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Eliska Pilna
Inter 8
In Miami, there is a lack of public space; and consequently a lack of interpersonal discussion and intercultural friction. My proposal is a system of transportable and transformable units that provide new public space. The lack of public discussion is also caused by the fact that life in Miami is pre-programmed by the government and its laws. Many of these laws, however, only apply to public spaces. The proposed units are placed on disused plots in private ownership at the edge of the actual street space. By accommodating public space on private plots, an interesting legal condition arises- many restrictive laws are overcome e.g. no permit is required for assemblies, number of events per month is not limited, it is much easier to erect any structure. The proposed units therefore become spaces of discussion, direct negotiation and interaction. The proposed units are transformable and transportable; in order to be able to respond to changes the gaps in the urban fabric and legal system, and fill them to the maximum extent. The spatial organisation of the system fluctuates periodically with the events that are taking place; ranging from a retreat for direct democracy on typical days with folded roofs and few stalls in the street placed on basis of skip permits; to unfolded roofs, stalls and stages arranged spontaneously on the streets during an exception of right-of-way on day of Calle Ocho Carnival.
Diagram of the agents involved and relationships between them; from the existing condition to the full system operation.Analyses of the surrounding programmatic fabric during typical and carnival day; and the carnival import of one of the private plots at the edge of the streetspace.Splitting the system into individual units, together with the fact that they are placed on private plots, qualifies them for concurrent plans processing system. This shortens the set-up and reorganisation of the systemOn typical day large roofs are folded and the disused plots with the units act as a retreat spot for direct democracy and carnivalesque activity. Few small stalls are placed in the actual street space on the basis of skip permits.Few other laws are overcome during the typical day. It is not possible to smoke in closed public space or drink in open public spaces. The structure cannot be qualified either as closed or open and it is on private plot; therefore it is possible to use the space for both of these activities. it is also not possible to mark facades of buildings, but in the case of my units, it is not possible to determine what is a facade and what a roof, therefore the skin can be severely adjusted.The system is able to accommodate a range of public events. No permit is required for performances and assemblies of more than 50 people on private plots as opposed to the actual street space. Number of events on Calle Ocho street is limited to two a month as it is in 'Little Havana event zone'. This, however, does not apply to private plots.The day of the Calle Ocho Carnival is an exception to the right-of-way and so the stalls can be placed spontaneously into the street space.The system at its maximum expansion.