Credit: Davis Hammer
Credit: Davis Hammer
Credit: Rob Potish
Credit: Rob Potish
Credit: Lauren Rock
Credit: Lauren Rock
Credit: Andy Brown
Credit: Andy Brown
Credit: Steven Nielsen
Credit: Steven Nielsen
Georgetown Maker Lab
Elizabeth Golden, Instructor /// ARCH 501 Studio
GEORGETOWN MAKER LAB
WI 2011::Arch 501::Golden
WI 2011::Arch 501::Golden
“Cities of the 21st century are full of creative workers that produce not only with their heads but also with their hands. Innovation needs a place where it can be tested and an inspiring environment where it can flourish. Shouldnʼt every city provide its citizens with fully interconnected and equipped spaces where they can network and get their stuff done?”
– Daniela Marzavan on Why Every Creative City Needs a FabLab
“Open Design City, is more than a workshop, it is a collaboration space where new relationships and projects will be formed between its citizens. Open Design City is a space that encourages the sharing of tools, knowledge, ideas and skills. It is a space to explore the principles of Open Design.” – Open Design City Manifesto
FabLab, Open Design City, Maker Lab, Waag Society, are just a few of the names that are associated with the current design revolution evolving out of the DIY and Maker movement. These collaborative design spaces give local communities access to tools formerly only available to industry: laser cutters, 3D printers, industrial sewing machines and soldering equipment, to name a few. Young designers, children, and the elderly are not only able to use these tools, but they can take advantage of DIY classes and participate in collaborative projects, which empower them to design and develop innovative technology and new products that meet their individual needs. This new model of personal manufacturing gives the individual greater influence over product design, and redefines what ownership means in the age of digital reproduction.
Georgetown is Seattleʼs oldest industrial neighborhood; it has evolved from a site for small workshops, to a center for large industry, and it is now on the verge of redefining itself once again. Georgetown Maker Lab is a visionary organization that foresees a return to the small workshop model of production, but this time these spaces will be equipped with digital tools, have access to the internet, and will be run by the community, for the community.