Fillmore Turk Mini Park
A Collaboration Redesign Project
Midterm, Oct.30, 2019
Critique on Progress, Nov. 13, 2019
Final, Dec. 4, 2019
Architecture (Valeriya Velyka)
Context: Site: Turk Mini Park, Fillmore District. Area: 11,400sf.
My project is geared toward revealing missing or underrepresented stories about the African American Community. My proposal is to redesign the Mini Turk Park in Fillmore, in order to raise more awareness on important social issues. During the day the park will serve the community as a place of comfort while acknowledging the vibrant jazz culture in the 1940–60s. In the evenings, the park will act as a meeting place to share “missing” or obscured stories in the African American Community. Based on my research some important topics include: incarceration of American Americans, gentrification, business ownership, LGBTQ views and gender roles. Physically the park contains programs such as: intimate gathering space, seating, small stage, resting hut for homeless at night, greenery, and an expressive atmosphere.
Interaction Design: Community Compass (Aosheng Ran)
In the 20th century, many Fillmore residents moved out as a result of gentrification. The displacement of families and businesses has a profound impact on the culture in the district. However, the influence remains invisible in today’s renovated Fillmore neighborhood consisted of shiny buildings and dirt-free streets. The attempts to reflect the history, such as the community statue in the public space, fell short when they failed to confront the past and represent the community.
The proposed park design includes interactive experiences that reflect the stories of the lost history and culture in today’s Fillmore. Through scanning the QR code on the floor, the park visitors would be guided to access the excerpts from the interviews with Fillmore residents around the park. Each excerpt features a highlight quote from an interviewee and the associated location. The visitors would be able to move around to see all the quotations from different directions and connect themselves from the park to the collective memories in the rest of the neighborhood.
