Advanced-Level Placemaking Recipes
10 pop-up demonstration projects to inspire great spaces
This article is an excerpt from The Pop-Up Placemaking Tool Kit, a free publication by AARP and the planning and design firm Team Better Block. The advanced-level projects shown below are good for people who work for a county or municipality planning office, have secured local government support for a pop-up demonstration and/or have experience in urban planning, architecture, design or a related field.
All photos by Team Better Block
Digitally Fabricated Seating
Having a place where passersby can stop and rest is an important part of placemaking. Simply placing chairs or benches on a sidewalk or lawn is often enough to convince people to stop and take a break. Prefabricated, some-assembly-required outdoor seating options are available at pop-up affordable prices.
Facade Facelifts
Having a place where passersby can stop and rest is an important part of placemaking. Simply placing chairs or benches on a sidewalk or lawn is often enough to convince people to stop and take a break. Prefabricated, some-assembly-required outdoor seating options are available at pop-up affordable prices.
Hexagon Bulbouts
Street-slimming bulbouts are installed to slow vehicle speeds in areas used by pedestrians. Among the many ways to create a bulbout is to place modular blocks in or along a roadway. Some models can be equipped with technology for gathering traffic and pedestrian data.
Plywood Murals
Murals, which can be temporary or permanent, are traditionally painted directly onto an existing surface, such as a wall or ceiling. When neither is available (or permission to paint on one isn’t granted), plywood makes a suitable canvas. If a professional artist isn’t available to draw or paint a masterpiece, create or buy precut shapes (see colorful fish below) and have volunteers do the painting.
Scaffolding Market
A semi-permanent venue created with a scaffold system can be used to test whether residents will support the types of stores, businesses and eateries that set up shop. Such structures are often used at farmers markets, craft fairs and other mobile retail setups.
Find "recipes" for how to create the projects shown above: TeamBetterBlock.org/Recipes.
Page published November 2019
More Pop-Up Placemaking Projects!
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
- Parklets and Bike Lanes
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