How do you make public art fun and interactive for everyone?

We're making Art for Everyone at the North Vancouver Shipyards! Studio Meanwhile is bringing interactive fun to the shipyards with the help of Vancouver-based artist Pablo Zamudio in our latest City Pong table tennis table. Created in collaboration with the Lower Lonsdale Business Improvement District, this interactive piece of public furniture is meant to spark play, connection, and creativity in the heart of the Shipyards—adding a splash of colour and a fun new way for people to enjoy the space together.

Not your papa's ping pong table.
It's actually Pablo's.

Client

South Granville BIA

Year

2023

Contributors

Studio Meanwhile, City Blocks Urban Furniture, The WKNDRS

Location

1400 W 14th Ave & Granville St., Vancouver

The OPPORTUNITY

The South Granville BIA partnered with City Blocks to reimagine their neighbourhood plaza to further stretch the imagination of creative public space projects in the South Granville BIA. The design intention was to implement a safe space for cyclists and pedestrians to share the plaza and reduce the amount of cyclist and pedestrian traffic collision incidents.

The APPROACH

To achieve this, we brought forward the concept of an asphalt art mural, which would clearly delineate a pedestrian-friendly area and a cyclist bike lane. In July 2023, the South Granville BIA, The artists WKNDRS and City Blocks co-organized a community paint day to paint the plaza’s new asphalt art mural.

City Block's Pocket blocks have helped facilitate in making the plaza a popular spot along both cycling and pedestrian commuter's routes for rest and relaxation.

The site responds to the annual cadence of seasons, being able to shift between serving as a rest stop or brightening up with the warmer months to become a popular event space for the surrounding businesses.

Our loungers and pocket blocks have become iconic components of the South Granville Plaza experience, with people gathering, resting and relaxing there daily.

The Outcomes

This is Art for Everyone.

The WKNDRS are a creative artist and design duo—Rachel Rivera and Claire Ouchi—based in Vancouver.

‍They stand for community, connection, and creativity with the goal of fostering conversations that spread positivity through art and design.

As a multidisciplinary team, they specialize in creating interactive murals, immersive spaces, and experiential marketing campaigns. They love to push the boundaries of where art and design can thrive embodying the motto; everything is a canvas. The WKNDRS aim to connect the community and make art and design accessible while delivering impactful experiences for viewers.

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South Granville Neighbourhood Plaza

How do you make public art fun and interactive for everyone?