This project came out of a design studio I took in my junior year at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The focus of this design studio was on collaboration, whether that meant with classmates, the Troy community, other businesses, etc. Being given such a broad framework to design in, we were given the freedom to interpret that direction for ourselves. I personally took this as a chance to learn how to better the community where I’m currently living, Troy. Thinking about the ecosystems and dynamics of the people in the Troy community and how the two interact, it's incredibly diverse. One of the core focuses of this studio was to understand and “better design the “ecosystem” or “constellation” of core elements and functions in the design of a system and, crucially, the dynamic relationships between these elements and functions”. This is the skillset I ended up working on and developing over the course of this semester.

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Through my understanding of the area, I know the Troy Farmers Market is an incredibly popular weekend activity during the warmer months that draws a lot of the community out. I decided something physical for “youth” to interact and engage with, would be an interesting direction to go in. I eventually brought in the idea to make it an educational resource, which slightly changed the direction. With Troy being on the Hudson river, I thought why not try to teach youth about the important ecosystem right in front of them and the impact that we directly have on that. I started to transition to plants and then came to the idea of a planter, that is controlled by one group, yet on display in a local park for everyone to see. I created the EcoBox, an educational series for the Troy community. 

 

The EcoBox has a few unique details. There are multiple air holes on every window to allow for proper ventilation, drainage holes and plastic lining on the bottom, clear transparent windows for viewing, and a removable lid. The box will be filled with potting soil and the plants will be able to be switched each season and exposed to the varying climates each season brings. 

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To learn more about this project and the design process, click on the PDF symbol above to view the design report.