Bridge 4: Acting Globally but Thinking Locally

Posted on April 17, 2019 by kimh794

“Part1: Forum”

The ‘Forum’ is the theme I have chosen for the project. Considering the trait of Canal Street, it had the perfect conditions of location at which the boundaries of SoHo, Chinatown, and Little Italy border each other. I had inquired myself about the current problems of the Canal street and sort it out into three consequences—Ambiguous Identity of the place, Confusing boundaries, and hectic atmosphere. Therefore, to satisfy the important role that Canal Street has for Lower Manhattan, I had considered the public place that provides information of where boundaries meet each other and resting place to enjoy various cultures. This advantage can bring about the synergy effects on both the residents and the visitors. For this reason, I chose to focus on the theme of ‘Forum’ to make Canal Street a “medium” at which various cultures and intricate webs of interests can meet shared goals. That way, this project is likely to stimulate the regional economy and to solve any problem in concord with each area. As Canal Street is consumed by the two of the city’s wealthiest neighborhoods, accessible by nearly every subway line, I felt it might be the efficient place.[1]

Mapping out a general plan, there will be a big compass-shaped structure (Fig1[2], 2[3]) in the middle of the public area. Then the information of each area and directions are going to be inscribed on the surface of the structure. Also, some illustrations of typical places that city recommend to visit will be inscribed in each area. That way, visitors can search for the way to go easily and know which place has what they were looking for.

Around this sculpture, there will be places for food trucks, entertainment areas, and a sitting area. The food trucks will be located in the direction regarding to what they are selling. For instance, the south part of the sculpture is Chinatown, so there will be some food trucks (Fig3[4], Fig4[5]) that sell Chinese traditional snacks in south-toward direction. This will be like a forecasting experience before the visitors actually visit that place. In addition, the place where people can have their foods, rest, and enjoy the performance will also be provided. Next to the seating areas, there will be free area where musicians, artists, performers can show off their talents.

As I mentioned, visitors will have opportunities to sample some of the best dishes from each area that will bring about prosperity in regional economy. Canal Street will also make profits of this by establishing a Canal Street Food Truck Association. According to Food Truck Fatty, there is a Washington State Food Truck Association (Fig 5[6]), a non-profit advocacy organization, that provides food trucks a central hub by giving informative sources to make harmony. Most of the food trucks will be operating from current business from each communities.

[1] Hayley Phelan, “The Gentrification of Canal Street,” The New York Times, May 16 2018.

[2] FRP shaped compass, Malong Company. http://malong.jbrix.co.kr/archives/frp-%EB%82%98%EC%B9%A8%EB%B0%98-%EC%9D%98%EC%9E%90-%EC%A1%B0%ED%98%95%EB%AC%BC-%EC%82%AC%EC%9D%B8%ED%8C%90-%EC%95%88%EB%82%B4%ED%8C%90-%EC%A0%9C%EC%9E%91-%EC%A0%84%EB%82%A8-%EC%99%84%EB%8F%84-2/

[3] CACADUGAR. COM cacadgar, Aug 4 2016. https://www.cacadugar.com/1205

[4] “Food Truck Associations,” Food Truck Fatty. Nov 25 2013. http://www.foodtruckfatty.com/food-truck-associations/

[5] Priscila Korb, “Food Truck Festival, Breakfast Crawl, Fairs: LI Weekend Picks,” Patch, May 18 2018. https://patch.com/new-york/islip/food-truck-festival-breakfast-crawl-fairs-li-weekend-picks

[6] Food-Truck-Festival, QC Exclusive. https://qcexclusive.com/culture/all-the-carolina-spring-festivals-you-cant-miss-this-year/attachment/food-truck-festival/

If the concept of self-governing focuses on the process of solving local problems with the efforts and capacity of the local residents themselves, then there might be problems about how to improve the voluntary participation and problem-solving ability of local residents. The scenario is about the imaginary situation with a background of this park. There is a high tension between the food truck owners whether to divide the space.

