Mourning Small Spaces

Abstract

Urban areas have been experiencing rapid change and growth for many years now. The city of Seattle is not an exception to this trend and its current population boom has seen many neighborhoods rapidly become more dense. While there are many good things that come with urban growth, there are casualties as well­—rapid growth can cause disruptions to local businesses as well as re-shape public spaces. While many gather to mourn (or rally to save) local landmarks that are affected by this change, these gatherings are not always extended to smaller, private spaces. However, these smaller spaces add up to whole neighborhoods that begin to look very different once demolition and building cycles take place. This project examines the rapid development in two neighborhoods of Seattle— southwest Capitol Hill and north Beacon Hill—and provides a platform for resident input in regards to the way neighborhoods’ small spaces are changing. This temporary platform asks residents to engage with the loss of small spaces by mourning them—or asking them to contemplate the changes through a situational futuristic experience and by documenting through both visual and written means the aspects of these spaces they will miss. Making this platform a place where submissions are shared ensures that these mourning exercises aren’t solitary and that residents create collective knowledge with their input.