MODULAR INFRASTRUCTURE
For every design project we take on, FANTÁSTICA develops holistic interventions that incorporate and enhance an area’s own unique assets and character, while also considering the practical realities of implementation. As such, we specialize in modular “toolkits” that allow the greatest flexibility to adapt them within today’s ever-changing urban spaces.
Some of our activations utilize a full suite of tools, while others may deploy just one element, such as a Street Seat or bike parking pod.
STREET SEATS
The “Street Seats” program is part of the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) Plaza Program to transform underutilized streets into vibrant public spaces, on a scale that can be easily replicated throughout the five boroughs. Our design for mobile Street Seats – now the NYC DOT standard – can be deployed in an area as small as one or two parking spaces, and is built to be easily assembled and disassembled for seasonal use.
JERSEY BARRIER SERIES
The designs we create are part of a philosophy that repurposes utilitarian objects and incorporates them into modular solutions for urban space. The common Jersey barrier can provide a cost-effective and functional base upon which to layer modular elements, while still maintaining the movable nature critical for public space maintenance. The barriers can be customized and elevated to reinforce branding priorities in a variety of ways: incorporating public art, for instance, or adding branding and signage opportunities to enhance wayfinding or generate sponsorship opportunities.
BIKE PARKING PODS
Cycling is one of the fastest growing modes of transportation in the United States, yet secure bike parking infrastructure remains non-existent. To address this challenge, our principal J. Manuel Mansylla partnered with Brooklyn entrepreneur, Shabazz Stuart, to develop the Oonee, a modular self-operating storage pod that provides secure bicycle parking, charging stations, free WiFi, and other public space amenities.