Project: “Shining light on history”—Bowling Green

Designers Leeza DiStefano & LiSa Marie anaStaSio | Pratt institute | SPecial Projects: Broadway 1000 Steps | Spring ‘12

Project: “Shining light on history”—Bowling Green

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ProPoSalS

The overall arching element of focus within the area of Bowling Green is water. Water plays an important role in the history of the area and is still in great importance today. It is also quit evident within the art and architecture, memorials, landscape, environmental impact, users, and transportation within the area.

as the city continues to evolve and expand while shifting towards a more sustainable environment, it is hard to imagine not creating a space that is a bit more engaging compared to your average focal point of green space. Taking into consideration the rich historical content of Bowling Green and its surroundings, we have decided to create two concepts that inform this information to the target audience. one concept is to create an analog historical timeline of information on the parks pavement that is primarily typographical. The other concept is to have the same information but not necessarily in a linear format as a digital timeline. This digital interface would be solar powered. 

one of our proposals is a typographic timeline based on the importance of water within Bowling Green Park. The timeline will start at both ends the park opening’s and flow around the fountain back out the other side. The text consists of multiple paragraphs each explaining the influence of water within the area. Both historical and present day information will be included within the timeline. The type will be in various shades of blue coinciding with the water theme. The goal is for the viewer to also gain insight into the importance and influence water had and still has on the area.

another is a solar powered energy display within the sidewalk that people are able to walk on within the park. The displays will shift with different information regarding the history, environment, art/architecture, etc. of the neighborhood and Bowling Green Park. as a result, the community as well as tourists will gain an education on the importance of water within the area. lastly, a third proposal is a small, thin outflow of water from the fountain that would stream in both directions towards the two gate openings of the park. at various points alongside the stream of water would be a typographic timeline explaining the influence of water within the area. Both historical and present day information will be included within the timeline. The streams of water will engage the viewer who will then follow and read the accompanying text. The goal is for the viewer to also gain insight into the importance and influence water had and still has on the area.

reSearch To SuPPorT ThIS DeSIGn SoluTIon

WoulD IncluDe:

“The Success of the highline” [http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/nyregion/with-next-phase-ready-area-around-high-line-is-flourishing.html]The New York Time Article, “The High Line Isn’t Just a Sight to See; It’s Also an Economic Dynamo”

“Grafik Intervention : Sparking urban revitalization efforts through design.”[http://grafikintervention.com/]

“The atlantic Transport line” http://www.atlantictransportline.us/content/immc.htm

“nYc environmental Protection” http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0ce4QFjaF&url=http%3a%2F%2Fwww.nycwatershed.org%2Fwatershed-tours%2FDeP-PeS_World_Bank_lac_20110512.pdf&ei=q7e5T47_oqh10gGggvXbag&usg=aFQjcnFsuK4DJ94Pb_vjIlaXah0dB9onww

“The expanding Manhattan coastline” http://www.racontrs.com/stories/nyc-land-reclamation/

“Island’s expanding Shoreline” http://www.lowermanhattan.info/about/history/did_you_know/island_s_expanding_shoreline_30110.aspx

ProPoSaL 1

Goal anD oBJecTIve: To create an influx of people within Bowling Green Park. In order to achieve this goal we would display typography on the pavement of the park starting at both gate openings. The type will engage the viewer to read it and thus be draw them inside and out the other end. The text consists of multiple paragraphs each explaining the influence of water within the area. Both historical and present day information will be included within the timeline. The type will be in various shades of blue coinciding with the water theme. The goal is for the viewer to also gain insight into the importance and influence water had and still has on the area.

conTenT oF The ProJecT:Typographic timeline based on the importance of water within the area.

ProJecT locaTIon:Bowling Green Park

reSourceS :• http://www.atlantictransportline.us/content/immc.htm• http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0ce4QFjaF&url=http%3a%2F%2Fwww.nycwatershed.org%2Fwatershed-tours%2FDeP-PeS_World_Bank_lac_20110512.pdf&ei=q7e5T47_oqh10gGggvXbag&usg=aFQjcnFsuK4DJ94Pb_vjIlaXah0dB9onww• http://www.racontrs.com/stories/nyc-land-reclamation/• http://www.lowermanhattan.info/about/history/did_you_know/island_s_expanding_shoreline_30110.aspx

coST: low.need: acrylic paint and brushes/stencils for the typography.

