Parc Banquette
A “parklete” on downtown Lafayette, Louisiana’s iconic Jefferson Street. In May, parking spots were transformed into parkletes — an initiative that gained popularity after COVID. This was one of Lafayette’s first parkletes, and its sculptural form also functions as seating, supporting various uses. The parking space was sponsored by Oat’s & Moreno, the law firm in the building. Named after the Louisiana French word for sidewalk, 'banquette,' but the term also plays on the English word for bench seating along a wall.
Benches with built-in side tables are positioned at 90 degrees to each other so that conversations can occur and people watching on the sidewalk is possible. A built-in bar top completes the other side to enclose the parklet.
The main sculptural idea involves two elements interwoven; metal plates and wood planks. The wood planks serve as planters, seating, and a bar top. Metal plates run in the opposite direction of these planks; creating folded planes programmed for signage and tables.
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