May 3, 2020
Culture Picnic
A project explores the possibility to bridge the incommensurable between tourists and residents from different cultural neighborhoods in New York through a food tour into the communities.
Every year, millions of tourists come to New York, but most of them tend to stay in those dense tourist areas instead of going to visit the distinctively unique neighborhoods in New York. In this metropolis with such long and complex immigrant history, locals are often segregated by language barriers, ideological differences, and differences in cultural practices. Food is deeply tied to our culture and identity, a food tour could be a very effective vehicle for someone to find an immediate connection with an unfamiliar culture.
The Mobile Restaurant
Collaborating with local restaurants, the mobile restaurant may move in between different cultural neighborhoods and spots, offering passengers authentic dining/socializing experiences. Through designing foldable and retractable elements in the exterior and interior of the bus, Lifei experimenting with the concept of space; how the integration and extension of physical spaces may influence interpersonal communication and the overall atmosphere.
The Picnic Tour
In this tour, the bus departs from the port authority and stops at the time square to pick up the tourists in the morning, then it will first go to Belmont then Jackson Height and lastly Brighton Beach, and each will stay for several hours. Local residents can also hop on the bus for a tour to other neighborhoods that they might have never been to.
