Aryell Mattern - Farmers Insurance’s Post

Epic temporary experiences are reshaping cities, from Taylor Swift, Catholic Pilgrims, the solar eclipse to Milan design seekers. The one thing this crazy assortment has in common is they leave a lasting impact on local residents post circus leaving town. Hint: that temporary boost of short-term money is the tipping point for many owners to convert to rentals into short-term properties. “The Salone del Mobile has recently partnered with the Milan Polytechnic University to study the fair’s economic and social impact on the region. Among the areas of research are the effects on temporary accommodation and permanent housing in the city” Case in point: - From Rome’s current city-wide renovation (in preparation for upcoming pilgrimages). - The solar eclipses massive Airbnb matching arch on rentals. - Taylor Swift (everywhere). We need to think of innovative sleeping solutions that don’t rely heavily on displacing residents in the cities themselves. “According to Abitare, a real estate company, the short-term rental price of a furnished two-bedroom apartment jumps 245 percent during Design Week. In the Brera neighborhood, where many of the high-end design showrooms are based, an apartment costs an average of 7,000 euros (about $7,500) for the week” This article highlights amazing artists creating temporary structures and housing to fit temporary needs sans local displacement. “Indeed, the skyrocketing cost of rent set off protests last year, with students across Italy setting up tents outside campus buildings to highlight the untenable cost of living — a movement the Dopo collective said factored into its decision to focus on housing at #MilanDesignWeek this year” It’s a fascinating conversation we need to have.

A Green Transformation at Exposition Park for the 2028 Olympics Exposition Park in Los Angeles is set to undergo a significant transformation as surface parking is moved underground, paving the way for six acres of green space where asphalt once dominated. This ambitious project aims to create a more cohesive park environment, enhancing the experience for visitors ahead of the 2028 L.A. Olympics. Under the leadership of Andrea Ambriz, Expo Park's new general manager, the plan seeks to remedy the park's long-standing challenges. Aerial views of the area reveal a patchwork of cultural institutions, including the Natural History Museum and the California Science Center, often overshadowed by vast parking lots. Ambriz, who has a deep personal connection to the park, emphasizes the importance of creating a unified experience that serves as both a cultural destination and a community gathering space. With $351.5 million in state funding approved, the project is part of a larger initiative by the architecture firm Torti Gallas + Partners, aiming to incorporate more greenery, shade, and public amenities into the park. Ambriz’s approach goes beyond just managing parking lots; it’s about fostering a vibrant space for health, wellness, and recreation in one of L.A.’s most park-poor neighborhoods. Plans for the new underground parking garage, which will also include a management headquarters and a community center, are expected to be finalized by early 2025, with construction completion slated for late 2027. The park's revitalization is seen as crucial for local residents, many of whom have voiced a desire for accessible green spaces. As Expo Park gears up for its transformation, the focus remains on community engagement and sustainable development. Ambriz is committed to involving neighborhood leaders in the process, ensuring that the upgrades benefit everyone without contributing to gentrification. The project promises not only to enhance the park’s aesthetics but also to solidify its role as a cherished public space for generations to come. For more information on the visit https://lnkd.in/ghVt4tBc

We’ve been quiet for the past few months, but that’s because we’re BURIED WITH WORK! Today we took stock and counted that for the last ca. 5 months our studio has prepared more than 15 different complex wayfinding projects! And hundreds of icons and information types! Those who know how time-spanning these activities can be, I think will agree with us that this really is a major feat! And among these projects were: - several residential developments - shopping mall - hotel - entertainment spaces - revitalized spaces - aquapark And we are just getting started :) If you have any interesting space that you would like to complement with unique signage - we look forward to hearing from you! #wayfinding #wayfindingdesign #wayfindingsignage #wayfindingsystem #signage #signagedesign #signagesolutions #wayfindingstudio #wayfindingstrategy #wayshowing #signaletik #leitsystem #blankstudiowayfinding #blankstudiopl #graphicdesigners #readytowork #spacebranding #brandingdesign #pictogram #iconset #placemaking #wayfindingexperts #signagexperts

