PlusUrbia Design’s “LA TERRACITA” parklet

Named Finalist for 2016 Public Space Challenge by the Miami Foundation

PlusUrbia Design’s vision to create a parklet out of parking spaces in Little Havana is a finalist in the 2016 Public Space Challenge sponsored by the Miami Foundation. The Coconut Grove-based studio’s proposal for a low-cost, high-impact urban oasis was chosen from more than 400 submissions.

PlusUrbia is well-known for its urban interventions in Little Havana, including myCalle8.org - for a complete streets redesign of Calle Ocho. The studio’s parklet would create a public gathering space (to play dominoes or to just hang out) in a densely populated area in a neighborhood with one of the lowest indexes of open space per capita in the country. 

“La Terracita creates a gathering place in the dense urban neighborhood lacking on open space. Diversity, density and proximity to jobs are East Little Havana’s strengths. But all those people have very few places to gather to play dominoes, discuss politics and rest their bones on comfortable chairs,” said Camila Zablah, a designer at PlusUrbia.

“This parklet is for the locals, away from the tourists of Calle8. Separated from traffic, raised above street level to connect to the existing sidewalk, this small grouping of tables and chairs can be the start of something big – an emphasis on livability in Little Havana.”

Parklets can be replicated throughout Miami to create welcoming open spaces in urban areas.

http://plusurbia.com/blog/ 

PUBLIC SPACE CHALLENGE 2016

MIAMI FOUNDATION NAMES PLUS URBIA DESIGN PARKLET A FINALIST

Change is happening in Miami’s parks, plazas and open spaces. You can skate at a new skate park in what was once an empty lot under I-95 at NW Third Avenue and NW First Street. You can stay hydrated and reduce waste at Margaret Pace Park’s newly installed water bottle refill station and water fountain. You can easily explore all the amenities along the Ludlam Trail by following walking and biking signs that make it easier to know how long it will take to get where you want to go.

Vibrant public spaces like these help connect Miamians to each other and to their communities. That is why we created the Public Space Challenge. We wanted to empower Miamians to improve, activate and create new public spaces in their neighborhoods. Anyone can apply to get funding and help technical help to make their idea a reality.

There’s a growing movement in Greater Miami recognizing the power of parks and open spaces. All you have to do is look at the 400+ submissions for evidence. The community set a new record for number of ideas submitted. Residents across the county from Miami Gardens to Homestead shared their vision during the Challenge. West End residents also submitted more 2016 entries than in the past three years of the Challenge, supported by County Commissioner Juan C. Zapata, District 11.

Design firm PlusUrbia proposed creating an urban parklet out of a parking space in East Little Havana’s residential area. They want to transform the parking area into an open space with a small grouping of tables and chairs where residents can gather to play dominoes in a safe, welcoming spot away from traffic.

http://ourmiami.org/finalists-announced-miamians-reimagine-parks-neighborhoods-in-2016-public-space-challenge/ 

 

THIRD PLACES -- Part 3

YOU CAN JUDGE THE QUALITY OF A CITY BY ITS NUMBER OF THIRD PLACES

Human is the key word in defining a Third Place. 

In these days of rapid telecommuting, where you can order darn near all your daily needs online -- and someday soon may see a drone rather than a human being delivering those products of e-commerce – it is too easy to fall into the trap of being an e-hermit.

You “connect” with maybe 100 people per day – via text, email, instant message or an ever-exploding of platform or connectivity known as social media.

But how do you share a smile, read body language, answer at the same time, whisper secret commentary and hear a spontaneous belly laugh in cyberspace?

You don’t.

That is why people of all cultures crave Third Places.

 

THIRD PLACES -- Part 2

YOU CAN JUDGE THE QUALITY OF A CITY BY ITS NUMBER OF THIRD PLACES

Third Places have regulars – that professorial looking guy with the scary big eyebrows, oddball haircut and careworn herringbone jacket scribbling ideas on a legal pad, the cat glasses cool and retro Betty Paige dyed hair gal incessantly smoking Gauloises cigarettes and the cute young couple that used to close the bars but now sacrifice sleep to the infant they now push in a funky euro-made pram.

Third Places are not the domain of any gender, age, race or economic status.

Which is to say Third Places ARE the domain of everyone in the city, town or village that is blessed to have them.

Barbershops most certainly are Third Places, from Floyd’s friendly banter in the Andy Griffith Show to the antics in African American barbershops that have become a franchise in popular Hollywood movies.

Unlike 6 a.m. pilates , 9 a.m. reporting to work, 1 p.m. dentist appointment, 7 p.m. soccer practice and 9 p.m. tuck the kids in bed at home – Third Places have no hard and fast hours.

Third Places have absolutely no attendance requirements – which is exactly why its inhabitants love congregating at them as much as humanly possible.

Part 3 tomorrow