Block Dreams
A conceptual plan to guide API’s future development in Gravois Park
In 2024 API brought the dreams of residents together with the expertise of Arbolope Studio and Trivers to create Block Dreams–a conceptual plan with fleshed out ideas for new cultural assets and architectural guidelines for future home development within API’s footprint in the neighborhood of Gravois Park within the City of St. Louis.
API, after two community meetings and several rounds of door-knocking, the plan was finalized and now API is making plans for implementation with residents. Implementation will take the concepts into the design phase for particular parcels. This means that the images you see will not necessarily be exactly replicated. The first phase of implementation (2025-2026) will include design and build-out of a permanent community art space and garden, as well as design and build-out of “quick-builds” for some of the other green and art spaces. It will be a multi-year process to build out the complete vision as API fundraises to cover costs. Stay tuned for how you can be involved with each phase of implementation!
Below are some of the images from the plan.
API hosted two community workshops, conducted door-knocking, and had online surveys to collect resident dreams.
Taking cues from the long and thin form of the connected mid-block parcels within the API footprint, the Design Team looked to the Missouri Eastern Milksnake, a native species, for inspiration.
Frog Park, an existing private property being used as a quasi-public park at the corner of Chippewa and California, became inspiration for the amphibian theme of API’s green spaces.
The Serpintine Circuit has four zones: Explore & Play, Gather & Create, Eat & Grow, Reflect & Relax.
The hilltop parcel along Winnebago, which features sloped switchbacks, the Design Team took inspiration from the rare Missouri native Hellbender Salamander. Many amphibians, including the Hellbender, can regenerate
limbs and flourish even when parts of their body have been separated. This resilience became an inspiring metaphor for the API holdings – parcels which are scattered throughout the Gravois-Jefferson neighborhood.
The plan explores several design approaches depending on specific parcel conditions. These approaches will be used as to inform future home designs within Gravois Park.
API will begin implementation with a permanent community art space and garden, as well as “quick build” projects that will demonstrate and proto-type concepts from the plan as API fundraises for permanent designs.