We had a great event just before Thanksgiving at Columbia University’s Studio-X space in Manhattan. We took a walking tour of a nearby subway station before retiring inside to conduct a mini-design charrette. Here are is are some images from the day:
Studio-X Night School
SubSeries Book
We are pleased to announce that the print edition of the SubSeries catalogue is now available to order online. A digital edition is also available. Through design projects and essays the catalogue considers the public space of 11 New York City subway stations.
Both editions are available in anticipation of our upcoming “Night School” event on Saturday, November 19th from 330-5p at Studio-X. Hope to see you there!
Festival of Ideas: Boards
Here is a quick diagram of the display boards we assembled for the New Museum’s Festival of Ideas for the New City.
Studio-X: Saturday November 19th
I had a great conversation yesterday with Nicola Twilley, the new co-director of Studio-X New York. She and Geoff Manaugh are excited about the SubSeries project.
We set a date for our event at Studio-X this fall: Saturday November 19th at 630p. That is two months from yesterday.
The SubSeries book will be printed and for sale at this event. We also plan to make a full digital version available to be viewed online.
Festival of Ideas: Ideas
We’ve transcribed the comments written on our display boards during the Festival of Ideas for the New City. Some funny/poignent/provocative ideas in response to the prompt: ”My subway should be”
…
Have dance parties
Be on the East side
Use several mermaids
Fewer ghosts of dead rappers
Have more super heros
Cell phone signal
Be a submarine a yellow one! And we’d live a life of ease.
Less construction
Put back “chiklet” vending machine
Be in service, not delayed, and actually working
Be more affordable
Less people listening to loud music
No rats
Be pretty
Accurate schedule
Better
Less people peeing
Cleaner and greener (look @ Lyons station)
Have more height friendly (short) holder onerous
More water venders
Better customer service
THINK
Have more people who say excuse me and smile
Have no gum
Remove the bums
Not smell like ruing or poop
No nail polish application
More social, less impersonal
I really like the subway 
Take a cue from European subways (or other cities)
Jump to hyperspeeed
Restrooms that are open 24hrs
More trees
Run faster
Not prompt fear with stupid “if you see something, say something” ads all over!
Have art instead of ads
I love this idea
More frequent
Free of police wanting to search my bag
Free the subway
My subway should be as multicultural as the 7-train.
Hell yeah!
Cheaper
Not dilapidated
Free of “wrapped ads”
More wheelchair accessible
People singing then asking for $
Sustainable
More pitstain friendly
More pet friendly
Speedy
VIolate my rights for my protection? No!
More artistic
No loud music
Free!
More Brooklyn lines
More accommodating the outer boroughs! Queens!
Free of those breakdancers – they are gonna kick someone!
Full of fun
More breakdancers that make my day
Cleaner
Go Green!
Hammocks in the subway!
Air freshener
More affordable, more services in all communities
Preview at Studio-X
We’re hosting a preview and discussion tonight (June 6th) at 6p about SubSeries at Columbia University’s Studio-X.
The first half of the evening, we plan to present the project and briefly speak about each of the 12 proposals for the subway stations. The second half of the evening will be an open discussion about the future of SubSeries. Key topics we’d like to talk about:
1. As a prototype of an unsolicited architecture process, how could the SubSeries process change?
2. How can reach a broader audience of New York City Residents? (SeeClickFix campaign and personal outreach strategies)
3. How can we solicit funding for the book and exhibition? (Kickstarter campaign coming soon)
4. Reactions to specific design proposals. How could they evolve before the fall?
If there are any other issues that could further the project, please contact us at:
email (at) subseries (dot) org
Preview: Lafayette Avenue
Unused Urban Voids
Unused Urban Voids: Plan
Impact Zones
Station to City
Existing Condition: Section
Potential: Section
Preview: Grand Central Station
Preview: Atlantic Avenue to Parkside
Cul-de-Sac: Before
Cul-de-Sac: After
Video projections at the dead end streets off Flatbush Avenue visually reconnect the neighborhood to the park – and heighten the tension of their physical separation
Space Destroyer Cones Diagram 1
Space Destroyer Cones Diagram 2
The idea originated as an expansion of the depth of the picture plane (similar to how a mirror creates a false depth.)
Space Destroyer Cones Diagram 3
Space Destroyer Cones Diagram 4
