LARP STUDIO – UMASS AMHERST
Claiming Market Place Springfield , Massachusetts The UMass Amherst Senior Urban Design Studio developed a tangible vision for the revitalization of downtown Springfield through creating ideas for the underutilized Market Place block and reconnecting it to the urban fabric . Small-scale , temporary urban design installations as wayfinding interventions followed the spirit of “ tactical urbanism ”.
BSLA / MERIT AWARD
Student Work
These interventions had a real target : the work supported the opening of the Holiday Market in the Market Street block from Thanksgiving to Christmas . The interventions were taken one step further with the development of phased design drawings . The designs support safer walking and bicycling , possibilities to sit and relax , and art inspired media such as artificial light and color .
Market Place has a prominent location within the downtown . The site is placed around several hot-spots including the Mass Mutual Center , Symphony Hall , Tower Square , and . of course , Main Street . which foster great opportunities for pedestrian interaction with Market Place .
PROJECT GOALS
• Claiming Market Place as a destination for residents , employees , and visitors through creation of an active and diverse space that contributes to the positive future of the City of Springfield .
• Providing elegant and pleasant walking connections to Main Street and downtown assets while creating attractive and legible entrances to Market Street .
• Creating short-term interventions to raise publicity for Market Place .
• Creating long-term design and programmatic solutions that respect place and people while creating new and meaningful layers through landscape media .
• Exploring a community service learning strategy within the framework of an urban design studio with the goal of revitalizing the City of Springfield , Massachusetts , through sustainable design , planning , and engagement with the community .
The project was supported through the UMass Amherst Design Center in Springfield and the City of Springfield Office of Planning and Economic Development .
140 BSLA