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New facilities landing on New York's Sandy-ravaged beaches.

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and Department of Design and Construction (DDC) have teamed up to answer Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s mandate that the Hurricane Sandy–pummeled seaside in the Rockaways, Coney Island, and Staten Island be repaired and ready for sun worshipers by Memorial Day weekend. In part, this work involves rebuilding sections of the boardwalks and restoring WPA-era concession stands. It also involves the design, fabrication, and installation of 17 new buildings, which will replace destroyed lifeguard stations, restrooms, and offices. (more…)

May 15, 2013 | Categories: BLOG | Leave A Comment »

The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces

This small fragment of William H. Whyte’s witty and original film about the open spaces of cities and why some of them work for people while others do not.

William H. Whyte: The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces – The Street Corner from MAS on Vimeo.

May 13, 2013 | Categories: BLOG | Tags: , | Leave A Comment »

Post-Sandy Recovery in the Rockaways

 

(more)

May 08, 2013 | Categories: BLOG | Tags: , , , , | Leave A Comment »

Sweet & Salt

The Dirt published  a very good summary of dutch systems of water management based on a talk by Tracy Metz, author of Sweet & Salt and member of the Delta Commission that was formed to advise the Dutch government on new strategies to manage water in a country, where more than 60% of the GDP is produced below sealevel.

Floating houses, waters squares and new riverbeds are among the many design solutions. Some may seem utopian, but then again, it’s only a matter of time until we catch up with utopia in some form or another. Read the full article here

May 02, 2013 | Categories: BLOG | Tags: , | Comments Off

Ideas City Festival

at the new museum this weekend. Streetfest on Saturday. With Summer Studio Faculty Michael Piper from 4-6 at the DesigNYC booth talking about pushcart design.

Apr 30, 2013 | Categories: BLOG, EVENTS | Tags: | Comments Off

In the 100-Year Flood Zone

Advisory flood maps issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency over the past four months were supposed to help people figure out how to rebuild higher and stronger. But in some parts of the region, the maps have sparked a backlash because they will potentially require thousands of homes to buy flood insurance that did not need to before.
Se this map that WNYC published.

Apr 11, 2013 | Categories: BLOG | Tags: , , , | Comments Off

Greetings from the Future of New York City

For the past 11 weeks, we have been receiving postcards -one per week from each student- with their thoughts, ideas, visions (and sometimes frustrations) about the present and future of the city. They are on display in Avery from August 8th to August 17th. You can’t miss them on your way to coffee, lunch or any of the final reviews this week.

 

Aug 09, 2012 | Categories: BLOG | Comments Off

Green Infrastructure in Two Bridges

Kerri Culhane, Associate Director of Two Bridges Neighborhood Council, writes in Urban Omnibus about the potential for green infrastructure projects in the Lower East Side. Most recent history, tropical storm Irene gave a forecast of flooding events the neighborhood is prone to. Her compelling argument makes use of the vivid realities of rising water levels and ever stronger storms, the untapped capacity of open spaces in the towers-in-the-park housing that predominates in the area, the significant capital investments and design projects along the East River waterfront currently underway, and the ability of green infrastructure projects to provide social and economic benefits in addition to responding to urgent environmental imperatives. See the article here.

Aug 09, 2012 | Categories: BLOG | Tags: , , | Comments Off

South Bronx Community Workshop

The Mott Haven Herald wrote piece about our recent community workshop in South Bronx. Several dozen residents came out to discuss the waterfront of the South Bronx, enjoy some barbeque and fresh vegetables. There are about 100 acres of currently underutilized waterfront in the South Bronx. Residents brought a great variety of ideas to table of what they believe should happen here from boat launches to educational facilities, cultural centers and small business development. It will take time and more effort to develop aclear vision and share it with decision makers in local government, but the evenings activity in the lush environment of Brook Park was a promising start.

 

Aug 04, 2012 | Categories: BLOG | Tags: , | Comments Off

Farming our Future: Diversity and Design Ingenuity in NYC Urban Agriculture

When: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1
Where: At The Center For Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place NY, NY 10012
New York City boasts more than 1000 farms and gardens across approximately 50 acres of reclaimed vacant lots, rooftops, schoolyards, and public housing grounds. Surprisingly, our densely populated metropolis is a national leader in the growing urban agriculture movement. Building on Five Borough Farm: Seeding the Future of Urban Agriculture in New York City, a new study by the Design Trust for Public Space, this discussion will explore urban agriculture through the lens of design, public space, and the built environment. A diverse panel of designers, landscape architects, and community leaders will showcase different models of urban agriculture, highlighting sustainable design practices, community engagement strategies, and innovative ways to transform underutilized sites into productive landscapes.

Moderated by Susan Chin, FAIA, Executive Director, Design Trust for Public Space.

Speakers:
Colin Cathcart, Partner, Kiss + Cathcart Architects
Pat Kirshner, Director of Operations & Planning, The Battery Conservancy
Elliott Maltby, Principal, thread collective
Toby Tiktinsky, Director Bright Farms
Michael Wadman, Vice President, Phipps Houses
Lee Weintraub, Principal, Lee Weintraub Landscape Architecture

Co-sponsored by the Design Trust for Public Space and the New York Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Cost: free for members of the AIA, Design Trust for Public Space and ASLA; $10 non-members

Jul 26, 2012 | Categories: BLOG | Comments Off