smaller smarter sparks social commentary at seattle design festival

smaller smarter sparks social commentary at seattle design festival 
all images courtesy of seattle design festival

the ‘smaller smarter’ pavilion is an interactive visualization of seattle, washington’s goals and policies in relation to equity, housing affordability, and environmental sustainability. created for the 2015 seattle design festival: design for equity, the installation was situated in occidental park, as well as the ballard neighborhood, for the duration of this year’s event.

‘smaller smarter’ pavilion

the pavilion’s framework consists of 2×4 lumber, plywood, reclaimed douglas fir slats, and carriage bolt fasteners. it can be easily scaled, replicated, and adapted to future uses should it be necessary. ‘smaller smarter’ provided an opportunity for a diverse range of seattle-ites to share thoughts and creatively engage with one another and the built environment; a task getting continuously harder as the urban area grows and becomes more anonymous.

locals provided their thoughts via customized shingles that were then hung on the intervention

at a time when locals are facing issues such as rapidly rising cost of living and constant development, ‘smaller smarter’ approaches community discussion from a different vantage point. the pavilion was completed collaboratively, with special thanks given to walsh construction co., swenson say fagét engineering, surface theory, and lmn architects. 

seattle-ites with shingles 

exploded view of ‘smaller smarter’ pavilion

visitors at the pavilion 

design process sketches and models of pavilion

elevations

instructions from the event, photo booth backdrop and series of occupant interactions with pavilion

PARK(ing) day 2015 relaunch in the ballard neighborhood of seattle 

customized shingles 

‘smaller smarter’ pavilion detail 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.