The five teams competing to plan the parks and public spaces on the Island presented their ideas at GIPEC's Forum on June 20. It was one of a week-long series of presentations to the public, the GIPEC Advisory Committee, and the Design Competition jury. GIPEC is expected to receive the jury's recommendation later this month. Announcement of the winner will follow at the end of the summer.
Each team made a 15-minute presentation, followed by questions from the audience. Roughly 300 people attended.
Each team made a 15-minute presentation, followed by questions from the audience. Roughly 300 people attended.
Field Operations'
presentation underscored their belief that "the Harbor must be the
principle ideology" behind the park design. In answer to questions,
James Corner suggested that the promenade and sculpted landforms and
meadows could be an attractive first phase of the Island development:
"Once an extraordinary public space is built, an extraordinary
development will follow."
Michael Hargreaves stressed that creating sufficient park spaces for diverse and distinct uses would attract a diverse array of people. Lighting and iconic new structures around the Island perimeter would create a "luminous strand of pearls" to woo them back. Hargreaves also said that given its nature, "If you don't do enough, the Island will not be a success."
The presentation by Joshua Prince-Ramus and Michel Desvigne of REX/MDP reinforced their conviction that what the Island needed was not "a landscape proposal, but a development strategy." Mr. Desvigne talked about the opportunity to create social spaces where visitors celebrated not "great earth works, but working with the earth." In answer to a question, they stressed that GIPEC needed to build a constituency and create a sense of urgency around the need for the construction to start immediately.
The large team headed by West 8 proposed creating "not an urban park, a destination." Their vision is to match the monumentality of lower Manhattan with a vertical park that is green, "like broccoli." Adriaan Geuze stated that strong structure and buildings that merge with the landscape would provide a lasting framework to accommodate even the most aggressive development.
Margie Ruddick from WRT team presented her team's vision of "one Island:" free flowing spaces that bring together the historic and non-historic areas and create "a place for people to play." Their plan argues that building varied topography and bringing water into the landscape would be important first steps in creating a wonder-filled place that would generate day trips to the Island.
Michael Hargreaves stressed that creating sufficient park spaces for diverse and distinct uses would attract a diverse array of people. Lighting and iconic new structures around the Island perimeter would create a "luminous strand of pearls" to woo them back. Hargreaves also said that given its nature, "If you don't do enough, the Island will not be a success."
The presentation by Joshua Prince-Ramus and Michel Desvigne of REX/MDP reinforced their conviction that what the Island needed was not "a landscape proposal, but a development strategy." Mr. Desvigne talked about the opportunity to create social spaces where visitors celebrated not "great earth works, but working with the earth." In answer to a question, they stressed that GIPEC needed to build a constituency and create a sense of urgency around the need for the construction to start immediately.
The large team headed by West 8 proposed creating "not an urban park, a destination." Their vision is to match the monumentality of lower Manhattan with a vertical park that is green, "like broccoli." Adriaan Geuze stated that strong structure and buildings that merge with the landscape would provide a lasting framework to accommodate even the most aggressive development.
Margie Ruddick from WRT team presented her team's vision of "one Island:" free flowing spaces that bring together the historic and non-historic areas and create "a place for people to play." Their plan argues that building varied topography and bringing water into the landscape would be important first steps in creating a wonder-filled place that would generate day trips to the Island.