Program Concept. Site Impression. Edge Connection.

Program Concept

I wanted to use polygonal geometric forms in repetitive patterns laid out to form a larger overall design concept. The pattern themselves will form a free flowing design to match the fluidity and movement of the East River on the Red Hook shores. By compiling shapes together to create an overall form, I can can emphasize the functionality of my waterfront shopping center into my design concept. My program design will be comprised of retail shops, restaurants, performance areas, office spaces, residential spaces of all different proportions collectively working together to create the waterfront shopping center.

Site Impression
Red Hook didn't particularly leave a good impression on me. Aside from the beautiful views of the East River, the New Jersey and downtown Manhattan cityscapes, there wasn't much else that drew my attention. The site was cold, windy, and had lots of moisture drifting in from the East River. All I could remember was my five senses registering the fluid motion of wind and water. The breeze would be comforting and welcoming in warmer seasons but the other half of the year would be dreadful for visitors. The wavy forms in the background emphasize that aspect of my experience on the site. Overall the place felt barren and desolate, almost like a wasteland with the exception of a few restaurants, bars, and grocery stores. The entire area felt dead and very dull with not much else going on for visitors who wanted capture the potential excitement of Red Hook.The intentional black and white scheme of this collage expresses my feeling of boredom and lifelessness visiting the area.

 

Edge Connection
 The greatest connection present in my design is creating a transition from a major waterfront in Manhattan, the South Street Seaport, to my waterfront shopping center in Brooklyn. My waterfront is a connection linking the two waterfronts across the East River but more importantly it takes visitors from the nostalgic past of the South Street Seaport to the technological future of my waterfront. It serves almost like a timeline from start to finish, so to speak, that will provide visitors the entire experience of what it feels like to grasp the essence of the New York coastline from its first beginnings more than 300 years ago to the present day and the future to come.

Waterfront Research Analysis

The Southstreet Seaport of New York City

Why did you choose this city?

 

New York City has a diversity of attractions and cultures offering a more flexible audience in terms of aesthetic and program design. It's also home to one of the most historic waterfront districts on the East Coast: the South Street Seaport. My waterfront will serve as a connection, a transition, from New York harbor's nostalgic past to the modernized future of my Red Hook waterfront.

What was the waterfront used from in the history?

 

For over 300 years, the seaport has been vital to New York's success as a port city. The South Street area fell into decline after the US Civil War when the Hudson River overshadowed the East River in accommodating large ships. Restoration of the area began in the 1960s, and now the area is home to a world-class maritime museum (the largest privately owned collection of historic vessels in the United States), as well as some of New York City's more unique views.

The South Street Seaport Museum was a major attraction to the seaport. It was founded in 1967 by Peter and Norma Stanford. It originally opened as a museum with focus of the Seaport Museum conservation being an educational historic site, with shops mostly operating as reproductions of working environments found during the Seaport's heyday, 1820 to 1860. Designated by Congress in 1998 as one of several museums, which together make up the American National Maritime Museum. South Street Seaport Museum sits in a 12 square-block historic district that is the site of the original port of New York City. The Museum has over 30,000 square feet of exhibition space and educational facilities. It houses exhibition galleries, a working 19th-century print shop, an archeology museum, a maritime library, a craft center, a marine life conservation lab, and the largest privately owned fleet of historic ships in the country.

What caused the change at the waterfront?

 

The seaport was threatened with neglect for future development, at a time when the history of New York City's sailing ship industry was not valued. Early historic preservation efforts focused on these buildings and the acquisition of several sailing ships. To preserve the historic richness of this seaport, almost all buildings and the entire Seaport neighborhood was preserved or redesigned transporting the visitor back in time to New York's mid-19th century, to demonstrate what life in the commercial maritime trade was like.

What are the new uses?

 

The seaport itself now operates primarily as a mall and tourism center, built on Pier 17 on the East River. Visitors can choose from among many shops and a food court. Exterior decks allow views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Heights. The Seaport is currently owned and managed by The Howard Hughes Corporation, formerly by General Growth Properties, who acquired the Seaport's longtime owner The Rouse Company in 2004. In 2010, while exiting bankruptcy, General Growth spun off some of its properties, including the Seaport, to form a new company called The Howard Hughes Corporation.

What are the transporation systems and access to the waterfront?

 

South Street Seaport is currently served by the M15 New York City Bus route. New York Water Taxi directly serves South Street Seaport on Fridays, weekends, and holidays during the summer, while other New York Water Taxi, NY Waterway, and SeaStreak ferries serve the nearby ferry slip at Wall Street daily. The Fulton Street station complex (2 3 4 5 A C J Z trains) is the closest New York City Subway station. A new subway station (named "Seaport") has been proposed as part of Phase 4 of the Second Avenue Subway, but has not been funded as of 2010. Although this station will be located only 3 blocks from the Fulton Street station, there are no plans for a free transfer between them.

Is there boat or water access?

 

The New York Water Taxi is the most common method of water travel with beautiful views from its top deck of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Governor's Island with narrations by a tour guide. The Zephyr is a luxury yacht that offers the same services except in a more comfortable and enjoyable setting. The Pioneer Tour is a sailboat that offers a boat trip to the past. The sailboat was established in 1885 and still retains much of its old iron-hulled sloop from its previous days of carrying cargo along the Delaware River. The IKEA express shuttle is a ferry service allowing water travel directly from Pier 11 of Wall Street across to Brooklyn's IKEA superstore. Circle Line Downtown's 30-minute speedboat ride captures the excitement and energy of the city as it speeds out of South Street Seaport's Pier 16 in a shower of waves featuring a tour of the city accompanied with music, humor, and plenty of fun.

How does the waterfront attract people?

