INSERT: Chinatown Library

INSERT INSTALLED!

2009-10-16T19:12:00.000-07:00

Photos by Jonathan...

Some Photos from the Public Opening

2009-10-16T16:35:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Quilian for helping with the photography!

Missed taking a picture of it earlier, but all the elderly residents of Chinatown who came also immediately stormed the periodicals section, pulled out all the chairs and the newspapers and started reading. It was really cool!

Winding down...for the first hour or so there were about 200 people

Not that you can really tell from the photographic evidence, but this is the lion dance to kick things off; the Mayor and like fifty other politicians arrived on cue at the same time and had to wait in the street.

This kid is like, 'stop taking pictures, you strange woman'

Very cute...

The kids at the opening spontaneously took over the kids' pod

Setting up the Library

2009-10-16T16:14:00.000-07:00

Setting up in Chinatown

2009-10-16T16:06:00.001-07:00

Moving the INSERT to CHINATOWN!

2009-10-16T15:27:00.001-07:00

Last piece!

I think this is when the remark was made that 'mdf is basically beaver puke'

Small moment of panic...nothing we can't glue back on

This is why we love Shawmut...

And away we go!

Waiting for the rest of the crew

Packing up

Children's pod comes apart

Chairs stacked up and ready to go

All done with that one

First section free

The awesome Chad from Shawmut at work

Taking apart the computer pod

Jegan labeling the pieces

One last look

Pieces labelled and ready to go...

Loving the way the sun hits the installation in the Pit...

Official Opening of The INSERT! Storefront Library in Chinatown

2009-10-07T18:47:00.000-07:00

Date:	Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Time:	16:00 - 18:00
Location:	640 Washington Street, Chinatown, Boston, 02111

The event will feature a lion dance and light refreshments. The event is free and open to the public.
For the full press release go to the facebook event page

Insert DESIGN opening at the GSD

2009-10-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

INVITE: September 14th, 6-8 pm, Room 110 GSD

2009-08-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

More Fabrication!

2009-08-16T09:07:00.001-07:00

A chair! (And a yawn...)

This is the book pod magazine and newspaper section; the magazines will be displayed standing up, cover out, and the newspapers will go on rods hung in the center section.

Beautiful!

Time-Lapse of Book Pod Fabrication

2009-08-16T08:48:00.000-07:00

In the beginning....

And there it is! Voila.

Fabrication!

2009-08-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

This pile of MDF was originally 75" tall

Fabrication Process

2009-08-03T18:48:00.001-07:00

It stands up! And look, it fits a laptop!

The stacked boards are cut pieces waiting to be assembled

Putting a section of the computer pod together

Julian and the GSD CNC in perfect harmony

New Rendering!

2009-06-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

This shows our most current design iteration and materials. The large warm grey surface on the left is the community bulletin board. Behind it is the children's pod. The volume on the right in the foreground is the computer pod, and the volume behind it is the book and workspace pod. The reception desk is the 'tail end' of the children's pod volume.

On the Cover of Sampan!

2009-06-27T07:27:00.001-07:00

Design Update!

2009-06-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

Epic Sequence - Building the Chair Mock-up

2009-06-26T22:07:00.000-07:00

Done!! Except for the seat. Time for the next iteration.

And it was about here when we started questioning the amount of pieces and material required to put this design iteration together - a lot!

It was about here that we realized we can't actually build the chair this way out of MDF. The 'horizontal' ribs on an angle require angled cuts to receive them in the vertical ribs - impossible with the GSD's shop equipment.

The back of the chair came together perfectly.

Wait...hold on...

The visitor in the background was deeply intrigued

Trevor can alphabetize in Roman, Aramaic, Greek and Sanscrit.

Trevor subs Marrikka out to the relief of the crew

The group discovers Marrikka cannot alphabetize

Marrikka in a characteristic moment

Model!

2009-06-26T21:44:00.001-07:00

Fancy silhouette people on loan from Julian

Artsy blurred photo courtesy of Trevor, who took all these shots

But it's still pretty spectacular

And we've only built one chair...

This is a framing model only, so it doesn't show soft surfaces like upholstery and the bulletin board

Design Review!

2009-06-26T20:49:00.001-07:00

Jungmin contemplates

The model twirled - courtesy of Trevor

The model

He's awake!

Notice the cool tite-joint fastener

Materials test: the shelving

Julian explains some more

Julian explains

Another impressive shot of Trevor functioning while asleep

Quilian to the rescue!

Rare sighting of Stephanie without camo

Trevor performs in sleep mode; Jungmin is THERE

Charrette session on Youtube (03.31.09)

2009-05-16T21:26:00.001-07:00

Watch them in HD!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZdACV0hUhU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw_kO9d4br8

Meeting with Amy Ryan and Alice Hennessey

2009-03-25T22:31:00.000-07:00

6th Pin-Up

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5th PinUp

2009-03-12T14:24:00.000-07:00

Beautiful renderings and drawings courtesy of Andrew and Mo, with design collaboration by Quilian and Theresa....

