Hey, there! Log in / Register

Talk about your underground theater

SHIFTboston recently held an "ideas competition" for creating new public spaces in Boston. The winner: Turning an abandoned trolley tunnel on Tremont Street into a theater and arts space:

What if we shifted these contemporary urban ruins into a network of underground, interactive social environments--experiential theatres and immersive digital (art) galleries—while celebrating the past through a media-infused trolley museum inside North America’s oldest subway system?

Neighborhoods: 
Free tagging: 


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

Trying to understand this post; but no luck. For instance, please explain the difference between contemporary urban ruins and other urban ruins. I'm also a bit stymied by immersive digital art galleries...
I've been to the trolley museum in Kennebunk Me.... but I guess a media infused trolley museum is different.
Anyway, quibbles aside this idea gets my vote.... Boston certainly needs more extra-spatial, non-linear immersive multi-dimensional singularities like this.

up
Voting closed 0

Given their ideas about Boston City Hall, I wouldn't let them shine my shoes.

up
Voting closed 0

I dunno. I like the underground theater idea.

up
Voting closed 0

What do you think it would cost? Not in artist money - in real money?

up
Voting closed 0

Putting it there is a lousy idea; I'd rather see that tunnel put back into service, providing trolley service for the South End and South Boston. And we should add tracks between Boylston and Government Center, and generally increase capacity.

But a trolley museum is a good idea, and there is already a great spot for it: Remove the crappy looking offices in the south half of the Winter Street Concourse (itself a never-used trolley tunnel that led to South Station), install a track, and put old trolleys on display there. This may require minor changes to the nearby stairs and elevator at Park Street, but I doubt it would be tough.

up
Voting closed 0

Amusingly enough, DC tried something like this in their Dupont Cricle trolley tunnel (above the metro tunnels but below the street).

It didnt work out.

up
Voting closed 0

(though this may be too bourgeois for the competition)...
I don't know how much space we're talking about, but what about an emergency shelter for victims of abuse + kids, or a homeless shelter?

up
Voting closed 0