, its peripheries. The selected space is located in the heart of the Carlsberg Brewery, an interstitial space that connects Ny Carlsberg Vej and Vesterflledvej. The square is bordered by Dansk Danseteatre and the widely spread Vester Copi facility.

Carlsberg Brewery
Currently existing as a carpark, drop off area and through fare, the groups emphasis lay on determining the important factors of the space that were integral to its functionality. The site has several key elements which define its presence. There are a stack of wooden sleepers intended for sitting, lying etc.when the weather permits. There is also an eclectic mix of installations and activities which seemed to be erratically scattered around the space. Individually, some of the elements are used widely, however as a collective, the area falls far short of its potential. Our challenge lay in not only providing something which functioned as a binding agent, but that also met the wishes of the spaces regular commuters.

Reference Projects

- KABLOOM - HARMEN DE HOOP - KAMILA SZEJONICH - LUZ INTERPRETUS - INTERBORO - STRANOCITY

Kabloom
Guerrilla Gardeners & Seed Bombers Throw it, grow it An idea born in the 1960s, the two Americans behind Kabloom developed a concept where compressed seeds and soil substrate, in the shape of a small circle, were able to be dispersed from a gum ball machine. As the global economy works to return from its recent slump, public green spaces are often the first items to have their funding revoked. The machine works as a tool for public action, it brings people together and places the onus back on communities.

Harmen de Hoop
Installation Artist Offers arbitrary installations and urban insertions, which work to question the commuters notions of the traditional through quriky and identifiable symbols, text and imagery. Many of his projects work to evoke human response, anonymous works add character to under utilised spaces.

Kamila Szejonich
Polish Installations. By combining old and new elements, Szejonich questions fundamental social norms, and looks to continually shock observers with unusual and wonderful. Social attention is achieved by the sheer scale of many of the concepts.

Luz Interpretus
Nature Warriors. Interpretus looks at protecting unappreciated green space throughout the city fabric, and explores new and innovative ways to grow greenery. Interpretus work to make the citys most unappealing corners and forgotten areas become noticed.

Interboro
Moma PS! Extension By taking requests from the citizens of the city, Interboro created a plaza consisting of an eclectic mix of elements. Local residents requested certain components, and at the completion of the exhibition, the specific items they suggested were given to them as a gift.

Strarnocity
French Installations. By combining existing conditions and new elements, Arno Piroud and Starnocity put a twist on familiar objects and their position within society. The result is achieved by questioning the users acceptance of the norm, as his quirky installations bring the unexpected to the fore. For example, by placing old seating finishes to the stumps of cut down trees, Piroud creates a functional take on what would otherwise be seen as stump awaiting permanent removal.

Interviews

TO ESTABLISH A DEMOGRAPHIC THE FOLLOWING AGE BRACKETS WERE USED: 15 - 25 YEARS OLD 25 - 35 YEARS OLD 35 - 45 YEARS OLD 45 - 55 YEARS OLD 55 YEARS OLD & ABOVE

Interviews
Short interviews conducted with local commuters of the area. Each interview/ discussion was based along the following conditions: Why are you in this space? What do you like about the area? Are there any things that you dislike about the space? Is there anything you would like to see done to the space? The process produced mixed results...

Female, 15-25 years old

- They liked the colours - Would like more cover from the elements. Perhaps dry places to sit. - Less grey, more interesting

Male, 25 - 35 years old

- Like the hanging ropes (adjacent) and the spaces flexibility - Enjoy spending lunch breaks in the relaxing environment - The mixed demographic of users makes the space interesting - Would like to see undercover seating and more activities - Perhaps introduce a bar to draw more people to the area.

Female, 25- 35 years old

- First time she visited the space. - She was en route to school and used the space as a through fare - She thought the space would benefit from more activities or events.

Male, 55 + years old

- Likes the multifunctional uses of the existing interventions - Would like to see a flea market or equivalent to attract people - When the space is too controlled and commercialised, he feels it will detract from its appeal. - Perhaps a restaurant, public displays of the arts (dance, music etc..)

Female, 25 - 35 years old

- She is a dancer at the adjacent school - She liked the varied industrial materiality of the space, in particular the large wooden sleepers. - Felt the traffic spoiled the normally quiet nature of the area. - Believes that the cafe is an essential element of the square.

