Fishmobile Teaches New Yorkers to Cast
Jun 22nd, 2008 by Jervey
Urban Studio Brooklyn (USBK), a project of Habana Works, has a very cool project going on this summer.
WHAT:
In 2008, Urban Studio Brooklyn will partner with the Lower East Side Ecology Center and pedicab designer George Bliss to design and build a one-of-a-kind mobile wetlab and fishing clinic: The Fishmobile. The human-powered vehicle/spectacle will be built by student participants working alongside seasoned design professionals and will be used to deliver environmental education programs in waterfront parks and informal open spaces. Applications for student participants will be accepted beginning April 22 — Earth Day. A benefit and open house will be hosted by Habana Outpost on June 5th, followed by the main event – the design/build workshop June 15-28, and the launch of the final project on July 5th. Let’s get to work!WHO:
Students of industrial design, architecture or planning are invited to apply. Professionals practicing in these fields as well as those experienced in bicycle mechanics, perpetual motion, alternative transportation, fishing and estuary science are invited to participate. All are invited to support us at the benefit and launch events!WHY:
To have fun and support local progressive design and environmental education! For more information about USBK and our past projects check this out.WHEN/WHERE:
*Student applications accepted starting April 22, 2008 contact kate@ecoeatery.com
*USBK Benefit and Open House – Thursday, June 18, 2008 6-8pm at Habana Outpost (757 Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217)
*USBK Design/Build Workshop (the main event) – June 15 to June 28, Location TBD
*Fishmobile Launch – Saturday, July 5, 2008 @ 2pm, Habana Outpost to the Lower East Side Ecology Center
A slideshow of their visit to the NYS Dept. of Conservation’s “I Fish NY” program here. More about USBK after the jump. Urban Studio Brooklyn (USBK - external site here) provides architecture and design students with design/build experience in an engaging and collaborative atmosphere. Taking inspiration from the success and community minded values of Samuel Mockbee’s Rural Studio, USBK projects offer students an opportunity to transform environmentally-minded design into fully realized physical structures within the challenging pragmatic constraints of New York City’s urban context.
In 2006, USBK created a rainwater collection system, which harvests the rainwater that spills from the solar panels at Habana Outpost. The water is collected in a rain barrel where it can then be used to water the garden.
In 2007, USBK designed a way to use rainwater and greywater to flush the toilets at Habana Outpost. The reclaimed water is collected from two sources: rainwater from the roof and a “greywater sink” in the bathroom. The rainwater form the roof is filtered and collected in a large tank before it is re-routed to the toilets. In the bathroom, a “greywater sink” makes use of hand washing water. When you wash your hands, the water is then filtered by a series of plants before it is re-routed back to the toilet tank.
In 2008, USBK will be designing for its first client outside of the Habana family, the Lower East Side Ecology Center. The project this year is to create a “Fishmobile” a human-powered mobile fishing clinic and wetlab that will deliver environmental