Individual Observation and Method using Hood

Using Hood’s methods from “Urban Diaries” for the East River Waterfront
Observations and Analysis

• The beach under the Brooklyn Bridge is a wasteland and dumping ground for litter and unwanted items. This space has a small door making it inaccessible for any person to easily embed themselves in the space or make use of it.
• The track for biking and running is situated right near parking. makes it dangerous for pedestrians and an unlikely path for the elderly or handicapped individuals.
• Visitors are mostly transient. However, there are those that read and sit on the benches.
• Under the F.D.R., there is little to no light coming into the space making it difficult for use unless you sit at the water’s edge near the gate.

How can the bus solve this?• Perhaps the bus can house a ladder/slide to free access constraint to the beach and rent/sign out beach materials and tools.
• By creating a ‘mobile community center’ or a fleet of buses designed for specific uses, it enables for easy transport for these disadvantaged groups to use and experience the space.
• Creating a library and book-swap program on the bus will allow for people to interact and build community.
• Perhaps the bus will have an awning and light fixtures that will illuminate the space when the bus is parked. This energy can be used from solar paneling which absorbs light in the daytime and when the bus brakes for this specific use.

How does this fits with our vision/strategy?• Through different services provided, we will amplify the activities the space is used for while also building community via methods of social interaction. I.e. - Hood’s example of children in the playground not using the physical structure-but digging in the dirt. By designing a space where, perhaps, there will not be a physical structure but more opportunity to amplify an existing use such as the sandbox- it allows for more interaction and community building amongst the children. Climbing is more solitary but the sandbox allows for more fluidity of imagination.