I-35 Underpass project for BikewalkKC

It was a cold night, but we didn't let it stop us from creating an enjoyable atmosphere under the typically underused I-35 underpass...showing locals and out-of-towners how a simple change can make a big difference. Helping people traverse ...

safely under falling pigeon poop, raising awareness about events and places in the community while warming hands and bringing back campfire memories at the s'mores cart...sometimes it's the simple things in the most unexpected places that best connect you to one another and your city!

Crossing Guards for Imaginary People

Eco Abet is pleased announce that 2012 charrette I-35 underpass project team is making a post charrette event to take the project forward. Look forward to seeing you all on Oct 5th I-35 and 23rd street.

Project Statement:
Interstate 35 was constructed in Kansas City, Missouri in the late 1960’s as part of a contiguous highway system connecting Laredo, Texas to Duluth, Minnesota. The construction of Interstate 35 was a small fraction of a larger network of superhighways known officially today as the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways.

Regionally, Interstate 35 travels northeast from Wichita, through the Flint Hills and farmland of southeastern Kansas, past truck stops, through toll booths, through Emporia, Ottawa, and then the vast suburban sprawl of Johnson County. It intersects its own loops, I-435 and I-635, eases north, revealing Midtown, the BMA tower, and Crown Center, then east and north again, towards the Kansas City skyline, parallels Southwest Boulevard, crosses the state line into Missouri, surges up and over abandoned back yards of the Sacred Heart Neighborhood, over train tracks and small
warehouses, over the Boulevard itself, over the back yards and streets of the West Side neighborhood, abruptly assumes the west edge of downtown before intersecting Interstate 670, then Interstate 70. 35 briefly joins 70, dives below overpasses, severs downtown from the Historic Rivermarket, rises again as the unwarranted south edge of Columbus Park, then peels off, bending towards the Missouri River, then up, over the river to the Northland, home of ex-mayor Kay Barnes, new-urban Zona Rosa, and
countless interstate hotels. North of the airport, Platte City gives way to another rural stretch, this time in Missouri, and I-35 opens up, stretching out towards Iowa, Des Moines a quick 200 miles away.

The American Interstate System rivals rivers, mountains, and oceans as the generative physical force behind the ways our cities look, function, and feel. This project will reconsider the elevated stretch of Interstate 35 that implies the western edge of the Crossroads District and the ruthless divide between the Westside Neighborhood and the rest of the city.

Specifically, the project will consider this interstate scenario “as is” and re-think the underbelly of this aging piece of infrastructure with an intervention that will amplify authentic relationships between the Westside and the Crossroads and create an innovative model for urban and civic engagement.

We will consider the history of politics informing the current location of Interstate 35, the current urban context (the gentrification the Westside Neighborhood, the completion of the new Performing Arts Center, the evolving state of the Crossroads, etc), and future urban implications resulting from decisions we make about aging infrastructure today.

The underbelly of elevated interstates is as peripherally familiar as road signs, brick facades, and street lighting. At times shelter, at times storage, at times forbidden, this found urban space remains a missed opportunity by most cities, and more importantly, by the local communities that surround it. We will focus on the segment of space below I-35 between Southwest Boulevard and 20th Street and explore site specific installations catalyzing communal urban activity. The programming for these
interventions will be based on BikeWalk KC initiatives, el dorado’s 20th Street Streetscape plan, and GDAP, and could range from lighting installations to mixed-use architectural constructions.

BikeWalk KC is the unified voice for active living, promoting a healthy, safe and accessible outdoor experience for all in a vibrant, engaged community. They are a member-supported organization that works to make Greater Kansas City a safer and more accessible place to walk, bicycle, live, work, and play. Their advocacy programs work with local cities to improve policies and build sidewalks, trails, crosswalks, bike lanes, and more. Their education programs give people the knowledge and skills to walk and to bicycle safely and confidently for transportation, recreation, and fitness.
The Need: As one of the largest metro areas without a dedicated regional voice for advocacy and education, Kansas City has long had walking and bicycling rates less than half the national average. Plus, we have been at the forefront of public health crises like obesity and diabetes.