# Scenario 1

Canal Park – DAY

Nicky comes to the Chinese food truck, owned by Xuan. He argues that Xuan has invaded the Italian Food Truck Area.

Xuan gets out of the truck and fights back.

Nicky

(sarcastically)

Oh~ Chinese food smells good.

Xuan

(breathing heavily)

What again? Can we just be cooperating with each other? We are both in the same situation although we are different neighbors.

Nicky

I just feel like it isn’t fair for all. Why don’t you work at the Canal Street Market Food Hall? It’s right in front of China Town and is open every day.[1] UMM~

And you know, a poor merchant like me can’t dare to dream about a small restaurant in Little Italy. New owners are continuing to charge a luxury high rent which only creates a space for the upscale Italian eatery.[2]

Xuan

Ha. Don’t tell me that it hasn’t crossed your mind. Chinatown is not what it used to be. Far cry from the good old days that I run my family business before I got kicked out. We had this long succession of economic blows after 9/11 tragedy and SARS fear.[3]

Now Chinatown has changed to embrace the recovery. But then it no longer sells its cheap and delicious food. Rather, restaurants confront high expenses for state’s minimum wage increases. And you see… Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s has already planted themselves over there right at the core of Chinatown! Do you think that I can survive there? [4]

Mike, a SoHo food truck owner comes over to arbitrate in the dispute. He also holds additional post of director in Canal Street Food Association.

Mike

(sighingly)

Hey Guys, Calm down. Don’t you remember our intention to make this space?

Our strategy is to make the sense of place that can be captured in spirit of communities that, in turn, create a positive community impact. You guys should be proud of what you are doing, not complaining about the reality and stuck in the past. Individual should use key community resources around culture, history and production method and it will make your communities to purposefully take pride in and ownership of local specialties based on community brand, right?[5]

Xuan

Ya. That is what I was trying to tell him. We are to represent our community and let’s use this place as a symbol of unity. I will stay in my area so don’t be aggressive to me Nicky, please.

Nicky

Hey, Mike. It’s your job to make this area equitable to every community so please come up with strict rules. Then, I will be corporative to achieve the same goals whatever you guys were saying. A win-win strategy comes after if some basic rules are made for everyone.

Mike

Yes, I firmly on you, nicky! I will make sure that my personal interest won’t be intervening this community business. I know that it is an important task for me to understand every individuals’ responsiveness to community influence and consider the impact of organizational members.[6]

Let’s measure the exact three partitions and draw a line between them. Also, I will be holding committee’s conference every two weeks so that every representative can deliver one’s opinion and petition be half of every communities. Hope to See you than.

Everyone, keep up the good work!

[1] “Get a taste of the new Canal Street Market Food Hall,” Office, May 12, 2017.

[2] Linda O’Flanagan, “Seller sees big profit in Little Italy,” Real Estate Weekly, Dec 21 2011.

[3] Mollotov, Sabina. “LMDC has big plans for Chinatown.” Real Estate Weekly, 27 Aug. 2003, p. 9. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A109133571/ITOF?u=nysl_me_newsch&sid=ITOF&xid=3882306e.

[4] Chen, Jackson. “Times achangin’ in Chinatown.” Real Estate Weekly, 28 Nov. 2018, p. D1. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A564607558/ITOF?u=nysl_me_newsch&sid=ITOF&xid=20c9138a.

[5] Raed Elaydi, Josetta McLaughlin, “Cultivating terroir in subsistence markets: Development of terroir strategy through harmony-with-community framework,” Journal of Business Research, Dec 2012.

[6] Christopher Marquis, Julie Battilana, “Acting globally but thinking locally? The enduring influence of local communities on organizations,” Research on Organizational Behavior, 2009.

