A two-faced working industry waterfront
- Time: 2016
- In Collaboration with Xiyao Wang
- GSD Urban Design Core Studio
The existing waterfront features privatization by industry and separation between industry and residential. From our perspective, light manufacturing, and all other related industries shall not stretch themselves as a barrier between the city and the water but should be integrated into the daily experience at neighborhood and urban scale in the 21st century.
We proposed a two-face working industry waterfront that ensures publicity and uses the waterfront as the industry showcase. The physical coexistence of residential, manufacturing, entertainment and open spaces generates both production and social capital.
Isolated Waterfront in New York City
The speed map of NYC reveals that there is an almost continous belt of coastal area isolated by high speed transportation. Zoom-in map shows that a gradual change from residential-mix-used-industry can be identified from inland to the water within the isolated coast.
The street level, elevated platform and central spine are all open to the public, with commercial activity and studios to activate the space.
The retreated industry buildings along the waterfront define sheltered open spaces, which provide opportunities for fashion shows, outdoor theatre and other forms of gathering.
Visual corridors are framed by the improved streetscape and the openness of the project itself. With the help of topography, Sunset Park and the waterfront are visually tied together.
CLAIRE'S PORTFOLIO 