David Kim and Mike Seto, two Masters in Industrial Design students at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute, spent a month traveling the country in a camper exploring small mobile living spaces. They traveled the US touring industrial assembly lines from rail car restoration plants to the classic Airstream RV factory. This experience inspired them to create temporary community spaces for people displaced by natural or man-made catastrophes. By converting shipping containers into temporary habitable tech-hubs, displaced communities can connect to their families and friends abroad when all possibility of communication seems lost.

The essence of (project) PL is to provide human friendly temporary spaces for disaster victims through sustainable “green” design.
“When examining emergency management efforts post-response / recovery, we noticed that many of the designs are innately de-humanizing… We’ve not seen the social aspect addressed in either response or recovery. In this day-in-age of social-networks, growing public spaces, and added connectivity, it’s clear that we as humans need to be social in various communities.

At right: Concept rendering of (project) PL

Place, abbreviated is “PL”, and we want to encourage these community spaces. (project) PL does this by modifying shipping containers for use as public parks, market places, squares, etc. by any community…The containers are retrofitted with solar powered wi-fi antennas, and are shipped with modular platforms as well as hand-held touchscreen computer tablets. In conjunction with relief efforts, our desire is for the communities receiving PLs to take ownership of them, which is why we’re called (project) PL. Project is intended to be substituted with the location - e.g. (New Orleans) PL. We’re dedicated to designing this environmentally sustainable electronic system for community spaces, because we live in an exciting new world where “Green Design” isn’t simply a buzz-word for the future - it’s the new standard for all design.” (courtesy of (project) PL)

Below: (Brooklyn) PL under Construction

(Brooklyn) PL will be on display in conjunction with Park(ing) Day at Pratt Institute’s 2nd Floor Main Gallery on DeKalb Avenue between Steuben Street and Grand Avenue in Brooklyn, NY. The Opening Reception is Thursday September 16th from 6-9pm and will also be a potluck where people are encouraged to bring anything to add to the community: food, seating, art, or even something to trade.

Though (Brooklyn) PL is displayed indoors Park(ing) Day NYC feels this project hits at the heart of public space creation. We talked a bit further with David Kim about (project) PL and how the ideas behind this event coincide with Park(ing) Day.

Park(ing) Day NYC: (Brooklyn) PL is being exhibited indoors how does this installation promote the ideas behind Park(ing) Day?

David Kim: To us, Park(ing) Day is a reclamation and celebration of community space. Whether that be transforming a parking space, or any space not commonly used primarily for community. In this, we feel a strong connection to the spirit of Park(ing) Day. Our exhibit is an exercise of the same idea, but creating an outdoor park space inside a gallery.

PDNYC: Usually we experience our computers indoors. In what ways can technology and open spaces be integrated?
DK: Eventually, we want to incorporate how people use virtual communities outdoors; which is why we want to retrofit shipping containers into Wi-Fi antennas. Presently, people are connected in so many ways; we believe our physical spaces should reflect that.

PDNYC: Have you experienced Park(ing) Day in the past and did it transform your view of public space?

DK: I personally experienced Park(ing) Day last year, and I thought it was such a thoughtful way of implementing Experiential Design with a message in a non-preachy, fun way. The wonderful and eclectic community I witnessed is something I’m really excited to participate in this year!

Our exhibit will be open to the public this Thursday, Sept 16th at 6:00pm - 9:00pm and Friday from 10:00am to 5:00pm. We’d love to have anyone join us!

At right: (Brooklyn) PL platform raising in Pratt Gallery