“Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum presents “By the People: Designing a Better America,” the third exhibition in its series on socially responsible design. The first exhibition in the series to focus on conditions in the U.S.and its bordering countries, “By the People” will explore the challenges faced by urban, suburban and rural communities. Organized by Cynthia E. Smith, Cooper Hewitt’s curator of socially responsible design, the exhibition features 60 design projects from every region across the U.S.
Smith conducted more than two years of field research—traveling to shrinking post-industrial cities, sprawling metro regions, struggling rural towns, along border regions, areas impacted by natural and man-made disaster and places of persistent poverty—in search of collaborative designs for more equitable, inclusive and sustainable communities. The exhibition highlights design solutions that expand access to education, food, health care and affordable housing; increase social and economic inclusion; offer improved alternative transportation options; and provide a balanced approach to land use between the built and natural environment.” — Cooper Hewitt
Installation view of “By the People: Designing a Better America.” Photo: Matt Flynn © Smithsonian Institution
Installation view of “By the People: Designing a Better America.” Photo: Matt Flynn © Smithsonian Institution
Installation view of “By the People: Designing a Better America.” Photo: Matt Flynn © Smithsonian Institution
Installation view of “By the People: Designing a Better America.” Photo: Matt Flynn © Smithsonian Institution
Installation view of “By the People: Designing a Better America.” Photo: Matt Flynn © Smithsonian Institution
Installation view of “By the People: Designing a Better America.” Photo: Matt Flynn © Smithsonian Institution
Building Dignity. Mahlum and Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Washington state, 2012-present. Photo: Keelyn Turgeon
Cross-Border Community Station. Estudio Teddy Cruz + Forman & UCSD. Cross-Border Initiative, 2015-present. Photo: Estudio Teddy Cruz + Forman (Rene Jaime Torrero)
Harlem Hospital Pavilion. Façade. HOK and Studio JTA, Harlem, New York, New York, 2005-12. Photo: © Paul Warchol
Underpass Park. PFS Studio and The Planning Partnership West Don Lands neighborhood, Toronto, Canada, 2007-14. Photo courtesy of Waterfront Toronto, artwork by Paul Raff, “Mirage,” 2012
LaSalle Cultural Corridor. Tulane University and Louisiana State University with Tulane City Center, Mardi Gras Indian Council, New Orleans Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs, LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture, and Harmony Neighborhood Development, Central City, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2014-present. Photo: Courtesy New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Council
Las Abuelitas Kinship housing. Poster Frost Mirto and The Design Element with Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, South Tucson, Arizona, 2012-13. Photo: © Poster Frost Mirto, Inc.
Open House. Matthew Mazzotta, York, AL, 2011-13. Photo: Shana Berger/Coleman Center for the Arts
Public Access 101: Downtown L.A. Los Angeles Urban Rangers Los Angeles, California, 2010-present. Photo: © Los Angeles Urban Rangers
RAPIDO rapid recovery housing. bcWORKSHOP, Community Development Corporation of Brownsville, ARISE, La Unión Del Pueblo Entero, Texas A&M University, Texas Low Income Housing Information Service, with twenty Lower Rio Grande Valley families. Cameron, Hidalgo, Willacy counties, Texas, 2013–15. Photo: © buildingcommunity WORKSHOP
Raleigh Denim Workshop. Victor Lytvinenko and Sarah Yarborough, Raleigh, North Carolina, 2007-present. Photo: Rob Howard
Rebel Nell Jewelry. Amy Peterson and Diana Russell, Detroit, Michigan, 2013-present. Photo: © Rebel Nell
Fresh Moves Mobile Market. Fresh Moves 2.0: Hammersley Architecture, Growing Power and Tyrue Jones. Fresh Moves 1.0: Architecture for Humanity Chicago, Latent Design and EPIC, Chicago, Illinois, 2009–present. Photo: © Smithsonian Institution
Images courtesy Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
You must be logged in to post a comment.