Stancism + Sidewalk Labs
with Alex Burton, Deanna Badi, Stan Wong
A largely conceptual project, this design strategy was borne from a challenge in thinking about new trends and behaviours. We coined the term Stancism, whch is a trend outlining the rise in corporations catering to the social issues deemed important by consumers.
We applied this trend in formulating a new plan for Sidewalk Labs. Seeing the downfall of the Quayside Toronto development, we thought about how this company could create a residential development that would be for the people. How would equitable housing look, if driven by the resources and innovation of Sidewalk Labs?
Reaching a more diverse and in-need community was a major priority, shifting Sidewalk Labs' previous focus from economic development to equitable housing.
Any approach to equitable housing development must look to provide future homeowners with the agency they need over their own environment.
We sought to emphasize opportunities and long-term impact, providing education and employment to residents, and sustaining local economy through local communities.
By investing in existing Alphabet/Sidewalk Labs subsidiaries, there's opportunity to foster community-involved infrastructure development with the help of technological means.
Replica AI serves to collect and analyze residential data, informing the design of pathways, building layouts, and public transportation infrastructure.
Delve, a generative urban planning tool, allows designers to draw up plans and maps using data input, accounting for the priorities of future residents.
Collab completes this process, a platform for community members to make collective decisions and have their input on the direction of their neighbourhood.
Shifting the philosophy of future Sidewalk Labs projects means establishing a new model - the relationship between corporations, communities, and government are essential to the success of this project.
This new structure demonstrates a new concern for the community and its residents. Data governance is addressed explicitly in our plan; to ensure that collected data is anonymized and stored securely, there must be proper infrastructure and measures in place.
Self-sustained Growth
Extension of the Stancism + Sidewalk Labs plan into the far future relies on the establishment of organically-growing communities.
By providing the tools and technology, as well as the educational and financial resources, neighbourhoods will have the capacity to develop and flourish beyond their involvement with Sidewalk Labs, and continue to create positive impact throughout their cities.
Stancism + Sidewalk Labs would be a far-reaching initiative, aiming to have a global impact on the development of equitable housing.
"Now-able": 15 Years
Implementation of this plan would cover a number of years, and require rigorous planning. This framework outlines the necessary steps within 4 different stages.
Stage 1 would see the bulk of planning and logistics - ensuring the involvement, interest, and consent of communities, as well as doing outreach to understand local identity.
Stage 2 sees the beginning of physical construction, implementing Sidewalk Labs "3 Pillars of Tech", and providing training and education to keep residents involved.
Stage 3 involves the transition from physical to digital infrastructure, establishing programs that would see the neighbourhood grow organically.
Stage 4 is when we see the social and economic benefits of investing in local communities.