THE challenge
How Might We make a creative improvement to Cambridge’s built environment for the benefit of residents, workers and visitors?
THE OUTCOME
A beautiful 5’ aluminum sculpture that tells the Kendall Square origin story. Before the West Boston Bridge was built in 1793 (now Longfellow Bridge) only 3 families lived in what is now the most innovative square mile on the planet.
IMPACT
The sense of belonging project created is more important than the landmark. Our Teens are overwhelmed with pride each time we walk past the installation. iFp Teens are creating value in this community now and will continue doing so well into the future!
Origin story: THE LOOKING GLASS
invites you to look backward and forward in time. Standing on one side, people can catch a glimpse of Boston and the Longfellow Bridge, evoking memories of Boston in 1793 before the bridge was installed. On the other side, the sculpture frames a view of Cambridge and the future being created by some of the world’s most innovative companies.
The Looking Glass is a 5-foot aluminum sculpture installed in the heart of Kendall Square that serves as a permanent testament of iFp Studios’ capabilities. In response to a call from the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority for creative interventions in the built-environment, iFp Teens designed an interactive sculpture to showcase the city’s transformation from an industrial powerhouse into a biotech and tech mecca. The sculpture is linked to a website with a growing repository of stories to help inform the city’s visitors, workers, and residents of its rich history and exciting future.
our PROCESS
iFp Teens use our Integrated Creative Problem Solving (iCps) framework for all design challenges. Students start with ethnographic research tools to understand the problem being solved, synthesize the data to determine what’s most important, consider many ways through ideation and prototyping, then finally deploy a solution to delight and amaze our clients. During the process there is a significant collaboration between the Teens and many mentors. The final design is fabricated by a professional fabricator. The Looking Glass was a two year project from conceptualization to installation. There were many unforeseen obstacles with permits and approvals.
“We are working to animate public spaces in Kendall Square and invest in projects that improve connections between Cambridge neighborhoods and Kendall – the Looking Glass accomplished both through creative design and youth engagement.”
““It was a pleasure to work with the students to bring their vision to life. As much as we were teaching the kids, working with them inspired us in our own work and reminded us of the people who gave their time to mentor us when we were that age. We are just passing it forward””
Deeper Meaning -> Belonging
When we first started iFp, young people told us about feeling invisible and disconnected from the larger community. There was no sense of belonging outside the few blocks surrounding their home. Kendall Square? Why would we go there? Fast forward to today, iFp’s students are creating iconic installations that have become part of Kendall’s fabric.
Iconic
Foreshadowing: During a design review for the Looking Glass, a member of the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority’s Board of Directors foresaw its potential to become an iconic symbol in Cambridge. Her prediction has come true. Today, the Looking Glass is one of the most photographed objects in Kendall. Countless memories are captured and celebrated with selfies taken in front of this remarkable installation. It has also become starting or ending point for Greater Boston’s new Innovation Trail, further solidifying its significance in the area.
Just like the tech and science companies, our teens have created value in Kendall. They are innovators and problem solvers. No different than any other innovator or problem solver in Kendall.
