Unauthorized Use of Space
I had never thought to step on TOP of the 5th Avenue Dam. There was no signage about what it’s intended pedestrian use was, no “Keep Off” or other pedestrians to inform my decision making process. I felt like I was breaking a law, but once I peered over the edge I saw a large ball of tiny fish trying to out swim the current that ultimately took a few down the fish ladder.
DID THE BARNACLES AND MUSSELS GET PERMISSION TO UTILIZE THIS SPACE? I DON’T THINK SO!
The short fence serves as a cute reminder to not trespass that many people ignore on a daily basis. Also, many people live under the 4th Avenue Bridge, which I’m pretty sure isn’t “allowed,” but I’m glad is not adamantly enforced.
Plants as trespassers.
5-5-2016
As I walked the area I thought about the intention of design. Then I thought about the human contrivance of legality applied to design and how that informs the ways people interact with space. I mulled over the idea that non-human creatures don’t seem to care about intention, only design, and will apply their own natural laws to human space regardless of permissibility. This enables them to foul structures and inhabit or use them according to their own needs. Humans do this, too, when they trespass for fun or necessity.
