Urban-Suburban Mediations_TM

Urban-Suburban Mediations™ develops ideas and interventions for our urban, suburban, and rural areas. Projects have included:

Schemes for a unique business park. Developed concepts in 2001 for the environmental and land-use group, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin in Madison, WI, to demonstrate possibilities for their New Urbanist Business Park. This mixed-use park includes typical office or manufacturing tenants but also residential and retail tenants.

More permeable paving for a parking lot. Developed a two-page report in 2002 for a neighborhood group in Madison, WI. The report reviewed the viability of converting a portion of a parking lot at a shopping mall into permeable paving. This would lessen the effects of algae growth in a nearby lake from the overflow entering the storm system by slowing the run-off via new paving. The report also reviewed whether the reconstruction investment could be recouped by the mall owner in a reasonable time via the lower taxes for permeable versus impermeable paving.

Pockets for People -- Local ideas guided by local talents This short proposal is a follow-up to the testimony made by Mr. Kevin Korpela, Architect & Applied Artist, to the 400 Block Committee at the November 14, 2005, public hearing. The Committee was appointed by the Mayor of the City of Wausau to review and make a recommendation to the City Council for the future development of a downtown gathering space.

Downtown Grocery.com™ Co-found an idea to start-up a grocery store with a local farmer in 2006 to help grow the local food and farm economy. The store is called: "Downtown Grocery - Local Organic Grocery Store & Deli and an Everyday Farm Market." Tasks included: develop the business plan, organize store operations, and renovate an historic storefront located on "Main Street" in Downtown Wausau, Wisconsin, to hold this new grocery store concept.

Useful Sculpture Design Competition. Organize a series of competitions to design useful sculptures. One example would be a Chess Table Design Competition. This sculpture would seat groups of two people that would be able to play a game of regular chess on tables integrated into the sculpture. The competitions are focused towards engaging students, youth and children in understanding and adapting their civic realm through friendly and worthwhile design excercises organized by local professionals and community leaders.

© Kevin Korpela, www.observatorydrive.com™