BRIEF:
This project engages with kaitiakitanga, social and cultural sustainability, and social infrastructure to redesign the entranceway to Newtown Library. Through site analysis, I am engaging with this site's physical, community, and historical components. The aim is to further develop my spatial design practice using the tools that were introduced in project one - light, sound, material, and the body and apply these to a new external context. My task is to design a new entranceway to the library that provides a social infrastructure for a community group of your choosing.
OUTCOME:
For this project, I chose KaiCycle as my community group, they provide urban farming and community-scale composting in Wellington. They aim to see communities recycle their organic waste and grow nutrient-dense food.
In my design, I have considered KaiCycle's mission and created Nourish Pods. These pods are crafted to be a permanent feature located next to the side entrance of the Newtown Library and Smart Network. Nourish pods act as natural community pantries, where local urban farmers have a space to sell their produce to the community. These pods feature an organic flowing design stylized with reclaimed wood siding and a spacious interior with custom shelves for produce. Nourish pods come in two sizes single and double, the double pod is designed to be multi-functional as the pod can be closed when not in use. When closed together the community herb shelves become more visible. The single pod permanently stays open so it can be used as a local free shelf when the produce market is not taking place. Nourish Pod's key purpose is to provide a space for KaiCycle local farmers to sell food to the community and promote a clean healthy environment. To achieve this I have created a compost and recycling bin built into the front of the community table. The table allows a space for customers to pack their fresh produce into their bags and drop off any organic waste while doing so by checking KaiCycle's newsletter board.
Nourish pods present a welcoming dynamic environment allowing the people of Newtown to be brought together to make a healthier happier community!
