iStar Financial is redeveloping 33 acres of residential land on the Asbury Park waterfront There are two phases—the short-term “Sprint” and multi-year “Marathon.”

Mapos was hired for the Sprint phase, where the end goals are to draw locals and visitors to the beach, offer amenities such as hammocks and changing facilities, and generate excitement for and share details of the long term plan, which includes residential and mixed-use development.

To help iStar achieve its goal, Mapos designed a series of temporary pop-ups—or Temporia.

At one end of a beach is a sales trailer (for the long-term development) that is being renovated to look more like a beach club. Known as the Asbury Park Waterfront Headquarters, it houses a site model of the Marathon plan, a lounge, and a seating area.

Next to the headquarters is the Longhouse, an elevated deck that stretches 95-feet. Designed as a modular construction so it can be easily moved at the end of the summer, it is constructed of wood sleepers, decking and slat-wall panels, and a light-weight aluminum and canvas roof, which will be printed with branded colors and graphics.

The structure has a central entryway with changing facilities and showers off to each side. Visitors can also walk straight through the center of the building to the adjacent portable restrooms, which will be wrapped in Asbury Park Waterfront graphics.

The Headquarters and Longhouse sit is a landscaped lawn away from the bustle of the beach. In this area, Mapos designed the Hammock Towers, a series of aluminum truss shade structures - fabricated in collaboration with a local awnings manufacturer - that serve a dual purpose; in addition to being used for hammocks, they are also enclosed by stretched canvas that has been printed with Asbury Park Waterfront graphics.

Lastly, the Crew Station is located in the parking lot and has a similar design to the Hammock Pavilions. It is used for concierge services such as handing out beach umbrellas, and it includes a bank of large storage lockers.

An important detail to note about aluminum truss and stretched canvas is that it is a reflection of the area’s unique “tent houses.” For generations, residents and beach visitors have built tents on their decks using fabric and trusses. The local vernacular inspired the Mapos design, while iStar’s brand identity contributed to a more contemporary aesthetic.