Commotion : Community in Motion
The current pandemic which forced people to social distance and work from home has led to a twofold effect on communities around the world where community engagement has dwindled down and public transport are facing a decline in ridership. By extension, the former had seen local cultures being stagnant and community events being shifted online. On the other hand, the latter had seen a decrease in ridership linked with the increase in private vehicle usage and public transport facing a general distrust in that it is regarded as a spreader of Covid-19.
These two phenomena occuring at the same time has raised the question of the relationship between public space and public transport. Both are at the heart of community especially in the urban context. Public transport is a crucial fabric of the city that ensures inclusive accessibility for all while being socially and economically diverse. Likewise, public spaces share this quality of inclusivity, accessibility and diversity while providing a platform for the community to engage; it is a space where people can display their culture, interact with each other, and foster the development of community ties. As such, a design intervention could potentially solve both of the problems of dwindling community engagement and the decline of public transport at once by reimagining public space and public transport as one, through the merging of community activities into the platforms of train cars.
(From competitor's text)
This project generated a lot of discussion among the jury members. The presentation is as clear as it is playful. By proposing thematic spaces, it meets multiple needs and offsets the impression of homogeneity often felt in public transport. The idea exists in abundance in some trains, but is sometimes limited to food and game areas. In the Community in Motion project, the question of public space as a place of socialization and animation is again confronted with that of efficient transport. The introduction of art, music and games would fill these waiting times, which are often felt to be lost, with activities for relaxation and pleasure, especially for the youngest. This hybridization of spaces is extremely well developed in this proposal. One can imagine that these activities would not always fit with the needs of rush hour, but who said that one should always take the metro during rush hour?
(From jury report)
