The Triangle

Issue date: 4/10/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Sarah Michelson

Neither fire nor rain could squash the resolve of students participating in Urban Oasis, Drexel's Second Annual Design Charrette. After a fire alarm threatened to hinder the kick-off April 2, students were briefed in the Mandell Theater on what the citywide beautification project would entail.

At the helm of Urban Oasis are co-chairs Lauren Karwoski-Magee and Debra Ruben, representing Drexel's departments of architecture and interiors, respectively. Students spanning six different colleges within Drexel gathered at Mandell where they were presented with the challenge of designing their own urban oasis for a specific public area currently derelict - a place of summer retreat built from inexpensive, eco-friendly materials. Ten teams comprised of five to six students each were organized and given their areas to overhaul; sites ranging from Mantua to parts of South Philadelphia and others up closer to the Zoo.

From there on out, the past weekend was one of immense self sacrifice for the volunteers involved. Students immediately went to work scouting out each area before drawing up plans and building models to accompany their ideas. The objective was to construct welcoming settings which could be taken down at the close of summer to prevent deterioration. These temporary attractions could include but were not limited to public art displays, performance spaces, urban beaches, playgrounds, shady areas for lounging or just general landscaping transformation.

"The Charrette offered an intimidating challenge that almost stopped me from signing up. But I am so glad I did it, because the experience was priceless. I met so many talented students. It was a collaborative effort from everyone involved in it, faculty and students alike," Elizabeth Reynolds, a junior entertainment and arts management major, said during a gathering held April 6 where the teams presented their ideas to the public and a handful of invited guests from the architectural and civil service communities.

"We have some invited professionals. We have some faculty on the review and the students, you know, they're exhausted but they did a lot of really great work," Urban Oasis co-chair Karwoski-Magee said.

These professionals moved from team to team critiquing and asking questions about each individual plot throughout the night. Ideas were certainly innovative and practical, with plans and models surprisingly extensive, given the weekend span of time to prepare.

Continued...

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