SHIFTBOSTON: BUILDING THE FUTURE

We have an unruly amount of nerds conjuring up the future here–extraordinary medical innovations, social networking sites that people secretly look at for half their workday, and, at least I’m hoping for soon, some type of robot that will be your best friend, hanging out and playing Call of Duty with you all day (yeah, my roommate of 7 years just left me to move to NYC).

All that forward thinking, though, is kind of out of place in this structurally historic city. The ghosts of Boston’s past could certainly tell us a story or two about its 300 some odd years of dusty old yesterdays–I mean, shit, a lot of them are probably haunting the same houses they lived in back then–but, we are a lucky few to be among a set of provocativists who want to change this, that are just ardently unwilling to settle on the past, accounting for what’s available today and looking with an even deeper, eccentric eye into the times ahead.

This week I stumbled across a group that completely comprehends the need for irregularity. A collective that thinks an hour ago is old news and every tomorrow will be a breakthrough–SHIFTboston. It’s a cooperative of ingenuity meant to inspire and intrigue the young minds of this city to think about and hurdle the boundaries of its current urban environment.

I caught up with them for a few questions on their latest design competition.

When I think SHIFTboston, I think of words like progressive, provocative and post-postmodern. In such an architecturally classic American city, don’t you feel a bit out of place?
Yes we certainly do, but that’s the point. We aren’t here to fit in. We are here to introduce a new flavor to the mix. Instead of why, we want a city that say, why not? We are gathering and exploring new ideas–ones which are exciting and environmentally responsible to transform Boston into a new, more dynamic city. We’re presenting fun and liberating challenges which ask designers and visionaries alike to share their ideas for the city. Kind of giving you the opportunity to share what you want to see in the city and, if we can, we will make it happen.

What kind of new and dynamic stuff, exactly, is it that people you’re finding people want?
So far our participants have indicated that they want to see clean energy, urban adventure, fun, more flora and fauna and there seems to be a desire for growing one’s own vegetables right here on the RFK Greenway. Over the next few years, we will be organizing competitions with a focus on developing an element which embodies each of these items to be implemented in the City of Boston–particularly fun ones–and we’re starting with the barge.

What’s your reasoning behind the 2011 BARGE Design Competition?
To give those who want to create a stage on which to do it, and what a perfect stage? A floating playground in an area that our city has kindly designated as Boston’s new center for recreation. We have been looking at the creative reuses of existing barges. We see them being used in other cities. Paris has a beach barge on it’s seine river, a lounge with sand. Copenhagen and Berlin have a floating pool.

Submissions should include aspects of physics, mechanics, architecture, alternative energy, and a bunch of other things I don’t understand–do you expect people to work together?
We expect teamwork here. The winners will get to build their work so the more people on board the easier that part will be. We want people to design something which does not need to be plugged in–therefore not putting added stress on our mother earth. We would like people to use available resources such as the solar and kinetic energy in order to generate energy and perhaps movement. Anyone can come up with an idea. It doesn’t take an engineer or scientist.

Of all places in the city, why the Fort Point Channel area?
Because the Boston Redevelopment Authorities fabulous watersheet activation plan and designation as Boston’s new Center for recreation. But also because we love Danielle Pillion and Friends of Fort Point Channel. Danielle is an active supporter of the local arts community and the local people with good ideas. She has established the most fantastic farmers markets and festivals–she is young, energetic, ambitious and is helping to build upon all of the wonderful resources in the channel.

In terms of forward-looking, interdisciplinary design, what have you learned from the previous competitions you’ve held?
Anything is possible. The young creative people who have been participating need and want new opportunities, they desire change, they want to contribute and they are thinking big. They desire sustainability with more fun and new technology. Making the city a much cooler place to be is hot and concern with the latest sneaker is not.

What do you mean?
Instead of focusing on the latest pair of jeans or handbag and getting trapped by the Daily Candy deadly dose, why not free your mind and get involved and share your ideas for Boston? Take a look at our website and see what other people are thinking the city needs. Have you ever thought about taking a free-fall ride in the slot of the John Hancock tower? Ever heard of urban parasites? An ocean organ or a flying sauna? Have a look at our blog and see what cool things are going on in other cities around the world.

Submit your idea for the BARGE 2011 Design Competition and/or join them for the event at the ICA on Wednesday, March 23rd, to see all of the wild ideas together.