The Hangout
Client: KaBOOM! & Lower Ninth Ward Market
Location: New Orleans, LA
Service: Community Workshops, Design, Fabrication, Installation
Date Installed: 02/2017
Features: City Lab, Core 77, Planetizen, Curbed, Archinect, SXSW, and more…
Awards: SXSW Place By Design Honoree, Architecture Master Prize, CODAwards Top 100, Core 77 Award Honoree, AIA Florida Award
The Hangout uses sight, sound, and touch to transform a once-underutilized lot into an inclusive, safe, and inspiring space for the community. The project is located in the Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans, a community still struggling to get back on its feet since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. We designed the piece through a series of participatory design meetings with the community and local community leaders. During these meetings, we were directed to Burnell Cotlon a local business owner and community leader who created the first grocery store, laundromat, and barbershop in the neighborhood post-Katrina.
On his property, there was an empty foundation from a building that was demolished by the storm. This was a place where many people from the neighborhood would congregate, but it was overgrown, covered with debris, and unsafe. It was also the local school bus stop but had no lights creating an unsafe space for children waiting to go to school. We worked closely with the community to develop a space that provided an inspiring creative space for them to simply hang out and enjoy their neighbors' company.
“You saw everybody from a 2-year-old to an 80-year-old just touching it. Just hearing the music.”
The space consists of a series of clusters of cylinders that offer seating and a space to gather. We utilized touch sensor technology that transforms each cylinder into a playable, musical instrument. So when the user touches the tops of the cylinders a sound is made, and this was a key element in the design developed from the input of the community. At night, each of the units illuminates and changes colors as well when touched. These components allow the community to manipulate and utilize the space as they want. A space that they could call their own and felt was a positive representation of their neighborhood.
“This space is so great for the neighborhood. ”