 

Seasonal activities and events. Wide range of sightseeing destinations, exhibits, storefronts, parks, venues, restaurants including the:

Titanic Memorial Park

9/11 Ground Zero Tour

Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council

Beekman Beer Garden Beach Club

Bodies Exhibition 

Imagination Playground  

Clipper City Tall Ship

African American Art Gallery

New York Water Taxi

South Street Seaport Ice Rink

Lower Manhattan Theatre 

and many more new retail, culinary, and cultural events thanks to the See/Change Innovative Program sponsored by the Howard Hughes Corporation.

What are the amenities?

 

Some notable buildings and places of interest in the South Street Seaport area are:

Skipper's Pierside Cafe

Watermark Bar

Schermerhorn Row

Pier 17

Heartland Brewery

Beekman, John, Front, Water Street

Fulton Street Shopping District

New Amsterdam Market

Wall Street Financial District

The Bridge Cafe

Federal Hall

Federal Reserve Bank 

 

What type of retail/commercial/residential are at the waterfront?

The area's most prominent commercial district is the row of retail shopping stores along Fulton Street lined with famous chain stores like Ann Taylor, Coach, and Brookstone. The residential spaces in the South Street Seaport area are mainly masonry buildings consisting mainly of Brownstones with influences from Greek Revival, Romanesque, Italianate, Colonial Revival, and Federal architecture.

There are several notable hotels in the nearby area. Club Quarters Downtown, a superior first class hotel, is just a short walk away from the seaport. The hotel's Bull Run bar and restaurant is also popular for after work hours and fine dining. The Seaport Inn, which occupies a restored 19th-century building and is just a block away from the Seaport. The sophisticated Gild Hall is another expensive option that borders both the Seaport and the historic Financial District. The Eurostars Wall Street Hotel a small, moderately-priced boutique is also another recommended option. For those looking for more affordable alternatives or those traveling with children there's always the family-friendly Hampton Inn.

What type of public spaces are there?

There are many restaurants specializing in European cuisines, various different museums with an intriguing array of cultural interests, an ice rink during the winter season for ice skating enthusiasts, and a wide boardwalk lined with assortments of delicious food. The South Street Seaport museum itself is probably its most notable attraction that will take you back in time to visit the seaport's historical past. Its marina docks the largest collection of historic ships in the US.

Who uses these spaces?

The South Street Seaport attracts many tourists from both outside and within New York City. It's diverse selection of attractions satisfies the interests of history buffs, boat lovers, food critics, shopaholics, or just regular people looking for a nice stroll on a the boardwalk enjoying the beautiful views of downtown Manhattan and the calm waters of the East River.

What is successful about this waterfront development?

This historic seaport successfully integrates newer contemporary commercial developments, architectural styles, and public spaces while preserving the 19th and early 20th century essence of the seaport. The waterfront provides visitors a taste of its rich naval history, while welcoming innovation to shape its attractions to appeal to a more contemporary audience.

What is not successful about this waterfront?

Unfortunately, the waterfront was forced to expand underneath the FDR Drive highway running along the shore of the East River. The highway was a dark underpass that served as nothing more than a barrier between the seaport and the rest of the waterfront development. It is intimidating to have to walk under that dark eerie area to cross into the seaport which was unappealing to many visitors especially during the nighttime. It is unlikely that the FDR drive will be reallocated anytime in the near future so for now it is a nuisance to an otherwise attractive and successful waterfront.

Building Typology Analysis

Which building typology are you researching?
I'm looking into designing a commercial shopping center occupied mainly by retail spaces with maybe some residential or office spaces depending on the square footage I have left. A waterfront entrance will also be included to greet people traveling by water with a marina to dock their boats.

 

Why are you researching this building typology?
I felt Red Hook had a lack of commercial space so I decided a shopping center would be an appropriate addition to this growing community. A marina and waterfront fit perfectly into this site location with its beautiful views into New Jersey and lower Manhattan. I wanted to create a connection between two of the city's biggest waterfronts connecting my waterfront in Brooklyn to the South Street Seaport in Manhattan.

 

What is the specialty of this building type you would like to research i.e.   museum for dance, school for digital media… 
The structure would most likely be occupied by clothing retail anchor stores, restaurants, and possibly an indoor performance area or outdoor performance area near the waterfront.

 

What are the examples that you will be researching… list the examples, location and architect  (10 examples)

 

What are your goals for working with this building type? 
I want to draw a wider audience and further revitalize the potential of Red Hook. By establishing a waterfront into my shopping center, I can fully utilize the beautiful views by the East River shore both into Manhattan and New Jersey. The waterfront combined with a marina will be the main attraction of Red Hook engaging people with a modernized experience.

 
 
What are the program elements that you see included at this point in your building? (may  evolve once more research is done)
Retail anchor stores, chain stores, restaurants, community spaces, specific use will be determined after an overall theme of the space is determined, are all definite programs I plan to include. Other possibilities are performance areas, office spaces, and residential apartments, suites, and hotel rooms.

Precedent Study

Galaxy Soho by Zaha Hadid Architects

 Asmacati Shopping Center by Tabanlioglu Architects

New Haifa Waterfront by Amir Mann-Ami Shinar Architecture

Udbetaling Danmark Holstebro by CEBRA

Hanns Seidel Platz by Delugan Meissl Associated Architects

Station of the Yokohama by Mount Fuji Architects Studio + Taisei Design

 

Site Analysis

The location of this project is 258 Conover Street, Brooklyn 11231
Zone: Industrial / Manufacturing Property
Lot Area: 101,750 sq ft (370 x 275)
The adjacent waterfront next to the site makes it a unique location for a new structure. The beautiful views into lower Manhattan, of the Statue of Liberty, and of the rippling water on the Hudson River all add to the potential of this site.

Site 2: 258 Conover Street, Brooklyn