The French Win Grand Army Plaza People's Prize
Apparently the judges for Reinventing Grand Army Plaza and the vast majority of Brooklynites have the same taste: both gave four French designers the first place nod for their vision entitled Canopy. What’s it all about? The plan involves a “series of pedestrian land bridges that terrace over Flatbush Avenue, which becomes the main north/south…
Apparently the judges for Reinventing Grand Army Plaza and the vast majority of Brooklynites have the same taste: both gave four French designers the first place nod for their vision entitled Canopy. What’s it all about? The plan involves a “series of pedestrian land bridges that terrace over Flatbush Avenue, which becomes the main north/south vehicle route.” In the rendering above, the park-goers are actually strolling above the roadway. The winners got $1,000, or about 722 Euros, for the People’s Choice Award and another $5,000 for the Jury Award. (The judges ended up awarded two first prizes, the other going to a proposal called Please Wake Me Up; the rendering is on the jump.)
Grand Army Plaza Designs Unveiled [Brownstoner]
I’m not a fan of the assymetry of the design. I think connection to the park is the primary way to make GAP work better, and this plan would do that, but, again, why so assymetrical? I feel like it would diminish the lovely Grand Union Army arch and the fountain if the visual cues don’t center on those two points.
If the planners had done their homework, they’d have known that this is the second generation of the plaza,after it was torn up for the (imsr) 2/3 lines, so as bofd says, can’t do it.
That said, “history”? What history? GAP has been compared to a Siberia in 1890, and is still that way now. Anything would be an improvement, but this was one of the most ridiculously impractical of the schemes. Others were much better and reasonable.
I actually think it could have been more “heep” if they made it look more like a post-industrial wasteland, which would be symbolic of the decadence and pointlessness of American Bourgeoise existence and would at the same time transform the area into a mini-landfill that would some day become the highest point in Brooklyn, symbolizing.. -oh never mind.
I like the place the way it is. The non-stop car traffic (very much akin to the scene around the Arc de Triomphe, by the way) keeps the pikers out of the fountain area when I’m walking my dog. The paving stones need re-conditioning, though.
Grand Army Plaza, so full of history and meaning …
Switch to the 1 Hour Energy Drink, Sam.
Too bad this design didn’t come from the Italians, I would have loved to hear your rant against their dismissive imperialism.
PBR sam. Nothing as entertaining on ESPN!!!
Tres humoristique BfF!
I see the arch, but I find it odd that the planting area (is that what that is?) sort of bisects it, am I reading that correctly? I like the sort of rounded-triangle shapes.
Then it looks like Union Street will no longer have access to the other side of the circle? Only PPW? Am I reading this correctly?
The Urban Stripes presentation is interesting, too. Maybe a little more in line with what I was anticipating.
north hts, a below grade tunnel for the cars would be next to impossible since numerous existing subway tubes go directly underneath GAP there is only one spot where creating a true tunnel for cars would be feasible.
Where’s the Shake Shack setting up shop?