Activating Vacancy

Activating Vacancy is an art and public interest design initiative in the Tenth Street Historic District of Dallas. Residents alongside artists and designers will investigate, strengthen, and share this community’s unique history; engage in the development of a physical and social framework for cultural activities; and plan for the renewal and growth of the neighborhood. Collaborations including installations, performances, or other artistic actions will explore the cultural, social, political and economic life of this historic neighborhood. The Initiative begins Fall 2013 and is produced and curated by the bcWORKSHOP in partnership with the Dallas CityDesign Studio.

 

Disaster Recovery Round 2

As a part of Round 2 of the City of Houston’s Disaster Recovery Program (DR2), the design team, led by bcWORKSHOP and supported by Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, Unabridged Architecture, and the University of Houston Community Design Resource Center, is working to deliver single family infill home designs. These designs will be used in constructing homes across the six CRA & Outreach Areas. The team is committed to delivering high-quality cost-effective sustainable designs that respect the communities interests and character while offering individual homeowner choice. In order to achieve this, the design team has developed an engagement process involving neighborhood residents, community leaders, and local design architects.

 

Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres

Little Free Libraries/Libros Libres is a literacy and community design initiative in Dallas that uses free book exchanges to build community and promote a culture of reading. Part of the Little Free Library movement, these small neighborhood book shelters operate under the guiding principle of “take a book, leave a book.” All libraries are publicly accessible and books are free. Residents and organizations in South Dallas/Fair Park and West Dallas are working alongside local designers to plan, design, build, and sustain Little Free Libraries, creating new outlets for accessing books that reflect their neighborhoods. Nearly 20 libraries are being built through this process, each one a unique, context-specific design completed in collaboration with neighbors and cared for by a community steward. 

 

Out of Deepwood

Out of Deepwood is the first Dallas Neighborhood Stories film of its scale. A 23 minute documentary short, the film focuses on the toxic and illegal Deepwood dump in southeast Dallas, the precedent-setting environmental law case Cox v City of Dallas Texas, and the neighborhood's fight for justice. Check out the website to watch the trailer, keep up to date on upcoming screenings and events, view high-resolution images, and make use of additional resources around the Deepwood saga.