THE OASIS | Roosevelt island , NYC

Politecnico di Milano, Polytechnic University of Milan, School of Design

Project idea

The Oasis is developed as a multi-functional hub that harbors spaces of retail, commerce, hospitality, recreation and relaxation. Located in between the Queensboro Bridge and the Four Freedoms Park on the Roosevelt Island, New York, The Oasis is an attempt to create an interactive, playful public destination that offers panoramic views of the Manhattan and Queens skyline along with the east river far away from the bustle of busy city life. The built masses are planned to emerge from green elevated mounds that provides localized urban greens responding to its specific building functions. The masses are extruded as multi-directional terraces at each level, enhancing the views from and to the island and adding up to the dynamic experience of the journey through the project. The small pox hospital ruin is preserved to its monumental significance with minimalist interventions adding perfectly to the calmness of the island tip.

Project description

The project features varied functions of commerce and recreations comprising of a convention center, boutique hotel, exhibition center, integrated rejuvenation center and a day care center for elderly & children, along with the Small Pox Ruin preserved to serve as a museum and a observation platform on it's roof. The edges of the island are developed to transform into observation platforms and docking yards while using the full potential of the site. Symbolically reciprocating to its name, The Oasis forms a perfect destination for an escape from the bustle of New York City.

Technical information

Water levels surrounding the Roosevelt Island is constantly rising with the threat of flooding the the near future. The project is designed with a futuristic approach addressing the concern by the placement of building blocks on elevated mounds where the building blocks can be connected with bridges on different levels. The landscape of the project is developed to promote multi-seasonal use of public spaces activating the site throughout the year.

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