A combination of think tank, public forum, and community center, the BMW Guggenheim Lab asks a profoundly simple question: How can urban environments be made more responsive to people’s needs – in other words, more comfortable?

This is a new form of urbanism that aims for long term, sustainable results, using a surprising methodology based on asking people from all walks of life what comfort means to them. “Having 800 square feet of space to myself;” “mature street trees;” “being in a city where there is always something happening” are just a few of the answers that guided the team of curators, architects, and designers who created the installation that opens today in New York.

Above: The BMW Guggenheim Lab, inside and out. Below left: Roberta's Cafe; right: restroom pavilion. Photos: Peggy Roalf

The BMW Guggenheim Lab is a complete transformation of a sliver of land opposite Sarah Roosevelt Park, at Second Avenue and Houston Street, into an intimately scaled events pavilion, café and park, complete with ecologically sound restrooms. For reasons long forgotten, its structures were razed 75 years ago and over time the site became so blighted that the rat-infested earth had to be bulldozed away and replaced with new topsoil before construction could begin.

Designed by Atelier Bow-Wow of Tokyo, the Lab itself is a lightweight carbon steel frame skinned with transparent steel mesh that can be reconfigured for different kinds of events ranging from public debates to film screenings, workshops, and performances. It fills an empty lot between two apartment buildings and can be approached from both Houston Street and First Street.

On the north side of the structure is a large-scale interactive board game called Urbanology, designed by Local Projects. Participants role-play scenarios for city transformation and become advocates for issues such as education, housing, health care, sustainability, infrastructure, and mobility as they build a city that matches their specific needs. Each time the game is played, the results are tallied and displayed on a massive overhead screen. The game can also be played online, and participants can submit new questions for consideration.

The Lab will travel to nine cities around the world over the next six years, each with its own mobile structure and theme. The New York Lab Team—comprising an environmental justice activist, an inventor, a journalist, and an architecture duo—will lead an investigation into innovative concepts and designs for city life in response to the theme Confronting Comfort.

Dignitaries from Berlin, Mumbai, the UK and elsewhere were at the media preview yesterday and used the Lab as it was intended, conducting meetings and interviews after the opening ceremonies.

The Lab is sure to launch continuing debate on what makes a city livable and what the public can do to promote positive change. For New Yorkers, it is beyond doubt that the recent surge in park building, bike lanes and BIDs has made the city far more livable. The next round of questions should include thorny issues such as public transportation, health, and education.

One the delights to be found at this urban oasis is a pop-up café operated by Roberta’s of Bushwick, serving lunch and dinner. The café is built with a contemporary version of rustic timber construction and will serve lunch and dinner during park hours.

The BMW Guggenheim Lab will be open Wednesday through Sunday until October 16, with all events free and open to the public. First Park, Houston Street and Second Avenue, NY, NY.

In addition to visitor information and program schedules, the website features rich multimedia content, including programming and behind-thescenes videos and images, and the ability to comment. Activities at the Lab will be reported on the blog, and you can join the conversation on Twitter with @BMWGuggLab and use hashtag #BGLab.

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