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September 30, 2002
UNM ARCHITECTURE PROFESSOR WINS INTERNATIONAL AWARD
Tim Castillo, assistant professor in the University of New Mexico's School
of Architecture and Planning, was recently notified that his work has
been selected for an international exhibition and inclusion in a forthcoming
book.
His submission, PARK(ING), received an honorable mention by groupe e2's
"e2-contest," an international competition open to young architects
and students in architecture, landscape and urban design all over the
world.
groupe e2, a Paris based organization interested in critical architecture
research, is significant in the European architectural realm.
Castillo's project is in response to an urban "glitch," specifically,
parking in urban strip malls. "Parking lots at strip malls, and other
in-between urban spaces such as alleys and spaces under bridges are frequently
overlooked by architects. In my project, PARK(ING), I look critically
at the blacktop surface as unused space. I looked to reprogram it. I found
technology available that would allow grass to be grown on the blacktop
that is sustainable with cars parking on it," says Castillo.
He says that he was interested in pursuing this project because of an
interest in drive thru culture in the Western United States. "We
like drive thru pharmacies, fast food and dry cleaners," he says.
His idea would be to provide many of the same services of the strip mall
online with goods and services available for pick up at a drive up window.
"That doesn't mean that parking wouldn't be needed. I conceptualize
parking on top of the strip mall with entrance to the shops from above.
Then, the space taken up by the traditional parking lot could be converted
to baseball, football or skateboard parks. It's then both 'park' and 'parking'
because it could still be used by cars when necessary," he says.
Individuals submitting work were told to observe and interpret the signs,
give form to their feelings and anticipate responses, and:
*Choose an in between zone of a town or a city
*Carry out a reading of the town with regard to the in between zone
*Conceive an approach to the in between that will have an impact on the
urban scale to the town
*Create a project that illustrates your approach
Although urban spaces are being transformed into more pedestrian friendly
spaces, Castillo says, "We're not getting rid of our cars in the
near future. We need space to accommodate cars, and other spaces for pedestrians."
Castillo is pleased with the award. "It is significant to me in that
it is my first international award. It is fulfilling because I was able
to address something very interesting to me," he says.
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