Placemaking: Enhancing downtown Washington, D.C. with greenery and community spaces
Nestled in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C., the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District is a vibrant urban district near the White House and National Mall, and the first of its type to become LEED-certified – a green building rating system. It primarily consists of commercial offices and retail spaces, with limited residential areas.
Creating a welcoming neighbourhood
The goal of the project was to establish a warm and inviting neighbourhood atmosphere that would accommodate future residential developments. To realise this vision, there were two main challenges to address: congested pavements that hindered social gatherings and dining experiences, and the need to introduce greenery to an urban environment dominated by pavement.
Collaboration between urban designers from the Livable City Group and stakeholders at the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) led to a practical solution – Vestre's PARKLETS 2.0. The furniture series covered all their needs and wants. A turnkey parklet system that is easy to deploy and move, designed to endure for generations. The customisable dimensions and a palette of 200 RAL colours for powder-coating were particularly appealing.
A space for dining, relaxation and outdoor enjoyment
The transformation reclaimed space from redundant travel lanes and reconfigured the streets, extending the pavements with urban flooring from our PARKLETS 2.0 series. To meet local Department of Transportation regulations, the parklet's width was adjusted to ensure it didn't encroach on vital travel lanes. This included resizing benches and railings to fit the narrower space.
The parklet was furnished with vibrant pink and yellow seating from our APRIL, APRIL GO, and CODE series. Large CODE planters were strategically placed, adding a touch of greenery without compromising the road's drainage system. The result? A lively space that fosters a sense of community, where people can dine, relax and enjoy the outdoors together. It's a colourful and welcoming meeting place amidst the urban landscape of downtown Washington, D.C.
“The GLDN+ Parklets offer beautiful and interesting spaces for people to gather outdoors and linger in downtown Washington, D.C. As the first business improvement district in the world to be named a LEED-certified community, the Golden Triangle BID selected Vestre for their sustainable materials and fabrication process, and their ability to produce colourful, durable and versatile modules, enabling us to offer more seating and verdant landscaping for our community,” says Leona Agouridis, Executive Director of the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District in Washington, D.C.
Year of completion: 2023
Designer: Livable City Group
