Envisioning
When Dreams become Tactical Designs
Sometimes a community member or an organization comes to us and says something along the lines of: “We want to do something about this blank space of concrete. No one uses it and we want to improve its use for the community.” Since we are funded primarily by grants, the first step for us is to determine if we would be funded to assist in envisioning for the project, otherwise we may consult with the group. We would meet with the group, discuss potential uses of the space with case studies that demonstrate similar characteristics, and come back with designs to help provide further examples of how the space would transform.
For example, Casa Azafran along Nolensville Pike was looking to acquire a lot next door to its community facility. They hoped to transform it into a park for their elementary students and for the South Nashville community to use, but in order to obtain funding they needed something more tangible to present. We provided initial design renderings, but the project was eventually taken on by a design firm. Today it is a successful and beautifully designed community space.