Brief Introduction

Introduction

New York City is a beautiful place, but as professor Andrew Dolkart explained it, it is also a place whose urban design has always been driven by a quest for profit and expression of superiority. Over the years the city has changed and evolved, however it remains a fact that as far as sustainability goes, green wash and misleading appearances shape the New York skyline as we know it today.

The aim of the brief is to carry out a careful architectural and structural intervention on the New York IRT Powerhouse, developing a dynamic, flexible and inclusive sub-cultural centre for the community. The design strategy should reflect sustainability and blend the site's rich history with the new structure seamlessly.

Response

Designing a cultural center gives us the ability to change the cultural meaning of this formerly industrial space and make it a more apppealing space of interest for local New Yorkers in different ways :

1. Transition from pollution to sustainability

2. Create an emotional connection to the site

3. Preserving and celebrating local culture

4. Inspire to innovate

Initial Ideas

Maslow's hierarchy of needs

BUILDING HISTORY

Architect : McKim, Mead & White Date : 1900-1904 Location : New York, USA Style : Ideals of the City Beautiful Movement, sometimes referred to BeauxArts or French Renaissance Purpose : A powerhouse to provide power for the entire IRT Network.

We questioned the fundamentals of what it is to be sustainable in the 21st century, and decided that it was more than just developing an environmental awareness, but also including positive social and economical strategies into the design.