Female, 25 - 35 years old

- Likes the local bar at the Dance School - Would like to see more greenery and places to sit - Would like a more interactive activity/ practical use of space

Male, 15 - 25 years old

- Thought the space was too isolated, and the distance was to great to the closest train/ metro station. - Enjoyed the colours and vibe of the space, although would not use often as it was too far away for them.

Female, 15 - 25 years old

- Attends the local high school - Enjoys the weird items placed around the space - She likes the raw urban attributes of the area. - A train station close to the site would increase accessibility.

Female, 25 - 35 years old

- Not enough people using the space - Likes the white floor which continues up the wall. Offers a difference. - More interesting, enjoying and interactive elements

Male, 35 - 45 years old

- He is at the site to source rocks for a rock skimming contest. - Thinks the space is in construction, however it is not there yet. It could be great but it is a little random and confusing currently. - He likes the elements individually, however they dont work together. Perhaps adding green space to the area may help bind them. - Wasnt sure whether removing the traffic would help solve the issue. The traffic isnt... Super sexy

Male, 45 - 55 years old

- Works in the immediate vicinity. - There are a lot of kindergarten aged children and their parents in the morning. It would be nice to add something for them. - Often used by parkour enthusiasts. - Likes the Dance School cafe and the nearby garden - In relation to the other public spaces in the area, there is nothing that he would change to improve the space. The white markings help to slow the traffic.

Conclusions
The results from the interviews varied greatly, with a trend emerging that the older commuters and individuals in groups were far more willing to talk to us. Much of the failure to withdraw useful information lay in our inability to question the individuals in the most beneficial way. Perhaps allowing them too much freedom of thought, and not guiding the direction of the discussion to our advantage was the cause of this. Nonetheless, certain useful common threads emerged: There was an over whelming request for the following: + + + + Additional green space; More activities and organised events for the space; More protected areas to sit during the changing seasons; A more cohesive solution to the space, as opposed the jumbled current state.

We felt the possibility to create activities dictated solely by the user offered the most scope for exploration...

Design Exploration

ICE RINK URBAN GREENERY SEASONAL CONDITIONS PROJECTION POSSIBILITIES INSTALLATIONS & INTERVENTIONS

Seasonal Ice Rink

Seasonal Response By collecting water during the wet months and then creating an ice rink when the weather is cold enough to freeze, commuters are able to enjoy the suspense leading up to the event. A sensible response to the weather in both Copenhagen and Hamar.

Urban Green Insertions

Environment In a concrete jungle, there was an overwhelming request for more green space within the area. What if the walls and floor were to bleed greenery?

Shelter
Environment In a climate such as Copenhagen or Hamar, controlling the elements becomes a key concern. Why not accentuate the white band and place a dry spot to eat your lunch?

Projection Possibilities..
Technology With public space decreasing at a rapid rate, it is a necessity that these areas of mixed use have a flexible program. A flexible projection system where the user has ultimate control of the content could be a potential answer...

Projection Possibilities..

Abstracted Installations..
Technology Varied art installations can often offer a happy medium between art work and interaction... Even if they seem arbitrary at times...

Visual Testing...

Project Testing..
Practice As the scheme was tested in the day, we attempted to use chalk to replicate the projector, and invited commuters to draw their own ideas on the pavement. We drew a soccer field (poorly) and attempted to raise interest of the initiative...

Oh Hi, Hamar
Personal Introductions We tested the projection capabilities by placing distorted photographs of the groups on the projector and making short scenes to introduce Hamar to the team. Heres Brandur as an example...

YOUR SPACE

- HOW TO DO IT - HOW IT WORKS - THE POSSIBILITIES

How it works....
Three simple steps to have the power to change the essence of a space at your finger tips. Through the creation of a set of simple steps, the scheme attempts to legibly lead the user through the idea. 1. Find, borrow or share a computer. 2. Log in to the global network, and let the fun begin. By harnessing the power of Wi-Fi, the program will allow the user to select from a range of different options, or, if theyre feeling creative, allow them to draw their very own condition. 3. Once in, the user is able to click on the drop down menus which enables them to display anything and everything from music, sports grounds, games or movies. The possibilities are endless..

Or why not download the Iphone application.....