BEWell Parklet
What is BEWell?
Framing Commons
In partnership with the Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center and UCLA Transportation, BEWell supports small-scale spatial demonstrations with long-term goals to improve well-being, foster inclusivity, and encourage social engagement through just environmental transformation.
The mission of the BEWell Pod is to examine and address the ways in which UCLA’s built environment and surrounding areas impact the lived experiences of the campus community, with the goal of promoting a healthier and happier campus.
Year: 2023- Present
BEWell Blog
Site-Visiting / Medical Plaza Driveway at UCLA / Los Angeles, California
January 23, 2024 / Dana Cuff, Yang Yang, Alexa Vaughn, Kay Wright
In January, cityLAB facilitated a site visit for a long and narrow site on the Medical Campus - to explore the siting and spatial requirements of a new healthy-campus parklet at UCLA. Based on the desired qualities described in the last pod conversation - aesthetically driven, flexible, accessible, inclusive, casual, safe, 24-hour access, facilitates interaction - participants discussed precedent micro-urbanism driven around the following design dimensions: physical, mental, social, educational, infrastructural. What is considered more, or less successful based on the constraints of this site? What are the material parameters that need to be reckoned with?
What is the Desired Space? / Perloff Hall / Los Angeles, California
November 28, 2023 / Dana Cuff, Yang Yang, Kay Wright
Credits
Dr. Dana Cuff, David Karwaski, Dr. Yang Yang, Alexa Vaughn, Kay Wright
Links
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At a second meeting in late November, participants discussed the purpose of the work: why are we designing these spaces? What are the desired functions and spatial qualities? Participants voiced their interest in creating flexible, inclusive environments that include shade and seating, while also emphasizing customization, illumination, and inspiring social interaction. These ideas will be used as the starting point for project development, and the participatory process will continue throughout all design phases.
Building First Base / BruinHub at the John Wooden Center / Los Angeles, California
October 24, 2023 / Dana Cuff, Yang Yang, Kay Wright
In October, BEWell organized its first workshop where students and campus representatives were invited to consider three potential spatial demonstrations: Parklets, Holistic Health Housing, and Public Art for Student Narratives. The first “pod” pilots a series of conversations to include students, staff, urban designers, and stakeholders to understand the parameters of the project and study the potential of reimagining program through small, micro-urban interventions on the UCLA campus.