THE COMPETITION

The past few years have seen an exciting rise in the fascination with robotics. Simultaneously, the ability to develop and build robots capable of complex and experimental applications has become easier and more accessible to the general public. From hardware like Arduino to open source programming like Processing, there now exist inexpensive and even free ways to dabble with robotics. An amazing amount of resources and exchange points on the Internet also exist to answer questions and develop new ideas. In Brooklyn, groups have begun regular meet ups in makeshift spaces to talk about their robots and gain insight from others and the challenges they face.
The Robot Workshop will be a place people can come to work on their projects, utilizing shop facilities while simultaneously interacting with fellow robot enthusiasts. The Workshop should be a place for the exchange of ideas and for harnessing the collective intelligence of designers and builders. There will be several types of experimentation spaces, from communal studios to private labs. Teaching spaces will allow for workshops and community activities, including classes for children. A large area will also be devoted to storing a stockpile of parts for purchase and use on site. The Workshop will also serve as a social gathering place within the neighborhood through a storefront gallery and bar.

THE SITE

The site is an open lot in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn. The neighborhood is situated between the gentrified zones of Fort Greene, Pratt Institute, and the rapidly developing neighborhood of Bed-Stuy. Also nearby is the mixed-use commercial and residential development at the Atlantic Yards. Clinton Hill is in the midst of a population influx and rapid commercial and residential growth. The lot is on a street that has added several key restaurants and shops to the neighborhood in the past years; these include Choice Greene, Salva Vida, Pilar, and Speedy Romero. The neighborhood’s adjacency to the Pratt Institute—the school boasts strong arts, engineering, and architecture departments—and its growing number of residential units has made it attractive to students. The neighborhood is also full of creative artists and young professionals. This is a dynamic, fast-growing population that would be interested in engaging in the activities of the center and frequenting the much needed neighborhood social space.

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