The Hangout focuses on using sight, sound, and touch to spark creativity, exploration, and free-choice learning into a once underutilized space. The Hangout is located in the Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans a lower income community that is still struggling to get back on its feet since hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. The project was funded by the KaBOOM! Play Everywhere Challenge Grant. The concept was to create a play space at a location that was used by the community on a daily basis to spark community activity and social interaction through open-ended play. When working with local community organizations to develop this project we were pointed to Burnell Cotlon a local business owner and community leader that created the first grocery store, laundry mat, and barber shop within the community post Katrina. He had an empty concrete lot next to his building that was the local kids bus stop in the morning that we worked with the community to design into an engaging communal space. The playable environment uses touch sensor technology to trigger sounds when one touches the tops of the cylinders. At night the installation illuminates the block with sequenced lighting that changed based off ones touch. Allowing the community to manipulate the space and make it heir own. It was designed with the community to represent their neighborhood and inspire the future.