Campaigns: Bicycle Friendly Communities, Walk Friendly Communities, MetroGreen,
State Rail Trail Connections
Programs: Take a Class, BikeShareKC, Valet Bicycle Parking, Bike Week, Car Free
Challenge, Open Streets / Ciclovia

ART AUCTION to benefit 816 Bike Collective New Building

The 816 Bicycle Collective is a sustainable community resource that advocates for the ecologically intelligent act of cycling, and provides accessible bicycle education. We are a bike shop that offers tools, parts, recycled bicycles, and volunteer mechanics, and that provides services to everyone who asks without discrimination. Currently there are no bicycle shops in Kansas City that deal in used parts, or cater to commuters who do not have the financial means to afford commercial bicycle shop prices.
When we opened our doors we had four key-holding members; today we’ve doubled that number and have a consistent, generous volunteer base, plus an ever-growing base of customers. On any given day, the collective may serve a pack of ravenous children, a fair-weather rider, a homeless individual or a young college student. We believe that building bicycles collaboratively is an empowering activity, and fosters an environment that creates a healthy, positive community

We are all volunteers; we have no paid staff and have never been funded through a major grant or endowment. Our operation has been a grassroots endeavor, with financial support coming mainly from individuals and community groups who believe in our work. All of our tools, parts and bicycles have been generously donated.

When we first came together to start this project in 2007, we chose to revitalize a rented building in a blighted area. We mobilized the community and raised finances to turn a moldy storage area into a functional bike shop. Over time it became apparent that the poor condition of the building was holding us back from functioning at our full capabilities, and that as renters we had no means to implement the improvements.

We embarked on a fundraising effort, and purchased a building at the county delinquent tax auction. We wanted to tap into the pool of 7,000 abandoned buildings in our community, and provide a stable future for the organization. We hope to be a model for other groups who want to have long-term community impact and create social capital, by encouraging them to see the potential in blighted areas and make a sustainable investment there.

The storefront of this facility has better pedestrian traffic, and triples the square footage of our old building, while remaining invested in the same neighborhood. We envision using the new space to create a hub of bicycle advocacy and activity in the Kansas City area. We would like to expand beyond the current 816 Bicycle Collective workshop, to include office space for other bicycle advocacy groups, and to reach out across the geographically extensive Kansas City
metro area. We would like to function as a headquarters, facilitator and guide, promoting bicycle related activities and businesses in our region.

Our vision goes further. As we continue to train more and more volunteers, we have aspirations to someday create a space that encourages other forms of community outreach. We will expand our youth programming, offer specialty classes for adults, and organize more city lobbying towards bicycle advocacy. We have the skills and tools, and soon we will have the facility and programming to embark on localized production of merchandise, bike frames, parts and bicycle-powered technology.

In order to move forward we have to first undertake some essential renovations to the building. We are reaching out to the Kansas City community to help us expedite this transition. Already, many community members, skilled laborers and politicians are stepping up to lend a hand for the move, and to help in the reconstruction effort.

Our goal is to raise $50,000.00 by the end of this fall. We have been offered resources from various local contractors and partners that will leverage this amount to achieve a swift project completion. If we meet this goal we can expect to move in and have our shop operational by next summer.
We have plans for several fundraising initiatives including an innovative three-tiered art auction, and are hoping that as an active and influential member of our community, you might have some ideas or connections that would assist us in implementing these programs in some way.

We are anxious to move in and move up in our role in this community. We would be so grateful if you would be willing to participate in a brief phone call or meeting to discover ways in which you could perhaps assist us in this impactful and worthwhile endeavor.

For more information about how you can help us please contact:
Idris Raoufi
(816) 918-5142
Kcbikefed@gmail.com

Now that's a tiny house: 1 square meter

By Sarah Firshein

Hey, Mayor Bloomberg, you and your new NYC "micro houses" (and other similarly sized 250- to 300-square-foot mansions) can step aside: There now exists in the world a house that measures one square meter. The aptly named One-Sqm-House was designed and conceived by Berlin-based architect Van Bo Le-Mentzel as a place where "no one other than I, myself, can decide what happens with this one square meter of mine in the world. It's the only square meter in the world where I can decide what direction the window looks in, what direction the door opens in, what neighbors I have."

