The Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics is endeavoring to successfully alter the landscape and cityscape of Boston to the benefit of its residents and visitors at-large. Aside from helping to hardwire Boston technology into the 21st century, New Urban Mechanics are initiating a citywide project to revamp public spaces. But before they kickstart whats aptly dubbed as the Public Space Invitational, they want to give you some advice on how your design submissions can be more thoroughly considered.
Taking place at the Innovation District’s multifaceted work space-restaurant hybrid District Hall, an infusion of public and private infrastructure built to foster unbound innovation, the forum is intended to answer any questions submitters might have while stressing what New Urban Mechanics is looking for most in a successful design project.
BostInno spoke with Michael Evans, Lead Developer and Designer at New Urban Mechanics, to find out what exactly the mindset is and how the event will function. And not surprisingly, one of the most heavily weighted criteria for a public space reimagining is originality.
“One example that we want to highlight is seat-e,” explained Evans to highlight the type of innovations their looking for. “The City worked with Sandra Richter’s team from the MIT Media Lab to install solar-powered seats on the Greenway. Sandra’s team was able to create a set of the seats, a new kind of urban furniture that charge cell phones, for under $5,000.”
What’s more, seat-e was a practical and feasible initiative that was able to solve a specific though widespread problem while making the streets of Boston “more vibrant and delightful,” added Evans.
When BostInno first caught wind of the Invitational, we billed it as a chance to redesign the architectural abomination that is City hall. Overhauling the concrete monstrosity that sits sloppily by the soon-to-be-closed Government Center subway station is certainly not out of the question, but New Urban Mechanics feels that a narrower focus on neighborhood-level development will be more effective.
“While we’d love to see ideas about City Hall and City Hall Plaza, we’re also encouraging people to rethink public space in their own neighborhoods,” continued Evans. “There are also some unique places in the city that one may not typically think about e.g., the Boston Marine Industrial Park.”
Some other examples Evans cites for civic revamping are: the parklets like those enjoyed in Jamaica Plain, the music-making heartbeat readers Pulse of the City, and the slew of side guards added to Public Works vehicles to keep bicyclists and pedestrians from falling underneath and becoming trapped.
If you’re interested in attending the District Hall event Tuesday evening at 6:00 p.m., registration is required and can be completed here. Aside from laying out ways to impress New Urban Mechanics, the office will delve into the Invitational’s history, how it came to be, and entertain any questions attendees may have.