MonITorInG, evaluaTIon anD FolloW-uP:See how the community engages with text and if it gets them to enter the park. Interview the viewers after their experience and see if they learned something new along the way.

ProPoSaL 2

Goal anD oBJecTIve: To create an influx of people within Bowling Green Park. In order to achieve this goal we would create a thin outflow of water from the fountain that would stream in both directions towards the two gate openings of the park. at various points alongside the stream of water would be a typographic timeline explaining the influence of water within the area. Both historical and present day information will be included within the timeline. The streams of water will engage the viewer who will then follow and read the accompanying text. The goal is for the viewer to also gain insight into the importance and influence water had and still has on the area.

conTenT oF The ProJecT:Two streams of water flowing from the fountain accompanied by a typographic timeline based on the importance of water within the area.

ProJecT locaTIon:Bowling Green Park

reSourceS :•http://www.atlantictransportline.us/content/immc.htm•http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&ved=0ce4QFjaF&url=http%3a%2F%2Fwww.nycwatershed.org%2Fwatershed-tours%2FDeP-PeS_World_Bank_lac_20110512.pdf&ei=q7e5T47_oqh10gGggvXbag&usg=aFQjcnFsuK4DJ94Pb_vjIlaXah0dB9onww•http://www.racontrs.com/stories/nyc-land-reclamation/•http://www.lowermanhattan.info/about/history/did_you_know/island_s_expanding_shoreline_30110.aspx

coST:Moderate.need: Ground to be dug for water as well as any alteration needed to the fountain to make this possible. also needed would be a small drain at either end of the parks gate’s to end the water flow and to keep it from being stagnant. acrylic paint and brushes/stencils for the typography.

MonITorInG, evaluaTIon anD FolloW-uP:See how the community engages with the water and text and if it gets them to enter the park. Interview the viewers after their experience and see if they learned something new along the way. also see if they thought the addition of streams helped make the connection of the importance and influence of water within the area.

Designer LiSa Marie anaStaSio | Pratt institute | SPecial Projects: Broadway 1000 Steps | Spring ‘12

ProPoSaL 3

Goal anD oBJecTIve: To create a sustainable space that would be more engaging for the community at bowling green park. In order to achieve this goal we would have solar powered energy displays put into the sidewalk that people walk on in the park. These displays would shift with different information on the history, environment, art/architecture, etc. of the neighborhood and bowling green park. as a result of these installations it would then educate the community as well as tourists on the area.

conTenT oF The ProJecT:Interactive and Sustainable Sidewalk Display Screens with educational Information.

ProJecT locaTIon:Bowling Green Park

reSourceS :• http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/06/nyregion/with-next-phase-ready-area-around-high-line-is-flourishing.html• http://grafikintervention.com/•FuSe Tv Display on 7th avenue

coST: TBaSolar Panelsengineer (?)

MonITorInG, evaluaTIon anD FolloW-uP:See how the community engages with the newly designed space

ProPoSaL 4

Goal anD oBJecTIve: To generate some more activity within Bowling Green area.

conTenT oF The ProJecT:a kiosk that is solar powered and can give visitors information on the surrounding area.

another installation of square screens that are solar powered to determing the weather based on symbols.

ProJecT locaTIon:Bowling Green Park

reSourceS : TBD

coST:TBa

MonITorInG, evaluaTIon anD FolloW-uP:See how the community interacts with the following kiosk made available to utilize.

Designer Leeza DiStefano | Pratt institute | SPecial Projects: Broadway 1000 Steps | Spring ‘12

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Thes are strips of digital screens inlayed on the ground that progres-sively change with information on the history of Bowling Green and the surrounding neighborhood. These screens will mimic real water on the surface.

A rough illustration of a solar powered sculpture. This wouldn’t exactly look like this but something to be able to still see the water fountain. The solar powered sculpture would give power to the lamps and digital screens inlayed on the ground.

Just like we have strips of digital screens with water they are interchangable with screens that show leaves and foliage. Screens will also be waterproof and change appearance also by the weather and seasons.

Designer Leeza DiStefano | Pratt institute | SPecial Projects: Broadway 1000 Steps | Spring ‘12

ProPoSaL 3