<Reflection>

-> I have been developing the theme of ‘Forum’ in terms of sharing space where different kinds of interests meet. Relating to my major of strategic design and management, I was able to focus deeply on how society or the community is formed and the impact of environment. Overall focus points on this project were the integration and common goals. To come up with public space where residents, visitors, and regional culture could satisfy their own interests, I designed the high-line parks that has entertainments, commodities and advertisement of the neighborhood.

I researched for similar examples in real world. Gathering the issues from food truck association and public community. I intended to deliver the thoughts of individual and how conversation can bring healthy discussion. The project for studio was interacting with this project in terms of the space planning. The way how it is divided is determined by the promise between the community members. At large, this dialog was efficient method to take introspection of the characters. That way, it is more easier to seek imaginative solutions when gathering individuals’ thoughts. From this point onward, I could be a great member of society that sympathize with constructing meaningful environment. Over this bridge 4, I was able to look back myself so that I could better understand the roles of me as a participant to city. We are all potential maker, writer, thinker and researcher that complement to this society and our trivial thoughts can bring about butterfly effect after all.

Bridge 2 Reflection_ Ha Rim Kim

Posted on March 13, 2019 by kimh794

Bride 2 : Text Map Making

Site : Canal Street Station

Ha Rim Kim

When I first arrived at Canal Street, I saw Chinatown. As I expected, people on the street were speaking in Chinese and most of the stores were Chinese restaurants, souvenir store, massage shop, and bubble tea shop etc. However, while walking along the canal street, I was surprised to see how the atmosphere changes. SoHo, where I visited directly, looked like a battlefield for big fashion brands. As well as low-priced brands familiar to me such as Zara and Uniqlo, luxury fashion brand shops were filling Soho streets. Then I started to inquire myself, ‘How can that Chinatown small souvenir shop and Soho’s expensive luxury store coexist on the same street?’ ‘That souvenir shop really can afford this high rent fee?’

Canal Street and Bowery New York, NY 10013

Every area surrounding Chinatown has been accelerating Gentrification and I thought Chinatown also might be ongoing this process. Therefore, I chose to focus on the history of Chinatown and what Gentrification will affect present and future. Gentrification is mainly used in the negative sense that rents are rising and aboriginal people are being thrown out as backdrops of old towns flourish. On the other hand, in some regions or countries, it is often used as a word of hope that a neglected city will seek new vitality through development. In this context, New York is the region with the most noticeable contrast in gentrification. As it is the largest commercial city in the world, it has been in the past and the large capital of investors all over the world is still attracting New York. This is the reason why New York is the center of the world’s economic and financial centers, and the region with the greatest disparity in wealth. Then ‘How is Chinatown coping with this circumstance?’ was start of my research, probe and interview for this map-making.

First of all, I went on a field study to observe the conditions of the contrast between light and shade. And then tried to acquire Interviews that dig inside the reality in Chinatown. Remarkably, many residences in Chinatown has been suffering with gentrification that their family businesses are threaten by unaffordable house payment and tax. Relating to this reality, I searched for articles and journals that explains the circumstance more specifically and what the mayor and community are trying to resolve this fast-growing area to maintain its history of Chinatown.

Last but not least, I made a map that shows the similar structure of economics of that area to give big impression to the reader about gentrification. Monopoly, a board game that buy or sell land and build buildings on the ground, reminded me as a reality of inflow of capitalists. The winner of this game is to secure a lot of land and expensive buildings faster than anyone else. When a player gains control of the land and real estate, the other players will be defeated without using the strategy to spend all the money they have to pay the rent. The winner of this game is someone who dominates popular areas such as SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, where rent is high. As soon as the winner of Monopoly is decided, the game board which was lurched is quietly arranged. Just like those neighborhoods that have fallen sharply since they’ve been in trouble with the Gentrification.

From the workshop I had with peers, I felt the importance of capturing the real spot in our own eyes so that we unconsciously get attracted by our interests to start on research deeply on that theme. I was also the one who related with my management major into the theme of a developing area. That way, I was able to advance my knowledge and challenge myself to reach more creative ideas on delivery. From this point onward, I would like to improve myself more on understanding the intricate webs of interests in every environment. Therefore, I could be a great member of society that sympathize with constructing meaningful environment.

