Vacant lots are not usually seen as places where a whole lot can be accomplished in restoring a neighborhood, but it turns out they play a critical role in contributing to home value loss.
Being adjacent to a vacant home significantly lowers the value any property --homes and apartments alike. In order to help reduce this effect. We chose to transform this declining peace garden (originally a vacant lot) by adding these small interventions, we are helping to fill the void that was left when this house was torn down. Adding something, anything to this lot helps to change the perception of this locale in positive direction. If vacant lots are draining value from their neighbors, filling this void helps to negate that effect. Thus the idea of a wood bench intervention. Above: plans for how the benches are constructed
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Above: installing the benches on the site
Hosting a community event to understand better how our idea could impact the community in a more positive way gave us several ideas of how to arrange these benches in a way the complements the culture of the neighborhood. Notably, the concept of the porch as a place for community gathering.
So incorporating a porch-like view into the program was a must. This seating gives anyone the ability to perch and watch the street for friendly passerby's and to look out for questionable characters. |