"WaveTracer" is an interactive fencing designed for Gowanus Canal Sponge Park that encourages community engagement through play. I redesigned the fencing along the canal with an interactive feature, incorporating the existing fencing structure. It is an object of interaction with the canal that fosters a sense of connection between the park users and the canal. Wavy lines mimic how people commonly draw waves and the movement of sliding the beads is reminiscent of how people draw waves on paper. The users can move, rotate, extend, and/or bend the beads across the waves to create patterns and designs and use the canal as the canvas.
FALL 2022
RESEARCH
Gowanus Canal Sponge Park is a waterfront park designed to absorb and manage excess surface water runoff, making the waterfront a healthier place for supporting active public engagement with the canal ecosystem. The challenge with the park is its limited size, minimal activities, and lack of space, which has caused few people outside of local residents to visit. From on-site observation, research, and interviews, the main issues are the lack of accessibility to the canal, no inviting infrastructure, and little space for activities for people to engage in.
SKETCH MODELS - FIRST ITERATIONS
SKETCH MODELS - FINAL DESIGN
My design brief focused on designing an object of interaction with the water that encourages the connection between park users and the canal through the element of play.
Through form ideation of both the outer structure as well as the beads, my final design includes a circular ring with rectangular beads that allow for increased interaction and interactivity.
PROCESS
FINAL MODEL
RENDERINGS
