Final Design: Sharing Architecture 2014

Exhibition Launch and Lecture

CIT Bus stop from Google Maps

The main bus stop for CIT is located on Rossa Avenue, to the east of Block C.  The stop is identified by a pole, rubbish bin and real time passenger information sign.  The sign does not identify with the campus or give any indication to non locals where it might be located.  

The footpath is narrow at 1.5m wide, and causes users to congregate in a linear fashion as they wait for the bus, something which is unconducive for communication amongst groups of people.

There is no designated shelter against the weather or seat for users at the stop.  People lean against the garden walls of adjacent private properties for comfort as they wait.

Discussions with CIT staff about the bus stop revealed that ownership at the location is an issue which has hampered efforts of the college to have a bus shelter erected.  Given that the footpath in this location is narrow, it would be necessary to procure extra space from the adjoining property and to date this has not been possible.  Neither has it been possible to affix a simple shelter roof to the adjacent garden wall.

POP UP BUS SHELTER @ CIT

Look and talk about work of Michael Rakowitz

Here are some possibilities sourced on internet of makeshift shelters made with bamboo and plastic.

Cork Sharing Architecture Workshop: Bus Shelter

POP UP BUS SHELTER @ CIT

Initial Brain Storm / recap. what we did last time/ what we learnt. Back to basics

What is a bus shelter for?

1. Rain Protection  a roof     what kind of roof?

Walls  where?

what materials?

2. Rest  while waiting/ temporary seating?

What other potentials can people see that a bus stop could provide?

Communication, conversation, wifi  Information on the city/ local community  etc

Show and tell : Students share photo’s and app data collection

Together discuss CIT and its lack of Bus Shelter. 

Have image up.  All this info could feed into design

People should be as free to do what it is they wish they should not restrict themselves just with the idea of the bus shelter we see everyday though this is difficult. ( see Rakowitz design for homeless shelter)  . .  students all gather at a certain space on campus to wait for bus if raining currently, can this feed into a design?

Introduce workshop project

Pop up bus shelter

1. Divide the group into pairs.

2. Each person is given paper for sketching and planning.

There are materials: Plastic sheeting (building supply store) ,  bamboo poles ( from garden centre) and string available also need scissors/ blades, gaffa tape?  

I think umbrella’s as a design option too could be fun if we could gather a good few.  

3. Each pair given 1 hour to discuss/ brainstorm  draw and then make their  bus shelter in workshop space.

4. Workshop group reconnects. Each couple do a show and tell of their design and creation to rest of group.

5. The group then through a process of consensus discuss which design will be taken to the bus stop or does a whole new design have to be created combining the ideas that have emerged from each of the other designs or improvements to ‘most promising design could be made’.  

Also option for each design to be recreated or carried to bus shelter and photographed

( shared learning happening/ critique and discussion)

After Lunch  . . .

6. Then the group could go down to the bus stop and construct the ‘Pop-up Bus Shelter' that has emerged from the morning workshop.  Take photo’s

This would all be really playful and fun.

Being in situ should generate a whole new set of information, findings and learning.

7.Return back to workshop space.  The images taken in situ could be displayed on projector.

What have we learnt? What else could be added to this? Talk about findings

2011 CSO commuting data for Cork City

These maps give you an idea of the work Cork City Council have to do to implement a 'modal shift' towards bus commuting.  The car reigns supreme.  I've overlaid the 208 bus route data for your reference.

208 bus route

On this map you can see CIT with respect to the 208 bus route....not so close!  The different symbols denote the type of bus stop; pole (triangle) and shelter (square).

Martin's map 14th-16th April

Trying to get an animation working for this but I think when I've only data from 2 days it won't have the impact I'm looking for.  When we have data from multiple sources I can start doing interesting things too.  Got some data on 208 bus stops from bus eireann and will overlay them on this data.