Beed up
The goal of this project was to create a multi-dimensional, valuable addition to Madison Square Park. In doing so, I created a seating area for the Shake Shack restaurant. After conducting surveys, I found that many people found this area to be poorly constructed, with flimsy chairs and the messy gravel.
Inspired by a bee habitat on the east side of the park, the new seating area for Shake Shack mimics beehives through hexagonal forms, natural colors, and hive-like clustered seating arrangements. The intention of the space was to be a subtle reminder of the importance of bees in our ecosystem and their declining presence rather than to overwhelm visitors with yellow colors or literal bee references.
The concrete and wood hexagonal seating extends seamlessly from the ground and alludes to how integral bees are to our ecosystem. Tall hexagonal solar panels provide shade for visitors in the summer and energy to the string lights and phone charging stations in the park.
