Massive Prototyping Fest Turns Market Street into Temporary Urban Playground

This thing #mspf

A photo posted by Mary Anne Kluth (@makluth) on Apr 9, 2015 at 9:55pm PDT

Despite a series of makeovers over the decades meant to turn Market Street into a pedestrian magnet, SF's main thoroughfare often feels like a place to scurry through, not linger. But when the Market Street Prototyping Festival kicked off yesterday, hordes of strangers began spontaneously interacting over installations ranging from a whirling bench to Ping-Pong tables to a diaphanous fabric tribute to Karl the Fog. Organized by SF Planning and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts and on view through Saturday, April 11, the prototyping festival brings 50 temporary installations to the stretch of Market between Van Ness and the Embarcadero, with entries from local firms like David Baker Architects and Future Cities Lab, along with local fabricators and tiny home enthusiasts. Under the auspices of the Better Market Street Initiative, several of the fest's installations could eventually become permanent. (Giant typewriter, we are rooting for you!)

A cool prototype for a giant #typewriter #sculpture on Market St #mspf #sanfrancisco #artfuture #mspf3itsnews

A photo posted by Alexa Smith (@alexaspace) on Apr 9, 2015 at 10:57pm PDT

Ember, by Jason Rasmussen, lets you play redwood drums with your bum #MSPF #mspfember

A photo posted by Curbed SF (@curbedsf) on Apr 9, 2015 at 8:05pm PDT

Drought years captured in tree rings at the #MSPF

A photo posted by Curbed SF (@curbedsf) on Apr 9, 2015 at 7:56pm PDT

Photo via Patricia Chang

Photo via Patricia Chang

#Fogplane #MSPF

A photo posted by Curbed SF (@curbedsf) on Apr 9, 2015 at 7:47pm PDT

PPlanter #MSPF

A photo posted by Curbed SF (@curbedsf) on Apr 9, 2015 at 7:29pm PDT

PPlanter is a simple gray-water system that pumps water from a storage tank for hand-washing. The runoff from the sink flushes an open-air urinal, which is screened from view by a wall of plants. (Shewees are provided for adventurous women, ahem.)

Photo via Patricia Chang

Photo via Patricia Chang

Into the night #mspfpeepshow #mspf #sfpeepshow

A photo posted by @wbloomer on Apr 9, 2015 at 8:30pm PDT

"Peep Show," from David Baker Architects.

#MSPF Street Sketch

A photo posted by Curbed SF (@curbedsf) on Apr 9, 2015 at 7:00pm PDT

#MSPF Meet Wall in action

A video posted by Curbed SF (@curbedsf) on Apr 9, 2015 at 6:51pm PDT

"Meet Wall" opens and closes according to the movements of pedestrians.

Photo via Patricia Chang

Photo via Patricia Chang

#MSPF Active Rest

A photo posted by Curbed SF (@curbedsf) on Apr 9, 2015 at 6:27pm PDT

Taking a spin on the Bench-Go-Round, by Dr. Shiny (pictured) and George Zisiadis, for #MSPF

A photo posted by Curbed SF (@curbedsf) on Apr 9, 2015 at 8:26am PDT

Getting my #PowerPose on at the Soul Gym on Market Street. Gotta love San Francisco. #dailyboost #MSPF #mspfdailyboost #sanfrancisco #wings

A photo posted by anna santos (@rudmansantos) on Apr 10, 2015 at 1:30pm PDT

Photo via Patricia Chang
"Understory," from Sitelab Urban Studio, is a Mylar structure that catches falling caterpillars and gives them a place to form a chrysalis—or a way to climb out without risking death by foot traffic.

And there she is, the fully skinned Tree of Changes, installed on Market Street at Stuart for the Market Street Prototyping Festival. Only up thru Saturday, best seen and heard at night. #patternmaker #treedraper #treeofchanges #mspf #mspfchanges #sanfrancisco

A photo posted by supersugarrayray (@supersugarrayray) on Apr 10, 2015 at 9:29am PDT

Green means the BART green line train has arrived below, while blue displays your proximity to #DataLantern, on Market Street for only two more nights! #MSPF #interactive #infrastructure #FutureCitiesLab

A video posted by Future Cities Lab (@futurecitieslab) on Apr 10, 2015 at 1:34am PDT

#mspf #sanfrancisco #artfuture #5minadventure

A photo posted by Alexa Smith (@alexaspace) on Apr 9, 2015 at 10:30pm PDT

· Previous Coverage of the Market Street Prototyping Festival [Curbed SF]
· Fabric-Based Fog to Literally Blanket UN Plaza This Spring [Curbed SF]
· Meet ProtoHouse, the Tiny Cube Home Popping Up on Market Street Next Year [Curbed SF]