More than 150 architects, artists, and generally curious citizens poked and prodded – metaphorically anyway – three river barge displays and their design teams on Monday night. A jury will take a private tour of the space and miniature barge models Tuesday morning and select one team’s design that will be used to create the new fleet on the San Antonio River. It will be the first fresh barge design in more than 40 years.
The winner will be announced on Friday, April 1.
Representatives from Metalab, an architecture firm based in Houston; San Antonio-based Luna Architecture + Design and Lay Pitman & Associates of Neptune Beach, Fla.; and Austin architects and artists Sadi Brewton and Jonathan Davies were on hand at AIA San Antonio‘s Center for Architecture Gallery to explain the unique features of their designs.
San Antonio is a city that loves color, as reflected by each of the design submissions that depicted bright and colorful elements reminiscent of Fiesta. Attendees filled out comment cards that will be compiled and summarized in a report presented to the 11-person jury. From there, they will review the technical and artistic aspects of each team’s submission.
Between 40 and 50 barges will be purchased by the City. Requests for proposals for manufacturing and operations will be released this month. These new crafts could traversing the San Antonio River as soon as September 2017.
The contest, organized by the City of San Antonio and the local chapter of the American Institute of Architect (AIA San Antonio), called for a barge fleet that could offer experiences tailored for business and leisure visitors and locals who live, work, or play downtown. The contest parameters were broad in terms of aesthetics and design – the most strict element is the San Antonio River’s downtown topography with sharp turns and, at times, shallow waters.
Luna Architecture + Design and Lay Pitman & Associates
This design included the most “bells and whistles” of the three, according to several attendees. But that wasn’t to say it looked crowded or overdone. The mostly white design was accented with bright papel picado flag designs etched into glowing (internal LED) glass that lined the railing. The lights can be programmed for certain holidays or themed events. Other features included onboard wifi, a television screen, and a removable perforated canopy.
The screen could be used to display educational videos, history lessons, or even different company logos for employee or investor outings, said Adam Gill, Luna project manager and designer. “It could also be a sponsorship opportunity. It could be a revenue driver for the City which is a big thing for us because we come from a background in sports and entertainment.”
Luna Architecture worked on the design of Morgan’s Wonderland and Toyota Field.
Some guests baulked at the canopy – but Gill explained that while it’s not completely transparent, the shade’s design would allow passengers to see past it to the architecture and trees of the River Walk while largely shielding them from relentless summer sun – especially on the Museum Reach – and unexpected rainfall.
The stadium-style seats sit on tracks that can slide and rotate, allowing for easy movement between uses, said Gill, who is a native San Antonian. “The configurations are just about endless.”
Technically, the team of local and Floridian designers submitted two designs. One larger, tour and event-sized barge and one smaller, commuter barge that would be a faster, nimbler vessel for locals on the go.
“We lovingly call that one ‘The Gondola,’” Gill said.
Metalab
Joe Meppelink pointed to a drawing of puppies on a barge and smiles.
“I guarantee those puppies would be adopted by the end of the day,” he said.
Part of his company’s display included outlines of blank barges that guests could draw in. A crowd favorite was the idea to promote pet adoption.
Another use could be morning yoga classes, a “beach cruise” that fills the barge with sand, a play pen, seminars, or Meppelink’s favorite idea: a spin class.
“It would be hilarious to see people on bikes on the river,” the Metalab principal laughed. “And they could charge the batteries.” All of the barge designs include a small, electric motor.
Metalab is an architecture and product design company based out of Houston. Part of the design is also an homage to papel picado flags – but, said Metalab Principal Architect Andrew Vrana, this barge would allow for different paneling and designs to be changed out according to the season or celebration.
The seats and siding on this barge are completely movable (via screws in the chair and floor) and/or removable. The lights that shine at the bottom of the craft and onto the water’s surface are also color-changing and programmable. The design centers around flexibility of use and Meppelink’s programming suggestions aim to maximize each hour of the day with rental and promotional opportunities.
Their design also comes with a bluetooth and/or WiFi element, but they’re excited about introducing an Uber-esque app for the barge that lets people know when a boat is arriving and how long it will take to get them where they want to be.
Sadi Brewton and Jonathan Davies
Compared to the other designs, these Austin-based architects and artists’ design was minimalist – on purpose.
“We wanted to keep it simple, durable, and easy to maintain,” Brewton said. “We also focused on the visual aspect.”
Instead of individual chairs, their design featured “family-friendly” benches that ran down the middle and around the sides “that can accommodate all sizes” of people. Large beach umbrellas, which are stored in a box at the back of the barge, could be easily accessed for unexpected rain showers and especially hot days.