It is no wonder that Le-Mentzel has become obsessed with the concept of home: He fled his homeland of Laos as a refugee and has spent his career exploring the topic. Now, thanks to the BMW Guggenheim Lab, the young architect, budding furniture designer and tiny-home aficionado can share his vision with the world. In conjunction with the BMW Guggenheim, Le-Mentzel invited Berliners to come and help build as many One-Sqm-Houses as possible, offering to cover the cost of materials for those who couldn't afford it, so long as they allowed the Lab to rent them out until the end of July. For those who would like to rent one out, One-Sqm-House is currently listed on Airbnb for €1 ($1.30) a night, but when the experiment closes July 29, the builders can come back and retrieve their creations. Read more...

Eco Abet Summer Charrette 2012 ReCap

On July 12th, 2012, Eco Abet, a Kansas City-based non-profit architecture and design organization, hosted its second annual summer charrette and fund/friendraiser at the KC Design Center in Kansas City, MO. As more than 90% of the population cannot afford design services, Eco Abet bought together the Kansas City design community with several non-profit organizations and individuals that address the needs of local underserved groups.

The design charrette included diverse groups of designers, along with representation from the non-profit groups being served. There were over 80 participants and eight charrette teams signed up for the charrette. The teams collaborated to generate a solution for a specific, identified design need. The charrette took place from 11:30 am to 5:00 pm, followed by a public exhibition and reception from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. The presentation started at 6:00 pm.

The general mission of the organization is to participate in the creation, initiation, and design of local and global architecture projects. Of special interest to Eco Abet are design projects that address the needs of children (and other vulnerable populations) that have been exposed to poverty, natural disasters, and traumas of various kinds. Eco Abet will also engage in research and prototype development for disaster relief housing, schools and clinics, community play spaces, and sustainable design solutions.

Funds generated by the event will be used to provide architecture and design internships with Eco Abet. In return, interns will provide a valuable design service to underserved communities.

Eco Abet would like to thank event sponsors Burns & McDonnell, BNIM Architecture, Spin Pizza, Price Chopper, Boulevard Brewery, Indox, Good Natured Family Farms and Ingredient. Thank you to our non profit partners Revolve KC, Ubuntu Village, Bike Walk KC and St. Mary Orthodox Christian Church. Finally the Summer Charrette would not be a success without the charrette team leaders Bob Berkebile, Jennifer Kemhkool, Chris DeVolder, Aimee Gray, Chris Richards, David Dowell, Brian Roth and Eric Bosch and their enthusiastic team members.

Thank you everyone for supporting Eco Abet to advance it’s mission. We will keep you informed on our plans to take these projects forward. We hope to see you all at a future charrette.

Eco Abet Summer Charrette 2012 Call for Participants

Eco Abet is now seeking participants for the second annual summer charrette and fund / friendraiser. As more than 90% of the population cannot afford design services, we will bring local non-profit organizations and individuals working in distressed communities, together with the design community to address the needs of local underserved groups. We welcome all levels of design experience. Lunch will be provided for charrette participants. The presentation and reception are open to the public. In-kind donations will be accepted.

Date 12th July 2012 Charrette 11:30am-5pm
Exhibition + Reception 5.30-6.30 pm
Presentations starts at 6.00 pm
Venue KC Design Center, 1018 Baltimore Ave,KC, MO

If you are interested in participating in our design charrette email info@ecoabet.org more information. Like us in facebook get updates about the charrette.

Eco Bus Shelter becomes a harvesting system to recycle rainwater

By Naresh Kumar Chauhan

 

Individually, neither a bus shelter nor rainwater harvesting system may attract the attention of many a reader, but if combined together they spontaneously become a significant matter for the masses. Conceived by Indian designer Ramesh Kanth, the “Eco Bus Shelter” is a common bus stop that integrates a harvesting system to harness the rainwater that can be used during the dry spell of the year. Considering the fact that a huge amount of rainwater drains into gutters, this eco-friendly bus shelter that recycles rainwater could turn out to be a boon for places receiving scanty rainfall. Read more...

Emergency Desert Shelter with rainwater harvesting capability

By Asmita Prasad

This Emergency Desert Shelter Concept by designer Timothy E. Bender is a compact temporary housing concept that is perfect for providing sustainable living solutions. The shelter is shaded in a Universal Corn bat Pattern (IJCP) Camouflage that is suitable for use in both wooded areas as well as desert and is approved by the U.S. military as a standard camouflage print for these areas. The USP of the design is its compact which enables it to be carried out to remote locations where traditional means of housing cannot be set up. Read more...

