Inspired by Change
‘Place by Design’, the SXSW Eco Public Space Design Competition, opens the world to the ever-changing design landscape. At their core these projects deal with solutions, aiming to induce positive change that can better the world.
Rising population, urban development and high-rise living have lead to a need for innovation in the use of public and communal space. The solutions seen at ‘Place by Design’ often have a community aspect, encouraging people out of their homes and to reconnect with their surroundings. Making use of spaces that are otherwise left unused, such as the underside of bridges and street sign poles, the projects give new life to the forgotten elements of the urban environment. These projects are just one step in changing how we interact with our surroundings and SXSW Eco focuses on progressing innovation and action around sustainability. fluoro spoke with Program Manager, Chris Sonnier, to find out more about the ever changing design landscape, challenges, highlights and design solutions.
(f) Tell us a little bit about your background and how you developed a passion for sustainability.
(CS) I’ve always felt inspired to make things better, and this general outlook has drawn me to sustainability. Growing up, my friends and I would volunteer manual labor for those in need. After graduation from university, I moved to Guatemala where I became intimate with the struggles of the global south, including the ubiquitous presence of western packaging around the countryside and in the rivers. I have also worked with The Nature Conservancy for two years, on a large-scale grassland restoration project in Illinois, as well as with risk-adverse children in the public school system with AmeriCorps before pursuing a Masters of Sustainability and Environmental Management at Harvard.
(f) Over the past editions of SXSW Eco, what trends have you seen emerge?
(CS) First, there has been a shift towards approaching sustainability from a systems-thinking perspective. As leaders in this field increasingly understand this approach, they then need a way to process and analyse the complexities, which we are addressing with our second trend: big data. This topic of big data is proving applicable in the industries of energy, agriculture and conservation, and I feel like we are only seeing the tip of the iceberg. A third trend we are seeing is towards urban adaptation and resilience to both climate change and human migration.
(f) What challenging problem have you seen lead to a particularly innovative design solution?
(CS) We’re showcasing a lot of innovative design solutions at Eco this year. One session that comes to mind is a solo talk by Rives Taylor of Gensler, he’ll discuss how groundbreaking new designs are allowing cities to harness the power of unwanted floods. The idea here is to turn a catastrophe into prosperity.
Submissions to our ‘Place by Design’ competition take aspects of public space that are underutilised or unpleasant and convert them into something useful. ‘Insitu’ is a community-designed garden and playscape in Medellin, Colombia, that is innovative because it directly addresses the needs of a particular community. ‘Designed to Move’ is a project from Architecture for Humanity that strives to fight the obesity epidemic by encouraging activity in cities through playful designs.
(f) Projects such as ‘Key to the Street’ give the public a role in design. Do you think sustainability issues are having an influence on who can fulfill the role of a designer?
(CS) There is a change of occurring where citizens are taking a more active role in all processes that impact the wellbeing of their communities, design is at the center of much of this. Sustainability and the urgency to address the challenges we face have provided both the excuse and the inspiration for citizens to take charge of the design process. The ‘Key to the Street’ project is an elegant example of technology empowering the masses to connect with their surroundings and improve their communities.
(f) You have mentioned that SXSW Eco is about solutions, what do you believe is the most significant sustainability issue at present?
(CS) Resource consumption is at the root of all sustainability challenges. A common perception is that consumption is the path to prosperity, but I would argue that a system designed for resource-efficiency would lead to an even better life for everyone.
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SXSW Eco takes place in Austin, Texas from Monday 7 – Wednesday 9 October 2013.
