Rendering by West 8
"The Island is made for festivals and art installations," he said; programs and special attractions are key to bringing it alive. Green parkland - "green like broccoli" - should dominate the Island experience, he said, but don't expect it to blossom overnight; "It takes generations for a park to grow."
Geuze spoke at a recent informal meeting with representatives of the constituent members of the Governors Island Alliance and GIPEC officials at the AIA Center in Manhattan. His presentation included a slide show with some new images, illustrating the point that the design still completely flexible. Even so, he still talks about the West 8 team's novel idea of having dozens of wooden bicycles available for touring the trails that will define distinct territories around the Island.
He said the Island is "flatter than my country" now, but won't be when the team's landscape architects are through with it. Undulating topography will create interest and, perhaps more important, will raise the ground level so trees can get their roots down.
Raised ground notwithstanding, he said that "it is very important for
people be able to touch the water." To accommodate this human urge, he
indicated that there could be platforms at sea level around the edge of
the Promenade.
Geuze said that West 8 is currently working on "three or four" parks, including one on the Toronto waterfront, and the firm's website informs us that they have recently won the competition for a project to delineate the area of central Rotterdam that was wiped out in 15 minutes of German bombing on May 14, 1940.
Expressing particular enthusiasm for winning the Governors Island competition, Geuze promised "You'll see me often." The park design and environmental review process is scheduled to start in early summer and take 18 to 24 months, running through 2009 and probably into 2010.
Geuze said that West 8 is currently working on "three or four" parks, including one on the Toronto waterfront, and the firm's website informs us that they have recently won the competition for a project to delineate the area of central Rotterdam that was wiped out in 15 minutes of German bombing on May 14, 1940.
Expressing particular enthusiasm for winning the Governors Island competition, Geuze promised "You'll see me often." The park design and environmental review process is scheduled to start in early summer and take 18 to 24 months, running through 2009 and probably into 2010.