A garden skyscraper . A sidewalk library . A floating syndicate . A DIY bike park . These are some of the finalists in thePlace By Designcompetition announced today bySXSW Eco , a new sustainability group discussion by the personal organizer of SXSW . Which one makes the greatest impact on a city ?
Finalists for the competition were selected across three categories — Transformative Design , Community Impact and Global Potential — by a panel of judges from around the existence . Keep in judgment these are all in alter stage of development ; some are finished , while others are still a glimmer in an architect ’s middle . There are hatful of Austin entries ( which makes sense because SXSW takes blank space in Austin ) and plenty of familiar faces like + Pool and the Lowline . But the multifariousness of projects , from complex to low - budget , challenging to dim-witted , is inspiring . These projects bear witness cities can implement variety on a block - by - blocking basis . Here are 11 of the finalist ; the succeeder will be foretell as part of SXSW Eco in October .
The Transformation of Waller Creek| Austin, TX
An urban brook in Austin suffered from years of carelessness until a revitalization project was conceived by landscape architects at Michael van Valkenburgh Associates with architecture house Thomas Phifer and Partners . The creek itself serve as the heart of five park dominion which will pass the length of the banks and cater new recreational and development opportunities for the metropolis .
+Pool| New York, NY
AGizmodo veritable , the + Pool is contrive to swim off a Brooklyn pier with dribble water from the East River and a declamatory deck of cards for lounging . It ’s also spark off similar projects across the area , as cities test to domesticate their urban rivers and bring occupier back to the water .
Brooklyn Pop-up Bike Park| Brooklyn, NY
Dellavalle Designs was behind the conversion of this abandoned portion in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn into a progressive bike park . It ’s not just a shoes to turn on bikes , however , it ’s a place that can be sculpted by the residential district , its paths transubstantiate into trails that amend wellness and furnish entertainment . The park also reintroduces greenery and a home for wildlife to the cylinder block .
Bagby Street Infographics| Houston, TX
As part of a redesign Houston street — one of the city ’s first Greenroads — Design Workshop make a series of infographics tuck among the sidewalks , planters and wheel rack to serve explain the novel benefits to users . The signage includes data about stormwater collection , sustainable materials , and shadow all of which aid to impose the value of the improvements , specially after a long construction process .
Urban Skyfarm| Seoul, South Korea
Proposed for downtown Seoul by designers at Aprilli , this erect farm paradigm is flop next to the Cheonggyecheon Creek , which was famously daylighted after a freeway was removed . mean to enkindle giant trees , the Urban Skyfarm ply a community garden space in an urban environs while also better air and water quality .
HOPE Outdoor Gallery| Austin, TX
This “ paint park ” in Austin took advantage of another abandoned bunch , twist it into a assemblage spot for artists who could express themselves here instead of on secret dimension . Currently it is recognize as one of the top holidaymaker destinations in Austin and certainly one of the most Instagrammed .
Poppy Seed| Shanghai, China
A new placemaking app by Gensler hop to assemble digital “ seeds ” : recording thoughts and computer memory about individual space around the city . This database get beyond location - based hunt like Yelp , for object lesson , allowing user to search for part of the metropolis that pit their current emotion or feelings .
Libros Libres| Dallas, TX
This streetside book rally find throughout Dallas pairs neck of the woods resident with local designers to build outside reading rooms on corners that ask better public space resource . So far 15 team have built 10 libraries across the city . Libros Libres is unionise through a collaborative partnership between Big Thought ( an artwork - based early days education provider ) , bcWORKSHOP ( a non - profit biotic community designing center ) , and the Dallas Public Library .
Pavegen| London, UK
This system of pavers , or outdoor flooring tiles , gathers kinetic Department of Energy from human footfalls to power just about anything . When hoi polloi take the air on the tiles , the diminutive movement of the tile — only about 5 mm — generates about eight watts of power per footstep , which can be salt away in stamp battery .
Rabalder Parken| Roskilde, Denmark
This skate ballpark doubles as a drainage ditch , allowing floodwater direction on this Danish plain without taking out amateur space . The canals and pool provide ways to divert water when it ’s raining , then skaters can take reward of the same spaces — which just happen to be perfect for skating — when it ’s wry . This is such a smart way to total much - needed multi - use infrastructure to a city .
The Lowline by Raad Studio| New York, NY
Another project that will bevery familiar to Gizmodo readers : The Lowline , New York ’s “ first underground car park . ” The empty trolley end on the Lower East Side will be turned into a sustainable , solar - powered wonderland that will allow this neighborhood with much - needed greenspace . And it all happens below the surface of Manhattan . [ Place By Design ]
CitiesDesignGardenspublic spaceurbanism
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