'The project "is about #transforming and taking a #building which currently no longer serves its purpose — and also doesn't meet any kind of #accessibility #standards — and #opening it up to the #public by #creating a #gathering #space that the City of Toronto just doesn't have," said Clyde Wagner, president and CEO of TO Live, in an interview with the Star. The new venue will feature two main #performance #spaces, #replacing the 868-seat Bluma Appel #Theatre and the more intimate 499-seat Jane Mallet Theatre in the #existing #facility. The larger of the two spaces, located on the first and second floor, will seat at least 900 patrons when configured for theatre and #dance, according to the most recent #designs. The #auditorium will be fitted with #automated #lifts that will allow #artists to #reconfigure the space as needed, providing the option for in-the-round #settings, thrust #stages or traditional #proscenium styles. The fourth floor, above the main theatre, will house the St. Lawrence Centre's #acoustic hall, a 400-seat #venue facing westward with a direct view of the #CNTower. The centre's new design was previously selected through an #international #competition that culminated last year. The winning design team is composed of Hariri Pontarini Architects, LMN Architects, Tawaw Architecture Collective Inc., Smoke Architecture Inc. and #SLA. Siamak Hariri, founding partner of Hariri Pontarini Architects, described the #redesigned #cultural #hub as #Toronto's "own #LincolnCenter," referring to the expansive and world-renowned performing arts complex in New York City. ..He offered the analogy of a #campfire — how the reimagined #culturalhub should be a communal gathering place for Torontonians. "We need these #cultural #venues to become the kind of places where you would feel like they represent the soul of the city," he added..The intention, said Hariri, is to transform the #neighbourhood into an #interconnected #arts #district. .. it's a #civic #asset #owned by the #city for the city and yet you cannot enter the building unless you've #bought a ticket," explained Wagner. "And if you did want to bring a person who has any #accessibility challenge.It's just a horrific building to #work in." ..The new facility is currently expected to cost $421 million. The proposed #fundingplan asks that the City of Toronto #reallocate funds from the St. Lawrence Centre's budget for "state-of-good-repair and #AODA #upgrades," which last year was pegged at $50 million for the centre's 10-year #capitalplan. A spokesperson for #TOLive said the organization is also looking for #matching #funds from the #provincial and #federal #governments, which will be supplemented by "private and corporate partners as well as foundations and individuals." ttps://https://lnkd.in/gTwhmMx9

Thinking Urban: Furniture & Public Spaces for People ++ [interactive public furnishings [benches/ tables/ parklets/ playscapes] "In our high-tech society, studies show we’re less inclined to be social. Is that really true? Human beings feel the push to interact and are finding themselves drawn to public spaces. Perhaps the old-style town, based around a public square (think Italy), wasn’t so bad after all. As cities grow, a need for community is growing accordingly. Therefore, how we design spaces matters in order to initiate social engagement." https://lnkd.in/evqwwr9e

Do signage and wayfinding elements make built environments more or less enjoyable? I often ask myself that question as I make my way through the world. I love this slide from a presentation by Vedran Dzebic (head of research and development at Entro) in an Mpact webinar called "The Power of Place." Vedran's research shows that environments with placemaking elements (wayfinding, signage, artistic, and cultural) versus without are considered 39% more exciting, 31% friendlier, 21% healthier, and 19% cleaner. The bottom line is respondents say they are 25% more likely to use these environments as part of their commute. Watch the webinar here: https://lnkd.in/gd3bdPu6 #transit #wayfinding #placemaking #signage

"First life, then spaces, then buildings – the other way around never works." Jan Gehl The best spaces aren’t just built; they’re lived in. They’re where people meet, connect, and create moments that matter. ❤️ Nowadays, every project should start with one question: How will people experience this? Because life always comes first. More about this project: https://lnkd.in/dpSmmZi5 Image: Josema Cutillas #desingforpeople #urbandesign #placemaking

Public art just might be the next big amenity in office real estate. It’s no secret that office tenants are seeking amenities that create an environment that employees want to work in. Some of these amenities include on-site food and retail options, wellness services, and communal spaces for social events. Add art to that list. In an article in the New York Times, art was highlighted as a feature in real estate developments, particularly as developers seek to revitalize city centers and attract foot traffic. Public art, including murals and sculptures, not only enhance cultural appeal, but can also boost property value. Art probably isn’t going to change any of the underlying fundamentals in office real estate. But at least it’s creating new opportunities for artists!

10 Tips for Designing Successful Public Spaces