Parklet Design Competition
Congratulations
Barge Design Solutions
Background:A Decade of pop-up Parks
PARK(ing) Day is a public, global event that anyone can participate in. With over a decade of pop-up parks, we have seen great success in Downtown Nashville! The sidewalks on Broadway were widened significantly, businesses built parklets during the pandemic to expand access to safe dining space, and 2nd Ave is breaking ground to significantly widen the sidewalks for outdoor dining.
With the new and improved Parklet Permit and Tactical Urbanism Permit under the Nashville Department of Transportation, we hope that the greater Nashville community won’t feel intimidated to transform street parking into more usable space permanently.
To help actualize the use of these permits we have been advocating for, our participation in PARK(ing) Day 2023 is going to look a lot smaller this year.
This year, we DECIDED TO only support one parklet
We recruited a local business owner to host Nashville’s first official parklet under the new permitting process. It’s up to the design community to help us create something innovative, unique and functional for East Nashville business, Wilburn Street Tavern, and its owner, Teresa Mason.
Meet Teresa MasonTeresa Mason, a native of Middle Tennessee, has been serving Nashville for fifteen years at her noteworthy restaurant Mas Tacos Por Favor. Blazing the trail for street food in Nashville, Teresa started our first modern food truck out of an old Winnebago in 2008. She and her friends served up the late-night crowds in East Nashville and on 12South before making the jump to a storefront on Mcferrin Avenue. Built on more than just good food, Mas Tacos is what the best small businesses are to a community—a place to come together no matter who you are.
Teresa re-opened Wilburn Street Tavern in 2018 with hopes to create that same energy. She has invested her generous spirit into her neighborhood and the people around her, and it’s people and places like hers that make a city what it is.
Thanks to our partners for this Design Competition!
The Brief:A Unique Parklet for Wilburn Street Tavern
Requirements:
Platform level with curb
Lighting solution, string lights or other treatment
Shade treatment
Some built in seating (doesn’t have to be entirely built-ins)
Special Requirement:
Wilburn Street Tavern has a special kind of character from being entirely homegrown. The furniture is made up of found or collected tables and chairs. The art is locally made. It’s an atmosphere that feels very un-designed, down-to-earth, yet cool. All submissions strived to achieve this character while balancing the limitations that the weather might impart.
All submissions followed the Parklet Program Manual and Specifications document.
2023 Timeline
Aug 11: Submissions Closed + Review Began
June: Design Competition Launch
Aug 21: Winner was notified
Sept 17: PARK(ing) Day Block Party + Parklet Ribbon Cutting
July 11: Kick-Off Party and Submissions Opened
winning design
Wilburn’s Hideaway Terrace
Barge Design Solutions
Ron Yearwood, Alex Penel, Daniel Blondet, Asmita Dahal, and Francois De Kock
Narrative:Steadfast Witness of change
In the heart of Nashville, Tennessee, where the echoes of history resonate through every corner, the Wilburn Street Tavern stands as a testament to time. The tavern is a warm, low-key haven–a true neighborhood hangout where the stories of generations mingle with the laughter of today.
As we set out to craft a parklet design for the Wilburn Street Tavern, we found inspiration in the tavern's enduring logo–the majestic mountain. This iconic tavern stands as a steadfast witness to the changing rhythms of the neighborhood. Just as mountains stand tall amidst shifting landscapes, the Wilburn Street Tavern has stood strong through the neighborhood's ebbs and flows. From its golden oldie roots to the pulse of today's trends, the tavern embodies both constancy and change.
Moreover, our concept mirrors the tapestry of the tavern's history. Our idea is all about mixing old and new, just like the tavern itself. Just as diverse chapters intertwine in the story of Wilburn Street Tavern, our design weaves together various elements – from the rhythmic patterns of planters to the harmonious dance of pergolas and seating spaces. We create a space where history and modernity can meet and both be celebrated.
Understanding the tavern's community it serves, we've carefully delineated spaces – public and semi-private – inviting neighbors and their furry companions to join in the space. This new outdoor zone isn't just an extension, it's a natural continuation of the tavern itself. Bar tops meld seamlessly with the planters and seating space, fostering a sense of togetherness.
