Architecture for Humanity - New York

Park(ing) Day is an international event that reclaims over 200 parking spots in 50 countries around the world and transforms them into engaging public spaces for one day a year (Friday, Sept. 19). These small, temporary public spaces provide a breath of relief from the auto-clogged streets of New York City, and aim to spark a dialogue about our valuable public space and how we choose to use it.

AFHny received a mini-grant of $200 to design, construct and manage a parking spot for the day long event. Our goal was to transform our space into an outdoor art studio/workshop, to let New Yorkers contemplate the people, architecture, energy and trash of the city around them.

Our team of volunteers designed and constructed our parking space on Madison Avenue, between 73rd and 74th Streets (one block south of the Whitney), and then managed that space throughout the day of the event, encouraging passers-by to sit, observe the city, and join us in drawing, sketching, and conversation.

We collected the sketches created during the morning and afternoon, and displayed them in the evening, turning the parking space into an impromptu art exhibition.

View our Park(ing) Day photos and sketches!

More Information:

• http://parkingdaynyc.org/