The near-translucent siding also has a light element on the passenger side, creating a box-of-light effect.
Brewton said she had heard of the contest through a an architectural newsletter. Designing a boat isn’t something she would have necessarily pictured herself doing, but “it’s a unique opportunity that’s not going to come along again” during our lifetimes.
Top image: Scott Potter inspects the Luna Architecture + Design and Lay Pitman & Associates design proposal. Photo by Scott Ball.
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In reference to the commuter barges. I would suggest those be designed so that they are climate controlled for the hot summers and cold winters, but able to open up if the day is nice, glass see through of course. Produce some that carry around 10-15. Others that can taxi 3-6, able to get folks quickly from one part of the Riverwalk to the other, who are not in it to sight see, as it were. It will be cool to see the river used as an additional transportation mode. #mytwocentsworth.
One major issue that seems to be ignored is the very heavy tourist traffic on the river during the summer months and December. The multiple stops and traffic during these times make a fast speed impossible. Also, the current fleet was designed for heavy commercial use. These designs, not so much. Canopies won’t work. Anyone who says otherwise doesn’t know what they are talking about.
Very cool. I like the one by SADI BREWTON AND JONATHAN DAVIES.
I remain dubious about the concept of commuter barges. For one, the river throughout the downtown area is a “no wake” zone. Which means the boats are not permitted to go faster than 5 mph (although I have seen several break that rule). Not only that, but the boat lifts (locks) in the River North area take several minutes to shift the boats to the next level.
Bottom line: One can probably walk faster to get to their destination. Any other mode of transportation (bicycle, scooter, etc.) will be much more efficient.
Sorry to be a wet blanket on this one…
In the meantime . . . anything that would assist folks waiting for river taxis or barges near the Tobin Center and other spots (real-time signage? An Amigo standing by? Vending?) could probably help boost the City’s tourism image.
I walk the northern side of the Riverwalk from Lexington to Houston at least once a week during the work week. I’ve lost track of how many visitors I’ve encountered in recent months just fuming about the river taxis or riverboats and delays or misunderstandings about schedules and loading areas (and I can’t help them).
Beyond any boat modifications, the contest should really be thinking about overall user experience – including what can be done right now with the least effort to dramatically improve the boat riding experience.
For example, can you add the boat schedules to Google Maps and Nokia Here (so visitors can use phones and apps to track schedules)? Can you pay for tickets online? Can the tickets be linked to a VIA day pass or other pass? Can you improve signage at stops? Deploy Amigos? Otherwise improve waiting conditions / decrease anxiety about waiting and boarding?
Can the current boats be modified? Electric motors be added now (to quiet boats and reduce exhaust fumes that can nauseate)? Can you add cushier seats? Train river boat captains to be more engaging (and pay them enough to end tip jars – another stresser diminishing the boat riding experience)?
I disagree with points above about climate controlled boats (including thinking about the past history of open air pedal boats that could be used to explore the river – up until the 80s – maybe we can bring that back). Downtown, I’m not even sure about climate controlled ground transit as open air and lower-to-the ground vehicles might give us new options for less expensive, better scaled and more fun electric or services.
For now, think about and work for this year’s visitors.
Mark
All of the funds came from stakeholders who also are Centro partners involved in the Broadway redesign. None of Centro’s core funds underwrite this ideas competition. –RR
I was hoping for some genius solution to the “knees in your neighbor” issue. I think the MetaLab folks got the closest, they increased the distance between the facing seats and with the round stools allow at least the middle of the boat riders to face front. He also said they actually increased boat capacity with their design which will make the city bean counters happy.
Re the canopies, I wouldn’t pay more to get a canopy on the boats. Part of the riding experience is being able to see all around. Yes I get that the stretch from downtown to the Museum Reach is not shaded but still don’t want canopies to disturb the view. Also, the boat drivers barely make that turn now under that bridge at River Center without scraping the boat so how many canopies will live to fight another day once they’ve gone through there? Have to consider the human nature side of this–design for the imperfect world.
Re the options with the individual seats. Seems the benches make more sense for families with little kids. Also, the long integrated benches would likely be easier to clean. And as the airline industry is learning, human beings are getting bigger so bench seating again makes more sense to accommodate larger customers.
And I was disappointed to talk to at least one of the other design team members–they didn’t even ask the boat drivers why their steering stations were raised. I suggested that maybe the drivers needed to be raised to see over the heads of the passengers and see the front of the boat but this one designer didn’t know and hadn’t considered line of sight for drivers in his plan.
And although each of the designs paid some homage to papel picado in the boat design, for some it appeared to be an afterthought. But again Meta Lab seems to have got it just right. So my vote is MetaLab.
I like the ones that didn’t make it.