Saturday Charette

2009-03-09T20:59:00.000-07:00

Ten minutes is UP!

Epic sequence of Julian presenting

Quilian with the 'game-changer'

Back to the drawing board

Or in this case, back to the ping-pong table

Concentration

Andrew with the framing solution

Jungmin tells us how it's done

Mo reintroduces some design typology

Trevor elucidates

I am confused

Trevor elucidates further

Oh!

Theresa's incredible interlocking furniture innovation

Charette 1 - in the books

Lantern Scheme

2009-03-02T14:51:00.000-08:00

Building Blocks Board

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Dragon Dance Board

2009-03-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

First Community Presentation

2009-02-28T07:01:00.000-08:00

Andrew starts off with the 'lantern' presentation - and a classic gesture

Kye Liang translating

The 'lantern' team is Andrew, Julian, Stephanie and Shelby

Mr. Yee pays attention

Theresa presents the 'building blocks' scheme

The 'building blocks' team is Theresa, Jungmin and Trevor

Trevor at the ready

Stephanie Fan

Matthew presents the 'dragon' scheme

Mo and Daniel wow us with a light show

And Daniel's awesome model

The 'dragon' team is Matthew, Quillian, Mo and Daniel

Mrs. Chin weighs in

Paper tubes???

The feedback notes...courtesy of Andrew

fourth pin-up

2009-02-24T19:45:00.000-08:00

Third Pin-Up

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Second Pin Up

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Stephanie goes inflatable

Shelby does furniture

Slightly delirious at this point

Andrew presents his mind-bending frame system

Daniel goes to a better place

Trevor slays us with logic

Wha...?

We laugh.

We discuss

Julian's fabulous blob

Julian uses confusion as subterfuge

Quilian goes vertical

Mo and Daniel lay out the Tyvek ceiling of the century

Hmm.

Quilian leads the pack

More site visit photos

2009-02-11T16:16:00.001-08:00

FIRST PIN UP

2009-02-08T10:43:00.000-08:00

We got to see some interesting initial ideas an now are going to work on developing three main topics:
-A Tent
-A Skin
-An Object in a Field

SITE VISIT

2009-02-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

GOOGLE MAP of the three proposed sites

SITE ONE: (sorry is the only pic I got!)SITE TWO:
SITE THREE:

INSERT! Chinatown Library BASIC INFO

2009-02-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

SCHEDULE
February 2009 - Charrette for Design Ideas
March 2009 - Design Development
April 2009 - Construction Documentation
Summer 2009 - Construction
Fall 2009 - INSERT! Chinatown Library opens

PROGRAM
The Chinatown Storefront Library program will target elderly residents, teens and pre-K/ K-age children, who are projected to be the heaviest users of a Chinatown Branch Library. The program will offer:
-casual newspaper and periodical reading;
-Internet access on desk-mounted computers and via WiFi throughout space;
-work space for homework or private laptop use;
-laser printer access (with an honor-system collection box, $0.10/page);
-a pre-K/K reading area (reading aloud with adult, storyhour, and picture books);
-a physical and electronic community bulletin board;
-a free book exchange (leave-a-book, take-a-book); and
-space for gatherings, readings, presentations, and ﬁlm projections.

A multi-lingual website will extend the impact of Storefront Library program and serve as the primary outlet for information dissemination and feedback. The websiteʼs homepage will be a gateway for all online services provided in the Storefront Library, and the default starting point for all computer users, including those accessing library WiFi. The homepage will explain the project mission, library rules, and provide links to:
-local resources, including Boston Public Libraryʼs website, local job listings, college
information, and other non-proﬁt resources and organizations;
-a “Get Involved” area with information about volunteering in the storefront and participating in advocacy for a permanent branch via Friends of The Chinatown Library;
-a project feedback/suggestion area;
-an interactive “community wish-list” for books and periodicals; and
-a “library channel” broadcasting photos, event video, branch project updates, RSS feeds, and connections to social networking sites, as a way to amplify the impact of the program.

TEAM
Marrikka Trotter*
Quilian Riano*

Stephanie Tam
Julian Bushman-Copp
Mo Lee
Dan Hui
Trevor Patt
Andrew Thomas
Shelby Doyle
Jungmin Nam
Theresa Hwang
Matthew Swaidan

*coordinators

PROJECT ORGANIZED BY
Department of Microurbanism
Boston Street Lab

OFFICIAL SPONSORS
The Friends of the Chinatown Library
The Chinese Progressive Association
The Asian Community Development Corporation
SoCA

OFFICIAL BOSTON LIBRARIES CHINATOWN REPORT
http://www.bpl.org/branches/chinatown_library_study_final.pdf