Los Vecinos
1501 Broadway Chula Vista CA map
2009
A LEED Certified complex that also has over 200 art elements, some in view for the public and some in each apartment. I made demonstration pieces like; two kinetic solar powered sculptures, a cistern that waters a bio fuel plant, and many ways to recycle. There is an educational component for the after school, Art Verde program, where I wrote the curriculum and made interactive pieces to base young art from. Wakeland Development, Carlos Rodriguez Architecture, Ivy Landscape, Wermers Construction.
The front wall displays recyclable cans as a decorative accent. Specialized frames that can open and the art can be replaces with current Arte Verde after school art projects. One is for the culinary arts. There is a bike rack made of old bikes welded together. A sculpture that includes two birdhouses and a feeding tray. A small greenhouse and instructions on how to start seeds as it encourage entrepreneurial ideas, like selling seedlings at the farmers market. A microscopic rendition of fly ash is on a concrete bench made wit fly ash. Triangular waist tall sculptures encoring exercise and taking in nature. These are out front and through out the grounds. The trash enclosure has art embedded into the wall and was actually the cover of a trash business magazine. Each apartment has one cabinet knob that is eccentrically unique. The entryway has a glass mosaic form as a flower holder.
Two kinetic art pieces incorporating solar power on the ground floor and the top floor.
A cistern collects rainwater from the roof. There is a tank within, which is stainless steel and repurposed. Water runs out to a Switch Grass plant, which is being studied to produce ethanol.
The front area of Los Vecinos has a number plaques and sculptures that encourage movement.
A wall made of recycled cans is decorative and inspiring
A bicycle rack made of welded together bikes and powder coated. Colored tassels blow in the wind.
A bird feeder.
Each apartment has one cabinet, up high that has its own unique handle. I thought it would be interesting for neighbors to notice each other's knobs.
Inside on the common corridors, you will find a series of frames that have a sliding place to add drawings, poems and recipes.
The trash enclosure had special doors, decorated with recycled materials. Also the top row of cinderblock has cut to size glass bottles with the idea of passing notes or encouraging bird nests.
If you looked through a microscope at Fly Ash, it would look like this.
Fly Ash is a byproduct and can be added to concrete (which is very polluting) as a filler. The bench that this plaque is on has fly flash.
I am so honored that my trash/recycle structure made it to the front cover of a magazine.
The left side is a "Bagestry", a large scale weaving made of plastic grocery bags.