RETI Floating Learning Center

Prof. Zehra Kuz

An urban scale project that was heavily based on research about the site, the rising water level climate crisis, and how architecture is responding to that crisis. The studio worked with RETI center, which stands for Resilience, Education, Training, and Innovation. We conducted our own researches and developed individual responses for the client.

RETI wanted a floating continued education center in New York City’s Red Hook and Sunset Park SMIA. To best serve their need, I conducted a thorough site analysis of Red Hook including income, land use, transportation, use of waterfront, ease of access, and a SWOT analysis. Based on these analyses a master plan for the area and a catalogue of amphibious structures was proposed. The floating facility was to be used as a trade school on GBX industrial site creating a relationship between the RETI Center (community educator) and GBX (industrial job provider). SWOT Analysis

Strengths: vast sidewalk open space, proximity to Ikea, parking availability, away from the noise of the city, waterfront, green spaces, community garden.

Weakness: access is not clear, not attractive to public, transportation, secluded, low income and education of the locals.

Opportunities: engage public with waterfront and educate them about the industrial water use, more transportation, job creation, RETI and GBX enthused and willing client, integrate the population, architectural opportunities with floating structure, available vacant lots with large water property, deactivated gas pipeline site, a lot of youth that can be brought in and educated through the trade school, greenspaces.

Threats: gentrification, impurity of water, flooding, sewage and pollution