Couched Constructions: Work Days 6 & 7

In the last two workdays a lot of designing, painting, drilling, hammering, and nailing took place. It was figuring out a lot of little details to tweak the design to make it work and now it's finally finished!  As a reminder, I've included the original pictures of the couches we used to create Mobile Refuge as well as a picture of the finished product below.

As Becca mentioned in the previous post, we painted the entire frame black to give the piece a finished, cohesive feel.  We used green accents in the handle, parking blocks, and roof strap to give the piece a bit of life and contrast.

The following pictures show how the piece works in the wide open, open, and closed stages. The wide open stage (left) shows the roof strap. This piece was included so the roof could be wide open allowing the user to sit on the piece or access belongings stowed in pockets. In the open stage (center) two support legs on hinges swing out and support the roof so the user can lie in the piece. In the closed stage (right) the roof folds down to allow the piece to be easily transported as well as protect the belongings inside.

A pad was included to cover the springs in preparation (left) for the sleeping pillow (center) and cushion (right) which can be folded in half to be used as a seat cushion. 

 We used the large piece of leather salvaged from the first couch as our protective cover.  It was situated on the frame to create a pocket wall for storage and protection from the elements. (large center image below) The sleeping/seat cushion matches the leather and again aids in creating a cohesive feel. Becca demonstrates the seat cushion idea mentioned in the last section (right).

 The image to the right depicts the inside of the sleeping chamber as well as the pocket storage wall. Below you can see how the ventilation flap works to allow the user to have some control over the climate inside the chamber.

 The last three images demonstrate how a person would look inside. There is just enough room for me to either lie comfortably on my back or side.  I would say due to the size of the frames available, this piece would be difficult and possibly uncomfortable to use for larger people. This would be something to consider if this were to be implemented; maybe another prototype could be developed for larger individuals to be comfortably sheltered. While I was in the piece I did notice the leather held my body heat in very well as intended. When we opened the ventilation flap to take a photo, the sleeping chamber cooled down immediately.

There are only a few minor details left to tackle before the piece goes into the show on Friday.  One major thing we foresee at this time is what to do about the stationary piece. We are thinking of including it in a satellite show in a very raw, conceptual form. Overall we are extremely happy with how the piece has come together and are very excited to see what our fellow Couched Constructions groups have come up with for their discarded couches!

Couched Constructions: Mobile Refuge

In naming a project it always seems difficult to pick the right combination of words even though you know what you're trying to say. This was true in the process of naming Mobile Refuge. We knew we wanted to refer to the piece's ability to be moved and the fact it was acting as a shelter.  We intend for the piece to be used either in a time of disaster as a place for displaced people to sleep or as something homeless shelters can distribute to provide a place to sleep. We really feel Mobile Refuge hits the nail on the head, so to speak, in capturing our intended use(s) for the piece and we're very excited about it!  I've also included the project description below.

Mobile piece
This installation was approached from the mindset of reuse and regeneration. How can a discarded couch provide an essential shelter need for homeless persons and displaced people through natural and
man made disasters? The sturdy materials found inside a couch make a place for living in homes; can it also be a place for living on the streets? Can it be mass produced and stacked and released for emergency assistance? What modifications can make a couch into a strong, weather- resistant, comfortable space for a person?

Upon removing the outer layers of material, we discovered a highly reinforced frame built to survive much longer than the fabric cover. The frame elements were rearranged to create a more concise unit, serving a similar purpose to the original furniture. However, it is adjustable to each use: seat, covered bed, and movable storage unit. A cover protects the owner and his or her stored possessions from the elements. Using materials from two couches with new fasteners and added wheels, the once-stationary couch becomes a mobile, multi-functional unit. This unit can either be used by a single owner on a day-to-day basis as a home or can be distributed in times of disaster as a temporary shelter.

Stationary piece
This was derived form the sleeper portion of the sleeper sofa. The sturdy steel frame will be attached to a wall. It will serve as a bench during the day and transform into a canopy for someone to sleep beneath during the night.  The users of this piece could/would be different on a daily basis. The other mobile design piece could be 'parked' beneath this second stationary piece to give a person more warmth or protection on a cold or rainy night. Also several of these stationary pieces could be placed around the city to benefit everyone.