The concept of a playful outdoor dining space celebrating food-on-the-go has been awarded top spot in the City of Surrey’s PARKit Design Challenge. The selected entry, entitled “Take-Out,” was submitted by a collaborative team of Matthew Thomson, Erika Mashig, Nathan Lee, Trevor Coghill and Fricia Construction, who will receive $12,000 to fabricate and install the pop-up park this summer.
The PARKit Design Challenge was a public call for the design and installation of a summertime pop-up park located adjacent to Surrey Central SkyTrain station, in the North Surrey Recreation Centre parking lot. Individuals and groups were invited to submit their ideas for a creative sustainable outdoor public space capable of supporting mobile food vendors.
The arrangement of the benches and stools at the perimeter of the banquet style table will be spaced such that the table surface is accessible to scooters, strollers and wheelchairs,” say the designers. “Since the installation is temporary, “Take-Out” is designed as a simple kit of parts for ease of constructing, deconstructing, transporting and storing.
“Our goal is to design and build an inviting installation that transforms a lackluster space into an attractive outdoor lounge spot. Take-Out may also encourage passerbys to spontaneously interact with a stranger or, conversely, offer a solitary place to read a book, eat lunch or simply relax.”
“The evolution of the PARKit program demonstrates the growing vitality of City Centre and the appetite for more creative public spaces,” says Mayor Dianne Watts.
“This area has become an important pedestrian hub, linking SFU Surrey and Central City Mall with the SkyTrain station and North Surrey Recreation Centre. The pop-up park is going to be a fun place to be over the summer.”
“Initiatives like PARKit create opportunities for residents to connect and engage in Surrey’s public spaces,” says Coun. Linda Hepner, chair of the Parks, Recreation and Sports Tourism Committee. “Such opportunities help to build and strengthen our community.”
The concept of “Take-Out” is inspired by the simple origami form of a white take-out food container. These iconic boxes will be represented in planters, table posts, and eat-in counters to create a unique, engaging and universal social space that supports meeting, relaxing and outdoor dining.
PARKit Design Challenge entries were judged by an interdisciplinary city of Surrey staff committee. Entries were reviewed based on a range of criteria, including aesthetics, creativity, safety, accessibility, sustainability and maintenance.
An honorarium of $500 of will be awarded to the Challenge’s first runner-up “Spice Market,” by Amy Tsang, Carlos Guerrero, Lehran Hache and Bryce Gauthier, and $250 to second runner-up “Urban Funk,” by Dah-Wea Yan and Grace Lee.
The city will retain the rights to the runner-up designs.
The site is expected to be installed by mid-July, and will remain open through August. The site will be available for mobile food vendors through the summer – interested vendors are requested to contact the city for consideration.
Full bios and are available at www.surrey.ca/parkit
