Metropolitan Museum of Art reveals Fifth Avenue plaza design by OLIN

OLIN's design for Metropolitan Museum of Art Fifth Avenue Plaza revealed

Fifth Avenue Steps looking South © OLIN

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has unveiled OLIN’s designs for the four-block-long outdoor plaza that runs in front of its landmark Fifth Avenue façade, from 80th to 84th Streets in Manhattan.

The plan also calls for the creation of new fountains—to replace the deteriorating ones that have been in use since they were built in the 1970s along with the existing plaza. The fountains will be positioned closer to the Museum’s front steps, improving access to its street-level public entrances at 81st and 83rd Streets. The renovated plaza will also feature tree-shaded allées (in place of the current trees that have limited lifespans and low environmental benefits due to their planting conditions), permanent and temporary seating areas, and entirely new, energy-efficient and diffused nighttime lighting. Seasonal planting will be added along the building to provide color and visual interest throughout the year. All of these new features respect and complement the architectural highlights of the landmark façade and the monumental, recently refurbished central stairs. OLIN, the landscape architecture, urban design, and planning firm, has been retained by the Museum as the lead design consultant for the project.
Continue reading Metropolitan Museum of Art reveals Fifth Avenue plaza design by OLIN

HASSELL wins double honours in CERN public realm competition

HASSELL-CERN
HASSELL was recognised yesterday for its entry in both categories of the international Public Realm competition for CERN in Geneva. The competition invited designs for a new public area and reception for CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, which houses the Large Hadron Collider.

Continue reading HASSELL wins double honours in CERN public realm competition

The CityDeck | Green Bay USA | Stoss Landscape Urbanism

In the fall, the gingkos, Kentucky coffeetrees, and Liberty elms all turn bright yellow. ©Stoss Landscape Urbanism

The CityDeck is the heart of a multi-phase redevelopment project along Green Bay’s Fox River. The project aims to allow for significantly increased access to the river and to diversify social and ecological life along it.

EXISTING CONDITIONS + CHALLENGES
The site is a 2-acre strip of land, typically measuring 50 to 60 feet wide, that runs along the edge of the Fox River in downtown Green Bay. It is about one-quarter-mile in length and is situated between two bridges that cross the river. At the project’s beginning, adjacent parcels were empty, abandoned (a large yellow warehouse), or in use as parking lots. Nearby buildings turned their back on the riverfront. Unsurprisingly, there was little social or civic life here, and no reason to visit; the elevated walk along existing bulkhead walls prevented any direct access down to the river—as well as up to the city from boats.

Continue reading The CityDeck | Green Bay USA | Stoss Landscape Urbanism

St.Petersburg Pier Design Competition Finalists unveil designs

St.Petersburg Pier Design Competition Finalists

St. Petersburg has sponsored an international design competition for the redesign and replacement of its landmark Pier.  Finalists included  Bjarke Ingels Group, Michael Maltzan Architecture, and WEST 8 Urban Design and Landscape Architecture who submitted their designs on November 29 and are now displayed at the “Look, Think, Share” exhibit for public viewing and comment from December 6 to December 30.

Continue reading St.Petersburg Pier Design Competition Finalists unveil designs

Suzhou Center | Suzhou China | SWA

Suzhou Center | Suzhou China | SWA

SWA Group recently won an invited design competition for Suzhou Center, a 26.5-hectare site located in Suzhou’s still-developing Central Business District, with office, hotel, residential buildings, retail corridors, transit, roof gardens, canals and waterfront parks adjacent to historic Jinji Lake. The landmark Suzhou Center design, which is planned to break ground in April 2012, creates a signature city-center of urban offerings, greenspace and lakefront amenities along an approximately 2-km visual corridor reminiscent of the Washington Mall, Champs Elysees in Paris and other grand urban spines. A striking 88-story arched Gateway Tower, now under construction toward completion in late 2012, anchors the Suzhou Center development. Its arch shape encases the visual corridor connecting Old Town and the city’s other urban center, Suzhou Industrial Park (SIP) Central Business District.

Continue reading Suzhou Center | Suzhou China | SWA

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10