View of Holding Pattern installation in MoMA PS1 courtyard. Summer 2011. Photo by Interboro Partners
We thought it might be a good time to check in on Holding Pattern, our project for the 2011 Young Architects Program. Holding Pattern was deinstalled from the MoMA PS1 courtyard four months ago, but the deinstallation didn’t mark the end of the project—just the start of its second phase. Holding Pattern was about recycling. To avoid designing and building things that we would have to throw away when the Warm Up music series was over, we took pains to ensure that all of the project’s components would have a home when the project was deinstalled. To do this, we made matches between things institutions in the neighborhood needed and things that we thought could enhance the experience of the MoMA PS1 courtyard in the summer. We met with people, asked them what they needed, selected items we thought were a good match (these included everything from benches to climbing walls to shade trees), then designed and built (or in a few cases bought) the items for them with the understanding that they would be “held” at MoMA PS1 during the summer. When Holding Pattern was deinstalled this past fall, we delivered 79 objects and 84 trees to more than 50 organizations in Long Island City and beyond.
We recently went around the neighborhood to check in on the mirrors, climbing wall, lifeguard chair, trees, and other components of Holding Pattern in their new homes.
Here are a few samples:
From left to right: Spring 2011: Eric Ragan from the LIC School of Ballet needed mirrors for the school's expansion. Summer 2011: We bought mirrors for the school and "held" them in MoMA PS1's small courtyard, making a hall of mirrors. Fall 2011: The mirrors are released from their holding pattern and installed at the LIC School of Ballet. Photos by Interboro Partners
From left to right: Spring 2011: Cab drivers from Checker Management wanted a ping-pong table and chess table for this makeshift plaza that they hang out at while waiting for their shift to start. Summer 2011: The ping-ping table in a holding pattern at MoMA PS1. Fall 2011: The ping-pong table and chess table are released from their holding pattern and installed at Checker Management’s plaza. Photos by Interboro Partners
From left to right: Spring 2011: Seniors from Ravenswood Senior Center wanted some outdoor furniture for their courtyard. Summer 2011: We designed and built chaise lounges, benches, and stools, and “held” them in MoMA PS1’s courtyard. Fall 2011: The furniture is released from a holding pattern and installed in the Ravenswood Senior Center’s courtyard. Photos by Interboro Partners
From left to right: Spring 2011: Ossie Lo Verme wanted some trees for the green patch outside Teamsters Local 808. Summer 2011: New York Restoration Project donated sixty red oaks, which we held in a “Tree Room” in MoMA PS1’s courtyard. Fall 2011: With the help of New York Restoration Project, a tree is released from its holding pattern and planted at Teamsters Local 808. Photos by Interboro Partners
From left to right: Spring 2011: Kids from LIC Kids Daycare wanted a climbing wall! Summer 2011: We designed and built a climbing wall and “held” it in MoMA PS1’s courtyard. Fall 2011: The climbing wall is released from its holding pattern and installed at LIC Kids. Photos by Interboro Partners
From left to right: Spring 2011: Marc Christie wanted a chess table and some benches for the LIC Community Garden. Summer 2011: We designed and built a chess table and benches and “held” them in MoMA PS1’s courtyard. Fall 2011: The items are released from their holding pattern and installed in the Garden. Photos by Interboro Partners
From left to right: Spring 2011: Gardeners from Two Coves Community Garden wanted some benches for their Garden. Summer 2011: We designed and built benches and “held” them in MoMA PS1’s courtyard. Fall 2011: The items are released from their holding pattern and installed in the Garden. Photos by Interboro Partners
From left to right: Spring 2011: Terry Hughes from Variety Boys and Girls Club of Queens wanted a Lifeguard Chair for his new pool. Summer 2011: We designed and built a lifeguard chair and “held” it in MoMA PS1’s courtyard. Fall 2011: The lifeguard chair is released from its holding pattern and installed at the Variety Boys and Girls Club. Photos by Interboro Partners
From left to right: Spring 2011: Students from Jacob Riis Neighborhood Settlement wanted some games for their new rec room. Summer 2011: We bought a foosball table and "held" it in MoMA PS1's courtyard. Fall 2011: The foosball table is released from its holding pattern and installed at Jacob Riis. Photos by Interboro Partners
Check back with us here in the spring to see pictures of Holding Pattern’s 84 trees in bloom around Long Island City!
Purple Leaf plums from Holding Pattern being planted at Teamsters Local 808. Photo by Interboro Partners