WHAT WE ARE DOING

WHY WE ARE DOING IT

Sketching city elements

To start creating a bank of potential features to include in your plot of the chain reaction city

ACTIVITY PROMPT

We are going to explore the parts that will make up our Chain Reaction City.

What are the elements that make up a city?

1. Pathways + methods of transportation (subway tunnels, roadways, pedestrian paths)
2. Infrastructural systems (electricity distribution, water systems)
3. Buildings (residential, commercial, landmarks)
4. Natural topographical features (mountains, coastlines)
5. Green spaces (parks, beaches)

Any others?

Step 1: CITY WALK

Let's go out in the city! Take a 20 minute walk through the surround urban landscape. Each person or pair should choose one city element (from the last slide + any you added) to pay close attention to.

Bring a printed out map of the area with a layer of tracing paper on top of it, and as you go, mark on the map things that you notice about your focus element.

Welcome to Central Square!

Graffiti Alley

NuVu

MIT

Harvard

Park with the crazy swing

Elementary school

Charter School

Step 2: MAP COMPILATION

Back in studio, let's compile the information we found. Either on a light board or digitally, use the base map and layer all of the tracing paper markings and notes.

1. What information can you understand about the city with this compiled map that adds to your understanding of its design?

1. What did you find out from the map that wasn't obvious from just walking through the area?

Step 3: SKETCHING IDEAS

For each of the following themes, sketch at least two elements from the list (more points for more elements!):

1. Naturalia/ Plant City
2. Alphabet City
3. Pet Metropolis

Spend 5 minutes on each theme-- these should be quick and generative sketches!

ACTIVITY MATERIALS

CHOOSE THE CITY THEME

؜As a whole group, you are going to construct one invented city, with each group working on a city plot with a series of chain reactions within it. All of these plot will fall under a general theme. Together, discuss possible themes and decide on one to work within.

Example themes might look like the ones we used for sketching prompts in this exercise (Plant City, Alphabet City, Pet Metropolis). They should be general enough that each group has creative freedom, but narrow enough that in the end all of the plots will come together to look like one cohesive cityscape.