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Looking for love again | A creative community project in Alaska

CATEGORY: ⚐ EN + placemaking + urbanism

‘Looking for Love Again’ is a community development project implemented by the Taiwanese American artist Candy Chang who was invited on 2011 by the Alaska Design Forum to create a public art project on the tallest building in Fairbanks city. The Polaris Building, a landmark of downtown Fairbanks, was during the past an apartment complex, then a hotel, and now it has been abandoned for more than a decade.

Looking-for-Love-Again-Polaris-vintage

www.palladiumboots.com

Fairbanks view of Chena River and Polaris Apartment Hotel, 1968

Fairbanks view of Chena River and Polaris Apartment Hotel, 1968

In order to reuse the building, Candy Chang proposed the installation of a four-story sign that says “Looking for Love Again”, combining in this way cultural, urban planning and design with street art, and transforming the building into an emotional beacon.

Fairbanks Graphic

Fairbanks Graphic

Photo of the process

Photo of the process

Polaris Building during Design Lab, 2011

Polaris Building during Design Lab, 2011

An interactive installation at street level, composed by two chalkboards, invites people to share their reflections on the building’s past and provide an insight to how it could be in the future. The building worked as a sharing platform for citizens that provides an important input into the impact of buildings on our lives and the way they could become meaningful again.
‘Looking for Love Again’ project consists of a creative way to inspire and engage citizens to regeneration processes, as well as revive the identity and spirit of place.

Chalkboards

Chalkboards

The engaging process is illustrated in the images below, showing the main topics arising for re-imagining the neighbourhood and its identity:

Theme for memories: Ghost story of room 303

Emerging themes for memories: Ghost story of room 303

Emerging themes for memories:Tiki Bar on the top floor

Emerging themes for memories: Tiki Bar on the top floor

Theme for hope Indian restaurant

Emerging themes for hope: Indian restaurant

Emerging themes for hope: Grocery shop

Emerging themes for hope: Grocery shop

Theme for hope: Modern apartments downtown

Emerging themes for hope: Modern apartments downtown

More information and interesting projects can be found here:
commonspace-ak.org/fairbanks
candychang.com/project

Previous posts about Candy Chang
Post – Before I die I want to… #followcreative
Post – I wish this was, interesante proyecto creativo para soñar la ciudad

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