Redefining and expanding an object’s purpose is an inherent phenomenon that drive street BMX / skate / snow culture. Design, art, and photography document our lifestyle and serve as a spark to ignite progression and excavate the next rare architectural gems buried between city blocks. The city exploration process often defines the character of the end product, whether that be a clip, photo, or simply the memory of an experience at the end of a session. I imagine most of us have experienced the social/political clash of street riding on public (and private) property in some facet; whether that be direct encounters with people disturbed by our presence, stoppers on ledges, or “plazas” built on the impetus of curbing unconfined street riding throughout the city. Dealing with our lifestyle is a conscious and controversial topic for urban planners, architects, business owners, and city officials. I came across this cool video vignette that touches on this issue, interviewing skateboarders and architects to create a dialogue about street riding from different perspectives.

At the heart of this discussion, these ideas of perception, exploration and invention are what inspire our collective lifestyles, and the foundation upon which we build Operativ. From the Operativ mission: “The phenomenal awareness we share within our environment binds us together, creating a world many others do not know exists. We see from a third eye, and for us, our environment is a canvas with endless potential.” Chad Ring appreciates the architectural work of legend Frank Gehry in the photo above, while offering his own interpretation of functionality and arguably further inspiring Gehry’s original intentions for the space.