An Oasis in the Metropolis

Bilkent University

Idea projektu

An Oasis in the Metropolis project is set in an island isolated from the rest of the city. With the impending doom of the rising water levels threatening to leave the island underwater; the project aims to use this isolation and the danger as an advantage to introduce and integrate the area into the life of the city. The way in which the project attempts to cultivate life in the area is to take reference from the foreseen future of the island and to make what are essentially protective measures into innovative and unique public spaces. The areas in which the design focuses are decided entirely by the research done on scientific studies made about the projected amount of water level rise and the areas that would be left underwater as a result. The protective interventions decided upon this look into the future are what give the opportunity to create the interesting public areas such as marshlands and artificial mountains. This relation of the social areas to the aim of future-proofing the island against its doom is what makes them special, relevant and truly worth creating. The project as a result not only is a shallow way of creating and bringing life into the area but also is a profound investment into the islands future.

Popis projektu

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”
Charles Darwin

Roosevelt Island is a long and narrow piece of land located in the east river of New York City between the coasts of Queens and Manhattan boroughs. The island took many names during its history of turmoil and in the modern New Yorker’s mind is an island associated with hospitals, asylums and welfare apartment blocks. Despite it being in the center of a bustling metropolis, the island is removed from the hectic life of the city. Much like the other shores of New York, Roosevelt Island too is also under serious threat of being left under the waters of the east river with the rising sea levels of global warming. This project aims to not only protect the island against the rising sea levels and guarantee its future but also using the isolation and the urban contrast of the island to the rest of the city to its advantage; strategizes to revitalize the island by creating an oasis amidst the metropolis. The area of the project is located in the north end of the island and is in between two of the most important historical landmarks of the area; the Octagon and the Lighthouse. The organization of the areas and the project takes its hints from the orientation of the island and these two landmarks. With the creation of said axis and areas identified through the research of the past and the future of the island the project propose a research center and museum as well as extensive interactive public spaces for the island that also act as protective measures against the rising waters.

According to Darwin, the most adaptable of all survives rather than the strongest. So, why can’t this principle is applied also to architecture? Instead of creating a building with heavy structure, the proposition is to create an architecture that transforms and adapts. With generation of a catalogue of spaces and a structure to rest on, the potential to create different circulation levels, densities and spatial experiences arise. Being in a context facing paced change in social-cultural, economic and environmental aspects, the building should reflect this potential.

Technické informace

Market Area: The market area is designed at the nearest position in the area to the residential parts of the Roosevelt Island. The purpose it would serve is to assign and provide a space for economic activity in the area in form of a produce/farmer’s market concept where small scale producers of different goods could have a chance to reach the population of New York through Roosevelt Island. The area features tensile structures to protect from the weather conditions and seeks to introduce a culture of square/marketplace into the area to enrich the lives of the existing residents of Roosevelt Island and also integrate the rest of the New York city with the Island.

Picnic Plains, Greenland & Sports Areas: The unique situation of the island between Queens and Manhattan in the East River creates beautiful and serene views all around. This, coupled with the vast area we were given to work with provided the opportunity to reserve a large area that could be used as green spaces for different functions such as picnics, concerts and gatherings. For these purposes a large area at the lighthouse end of the island and a smaller one towards the residential area of the island were created with gentle hills, walkways and endemic vegetation. In order to make the island more active and attractive for both its residents and the city; areas dedicated to play activities and sports for different demographics was an important consideration in the designing process of the project. Directly accessible from the main axis; playgrounds are envisioned for kids as well as multipurpose sports areas for adults.

Mountains, Marshlands & Islands: The project seeks to create areas of different landscape and topographical features that are in direct response to the reality of the uncertain future of the island. The function of these areas have two different distinct facets; the first one is them being a protective measure against the flooding and the rising sea levels that will eventually leave the island underwater, and the second one is them creating unique experiences and opportunities for the people. The marshlands are created by digging of the terrain and letting the water from the river in to create shallow pools with natural shrubbery and vegetation. The marshlands not only protect the island from flood waters but with the bridges and paths designed around them create a unique experience for the city. The mountains are created from the rubble of the past hospital and the material dug up from the construction of the other parts of the design and it is again not only a protective measure but with the creation of trekking paths, viewing terraces and piazzas designed on it has a strong social aspect. The islands created will help with the protection of the bay area by slowing down the stream of the river and with the vegetation on them and their accessibility via boats or kayaks, they will play a important part in the relation of the island and its residents with the water.

Bay Area: Although the island is surrounded by water the relation of the island and the people living in it with the river is very limited. Apart from the small bay serving ferries coming from Queens and Manhattan and the walkways along the shoreline; there is no culture of water activities in the island. The bay area was designed to challenge this reality and to create a stronger relation between the river and the island; as well as help reinforce the connections the island has with the Queens and Manhattan shores. The area also acts as a protective measure against the flooding with its sunken stepped design and offers different leisure and sports activities such as kayaking for not only the islands residents but also for the whole of New York.

Spoluautoři

Suada Dema, Yigit Bogachan Perk