Interface Studio is thrilled to announce that its team’s entry for the Living City Challenge international design competition has received a distinction award. The competition entry, Patch\Work, envisioned an incremental approach to establishing green infrastructure, improved transit connections, efficient energy systems, and green infill development and rowhouse retrofits, among other transformative sustainable neighborhood amenities, in the neighborhoods of Brewerytown and Sharswood in North Philadelphia. The concept was a dual-approach neighborhood revitalization strategy: gradually phase-in sustainable design principles and technologies while simultaneously leveraging grassroots community participation to strengthen and revalue these disadvantaged neighborhoods.
The competition jury established five new award categories to recognize specific aspects of the work submitted. Patch\Work was recognized with the “Cities that Learn” award, with the jury commenting that the entry “acknowledged cultural realities and explored how social equity might lead to ecologically restored cities.” Interface was honored to have been a part of a dynamic and inspiring team; OLIN led the hometown Philadelphia team effort, which also included the forward-thinking design strategies of Interface’s hallway neighbors, DIGSAU.
