COMMUNITY TREE GUARDS AND BENCHES
Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, Brooklyn, NY
Myrtle Avenue in Fort Greene has had a rich history of community development since the beginning of the 19th century when the Brooklyn Navy Yards were built. In the 1840’s Fort Greene Park was built on it’s south side, it was Brooklyn’s first public park. Though Myrtle Avenue went through a period of decline in the 70’s, community organizations like MARP (Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership) have sought to revitalise it through collaboration and community development programs.
The tree guard project began as a collaboration between MARP and the Pratt Design Incubator to install 20 new tree guards and benches designed by local artists and designers through an open call for the stretch between Washington Park and Classon Avenue. TYTHEdesign was brought in following the initial research and design development phase and worked with MARP to develop the overall guidelines for the submission of community designs and the ensure that that the designs matched the budget. We also designed the overall system of panels and benches which used modular element to minimise fabrication time and costs. They consisted of a bench atop a 1/4 inch thick steel panel, below which each had a set of patterns designed by an artist laser cut into them. The benches were constructed with environmental plastic decking.
All 20 of the tree guards and benches have now been installed and this is just a sign of things to come. You can see more images of the guards at their flickr site. MARP is continuing it’s fund raising to protect the rest of the trees on the avenue under it’s jurisdiction. Their next call-for-artist entries is scheduled for 2012.
All pictures provided by MARP and TYTHEdesign.
