Yesterday at our "Vacancy to Vibrancy: the Creative Use of Space" program, suggestions from speakers about how to get involved included two calls for ideas. Here's more information:



    We are living a new economic paradigm, with profound impacts on our built environment. To what creative uses can we put vacant or underutilized buildings? Can partially constructed projects contribute to, rather than diminish, our neighborhoods? Are there more constructive uses for vacant lots than just another parking lot? How might we rethink outmoded infrastructure? How does the new economy create opportunities for lean, fresh solutions to our urban problems?
    AIA Seattle’s Forum magazine is seeking illustrated ideas that repurpose or rethink underused or vacant spaces of all kinds for its upcoming issue, “Coming Out of the Curve.” We challenge designers and artists to think boldly about innovative approaches to underutilized land, buildings or infrastructure.

Submittal instructions

• Send a 72dpi jpeg with a 100 word synopsis to Isla McKetta at imcketta@aiaseattle.org by the deadline above. Jpegs should be at least 8.5”x9”. We cannot accept previously published images. If your idea is selected, a 300 dpi version will be requested. Selected ideas will be published in the August/September issue of Forum magazine. (Publication date August / September 2010.)

    The Seattle Design Commission wants your ideas for Holding Patterns, interim uses for stalled project sites.
    We are seeking your concepts to transform the following types of stalled project sites around the city: holes in the ground; surface lots; ongoing construction above or below street level.
    Whether a concert space or a bumper car track, basketball hoops or a fleeting performance stage, from temporary to semi-permanent, wacky, practical or both, the Design Commission is welcoming any and all ideas. Artists, designers, non-profits, businesses, developers, students, astronauts, everyone is invited to contribute ideas. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged.

Your submission should include the following:

1. a brief narrative including rationale, goal, purpose, program, and design intent
2. the location, if specific (all city-wide locations are acceptable)
3. a site plan and/or images that communicate your ideas
4. maximum of four 8.5” x 11” single-sided pages per site category.

There will be a follow up implementation workshop for selected ideas, so please be prepared to make a two minute pitch for potential partners who are able to help make your ideas a reality.

Submit via e-mail to Valerie.Kinast@seattle.gov - a pdf formatted file and, in the body of the email, the names/backgrounds of participants and contact information for one person. Please put “Holding Patterns” in the subject line. 6 MB maximum file size.



Do you know of other projects in the community? Other ways to get involved in this issue? Let us know in the comments!