Model of Avenue D and the possible ‘green-spaces’ by Emmanuel Oni (Active Design Fellow)

OPENING THE EDGE
BRIDGING COMMUNITIES AT NYCHA HOUSING
LILLIAN WALD HOUSING, NEW YORK CITY, NY | 2016 – 2017

‘Opening the Edge’, is a project of the Design Trust for Public Space, in partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA); proposed by Jane Greengold. Opening the Edge seeks to design a new green space to facilitate interaction between residents in New York City’s public housing developments and the larger neighborhood of the Lower East Side, Manhattan.

As the Lighting Design fellow, Kate Sweater worked with other fellows, the Design Trust for Public Space, and residents of NYCHA’s Lillian Wald Houses to turn currently fenced off lawn into an asset for the community. The resulting design, and design documentation, from Phase 1 of this project will serve as a prototype for other NYCHA communities to re-think how the green spaces around their housing can be more productive, educational and affirming.

Phase 2 of this project, design completion and installation, is currently underway.

Fellows outside at Lillian Wald houses asking people to sign up to be part of the community working group

Design Trust Fellows worked closely with the Community Design group to discuss taking down the fences around one of the Green spaces at Lillian Wald, and then imagining and designing what that space could be for the community

The Fellows worked together to develop the Community Working Group’s design into a set of plans and models

Illustration by Emmanuel Oni

UPDATE: We are happy to announce that Kate Sweater will be the Lighting Design Fellow for Phase 2 of this important project. Please check this link for any updates on the project.