[ART]box is a project part of "[IIII]box collective", an initiative to explore how design could act as a catalyst for community building and empowerment within the Nation’s Capital by providing the metropolitan area access to local creative resources. The District of Columbia is a city that is constantly evolving which puts focus on developing neighborhoods and leaves other areas with abandoned lots and limited access to needed resources.

Our goal is to create a portable environment that is socially and environmentally sustainable while developing a strategy that successfully integrates community participation. Unlike most design projects, the design process in this case is used as an instrument for the local population to be able to tackle, address, and provide a needed resource for their community.

Each "[IIII]box collective" project is tailored to each community and will house programmatic uses that depend on what the community has selected to be installed. For our first prototype, [ART]box, has been selected by the non-profit organization Albus Cavus, to incorporate their successful Open Walls program. The Open Walls program is an initiative that creates and maintains outdoor creative spaces and brings artists and educators to collaborate with the local community. The [ART]box will function as a tool by having a flexible design which can be molded to fit various activities conducted by the Albus Cavus’ Open Walls program.

OUR MISSION

• Create a portable environment that is both socially and environmentally sustainable.
• Develop strategies that successfully integrate heavy community participation into the design and development of the project.

BENEFITS

• Activates abandoned, blighted, unexpressive spaces through art and social interaction.
• Urban beautification through litter removal, landscaping and property improvements.
• Forms a network of creativity hubs.
• Usage of recycled materials. Starting with the transformative reuse of shipping containers.
• The flexible design would respond to diverse programming options.
• Research and implementation of self-contained, independent power, water and utility solutions.

DESIGN INNOVATION

We have carefully integrated a design strategy into the development of the [ART]box that would allow for the structure to be easily interchangeable to house the various activities of the Open Walls community program.
The following are the major design elements incorporated into the project:

• Modularity
• Mobility – The project will have minimal site impact
• Secured environment – Including openings and entry ways
• Light weight construction
• Use of local cost effective materials - Starting with the reuse a recycled container as the main structure and exterior skin.
• Scalable and Flexible - [ART]box can grow and reconfigure itself as programmatic needs change. Through additional supporting funds, the [ART]box can grow in its spatial and infrastructural capacity.
• Environmentally responsible design and structure

WHO WILL BENEFIT?

We estimate that it would be about 10,000 beneficiaries who would either directly or indirectly benefit from the implementation of this project at the defined site location. The # of beneficiaries is based off the 2010 population data for the Howard University, Le Droit Park, Cardozo/Shaw neighborhoods within Ward 1.

Population information source: http://www.neighborhoodinfodc.org/nclusters/nbr_prof_clus3.html

NEXT STEPS

In order to bring our project to the next stage of development, it is essential for us to secure funds to support our efforts. Our goal is to transform the shipping container into a structure that can be used for Albus Cavus’ Open Walls program.

We are in the process of securing the following materials & resources:

• Purchase of a shipping container.
• Materials & supplies to effectively beautify the container.
• Accepting donated furniture.
• Materials & supplies to conduct Albus Cavus Open Walls workshop.
• Attending local community meetings to give project updates and to gain awareness

We currently have a project team that has been actively developing the design, organizing fundraising efforts and as well as collaborating with local community leaders and institutions.The site has been selected and confirmed. Support for our project has been given from academic institutions, volunteering professionals and local community members.

OUR CORE DEVELOPMENT TEAM

The project team is individually composed of artists, architects, graphic designers, and social activists. The core development team has been led by Josef A Fuentes, Peter Krsko and Saba Tekeste.

Development Team Members:
Decoy
Julieta Guillermet
Jocelyn Hoppe
Greg Riestenberg
Jesse Sticklor-Lipson
Portia Strahan
Rocio Sanchez Seijas
Agustina Soler

SUPPORTERS

Howard University School of Architecture
Georgia Avenue Community Development Task Force
Albus Cavus
Fanning Howey (architecture, engineering, and design firm)

Location