Van Alen Institute’s Public Realm R&D program surfaces the work of emerging designers and tests new strategies to bring people together in public space.
About
Who we are as a society is defined by how we interact in our public spaces. We must reinvigorate our public spaces in ways that bring people together and strengthen the bonds and networks that help our communities heal and thrive.
61% of Americans — approximately 200 million people — report that they are lonely. Social disconnection and isolation are linked to a host of health ailments, ranging from high blood pressure and heart disease to increased anxiety and depression. As isolation grows, social cohesion declines, causing levels of trust to fall and public life to erode. Americans who are more trusting and civically-engaged are more likely to help improve their neighborhood and offer assistance to neighbors in need. Restoring social cohesion is essential to unite, mobilize and rebuild communities in times of crisis.
Van Alen Institute’s Public Realm R&D initiatives transform public spaces into social infrastructure. From community parks to public plazas, social infrastructure refers to the places and spaces that foster trust and social cohesion in communities. Working with the communities we serve, and some of the most innovative practitioners in design, we create spaces that unite neighborhoods by bringing joy to those who live and work there, and give people hope for the future. These spaces may provide new places to play, give support to local businesses, encourage the use of sustainable transportation, provide space for meaningful public discourse, or inspire a shared sense of civic purpose. While the possibilities are vast for each place we work, the desired outcome is the same.
Breathing Pavilion
by Ekene Ijeoma
March 16–May 11, 2021
The Plaza at 300 Ashland, Brooklyn
Breathing Pavilion by Ekene Ijeoma created a public space of reprieve during a time of intense hardship and loss. Visitors were invited to enter the pavilion and breathe in time with the changing light for a moment of communal meditation. The installation also hosted a weekly music series of site-specific performances featuring solo wind and percussion jazz musicians in meditative sets. Co–produced by Van Alen Institute and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Breathing Pavilion was our first public realm installation in the borough.
Point of Action
by Studio Cooke John
November 23, 2020–January 1, 2021
Flatiron Public Plaza, NYC
Our seventh annual installation with the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership, Point of Action by Studio Cooke John invited New Yorkers and visitors to contemplate the experience of seeing one another—and being seen. Six-foot circles affixed onto the Flatiron Public Plazas create nine “spotlights,” each with its own vertical metal frame. Ropes wove through each frame and part, like a curtain figuratively pulled aside, to make room for the viewer to take the spotlight, connect with other viewers across the Plazas, and take action as they moved out and beyond.
Ziggy
by Hou de Sousa
November 18, 2019–January 1, 2020
Flatiron Public Plaza, NYC
Our sixth annual installation with the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership, Ziggy by Hou de Sousa was a kaleidoscopic beacon for the people of New York. Composed of painted rebar and 27,000 feet of iridescent cord, this lightweight structure dynamically filtered its surroundings with shifting patterns, color, and light. Its winding form framed views of the Flatiron District’s many attractions and landmarks, while also serving as seating for locals and visitors seeking a moment of respite.
Happy
by Studio Cadena
November 18, 2018–January 1, 2019
Flatiron Public Plaza, NYC
Our fifth annual installation with the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership, Happy by Studio Cadena was a series of softly shaped and richly colored screens that provided an analog filter to see the city in a different light. The installation aspired to carve a small yet positive urban space, offering a warm embrace during the cold winter months.
Flatiron Reflection
by Future Expansion
November 20, 2017–January 1, 2018
Flatiron Public Plaza, NYC
Our fourth annual installation with the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership, Flatiron Reflection by Future Expansion encouraged new experiences of the city and new views of its context. A bundle of shimmering tubes created a fragmented column with a central space that opened out like a stage into the plaza. The play of light, shadow, and reflection changed its appearance against the background of buildings and trees, creating soft reflections of familiar landmarks.
Flatiron Sky-Line
by LOT
November 21, 2016–January 1, 2017
Flatiron Public Plaza, NYC
Our third annual installation with the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership, Flatiron Sky-Line by LOT engaged passersby in an intimate interaction within and around it. Illuminated tubular arched created a galleria at the footsteps of the Flatiron building, and white net hammocks hanging from each of the arches invited the public to immerse themselves in skyline gazing, socializing, contemplating, and experiencing the surroundings.
Nova
by SOFTlab
November 18, 2015–January 1, 2016
Flatiron Public Plaza, NYC
Our second annual installation with the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership, Nova by SOFTlab created a series of apertures pointing to a distinct landmark in the Flatiron district. In effect, Nova acted as an observatory for the “constellation” of iconic sites: the Flatiron Building, Met Life Tower clock tower, Empire State Building, and surrounding landmarks.
New York Light
by Inaba
November 2014–January 1, 2015
Flatiron Public Plaza, NYC
Our first annual installation with the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership, New York Light by INABA echoed the plaza’s namesake building, framing the Flatiron Building to its south. Mirrored panels and twinkling LEDs illuminated the structure to create dramatic vantage points and invite opportunities for photos with the city in the background.