Site Analysis: AEIOU

Posted on February 11, 2019 by kimh794

Grand Central Terminal
89 E 42nd Street

: free write for 12 mins (set a timer) about my personal experience of visiting the site

Research: Artist – Olafur Eliasson

Posted on February 4, 2019 by kimh794

Studio 2: Constructive Environment

Ha Rim Kim

Feb. 2. 2019

Research: Artist-Olafur Eliasson

1. What things does Eliasson do to “learn” about and “discover” ideas (research) for his projects?

In the beginning, Eliasson inquired himself, “Why am I actually seeing and what that means to me?” For this answer, he thought this kind of inquiry let optic on art offers selfevaluation. Then he dealt with the tool that he already has and know about which included water and temperature so on. In the practice of bringing ideas, he adds words and make models based on his intuition. Distance between where it starts and where it would go is same as relationship between thinking and doing. That way, He thought creativity is the consequences which comes along with breaking the rules, making the rules and reference of something that’s somewhere else.

2. What things does Eliasson do to help a work grow from an idea and into a realized project?

In order to help his work grow from an idea into a realized project, he takes several steps. He first makes models to bring an idea into life. Then he verbalizes the context on the relationship between the project and society. In the process of making it real, he interconnects with various networks. From his team worker’s interview, he is really open-minded person and the team give inspiration to each other concentrating more on content rather that the form. The team starts to make the project in terms of potential of the shape and material. Consequently, the project is made to do something meaningful to people.

3. How would you describe Eliasson’s approach to collaboration?

Eliasson now have collaborations with many craftsman, architects, administrators and cooks etc. Among the projects, Eliasson collaborated with engineer Frederick Ottesen for ‘The Little Sun (2012).’ This was more about the global social project to aware people the need to use sustainable energy by distributing the little sun solar lamp and having people hold sun in their hand. I think that Eliasson’s approach to collaboration has synergy effects. Since his every works contains the theme of public space to be filled with many people’s thoughts and experiences, his works should be made by various networks and understandings.

4. What are some of the major themes in Eliasson’s work (can you name more than four)? How are these explored in his work?

He worked a lot about what type of public spaces facilitate the inclusive elements, how can it hold people included and how do we generate the sense of connectedness without necessarily having to be the same. The Weather Project was made to share and see the other things in yourself holding hands with the sun. This project was especially matched with the purpose how to share space without having to be the same. Second one is ‘Your Rainbow Panorama.’ He explored various lights coming from inside and outside so that his physical activity is connected from how he sees. He wanted to tell that ‘If you don’t move, nothing change.’ The third project, Waterfall, is to tell that if the space has depth you are more likely to meet anyone and if the space has dimensions you can move. He then explored by making big waterfall in New York to make the depth. Another project held in Copenhagen, he brought the Ice of Greenland with the theme of global warming. He then let people experience the feeling of climate crisis by holding hands with icebergs. The project, Riverbed(2014), is an installation held in Denmark museum by bringing riverbend from Iceland. He wanted the consistent white so wrapped the roof to distract light coming in. Then he wanted to explore the non-existence of shadow. This project also included the theme of sharing thoughts of artwork.

Daily Journal Entries

Posted on February 4, 2019 by kimh794

: 28. Jan. 2019

: 29. Jan. 2019

: 1. Feb. 2019

: 2. Fab. 2019

: 3. Feb. 2019

X Pages: Spatial Illustration and Graphic Narrative

Posted on February 4, 2019 by kimh794

“X page” memory exercise

I’m in my living room crying very hard in front of my older brother. I’m telling him that I almost failed my final exam and I want to quit my high school. But my brother is not paying attention to me and just playing computer game. He telly me, “Get your minds together! You failed the exam because you didn’t do your best.” Annoyed by what he says, I’m just