COMMUNITY ACTIVATION TRAILER
Location: San Francisco, California, USA
Year: 2018
Type: Academic research and full scale fabrication
Status: Completed and constructed
Institution: California College of the Arts
Design: JJ Tan and Viviani Istata
Role: Co designer and fabrication team member
Construction: Completed with additional support from a collaborative student team
Outputs: Research, concepts, models, fabrication drawings, details, renderings, specifications, prototypes, and fabrication files
Image credits: JJ Tan
Professional involvement: Not applicable to this academic project
The Community Activation Trailer was JJ Tan’s first opportunity to develop and construct a project at full scale. Designed in collaboration with Viviani Istata, it explores how construction logic, documentation, fabrication, and physical assembly can shape a compact mobile structure.
Conceived as a platform for community events and public programs, the trailer can function as a mobile library, kiosk, information point, or event station. Integrated storage within the chassis allows equipment and program elements to travel with the structure.
Front and rear doors open while panels fold outward, expanding the usable area beyond its compact transportation footprint. The cantilevered structure remains visible through translucent twin wall cladding, giving the trailer a recognizable identity during the day and when illuminated at night.
The project was developed through research, documentation, prototyping, fabrication, and assembly. JJ Tan’s contribution included developing the overall design, producing fabrication and assembly drawings, and participating in the fabrication and construction of its components.