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 don’t even see the arch in this scheme. But I do like the Vermont style foliage. I hope they left some space for a rodeo. We Americans love our rodeos.
Ze Frenchies wiss zeir outrrrageous ac-cents are cordially invited to see how “land bridges” work out over the Prospect Expressway in Kensington/Windsor Terrace, among other notable exemplars. “Mugger’s Choice” indeed! However, ze entire contest was, how you say, une fantaisie? “Le visioning,” n’est-ce pas? Ze real plans, they come in, oh, 10 years, or wiz your funny problemes economiques Americains, maybe ney-vair! But for now, we have ze posters to look at, tres “heep,” no?
Pierre, any comment???
Agree with Sam. If they want to make traffic flow a priority, then take the covered roadway concept to its logical conclusion – do a tunnel, and leave the plaza alone.
What’s with the swoosh in the lower drawing? Is this park going to be brought to us courtesy of the good folks at Nike?
not averse to it, dont see it as trashing the monuments or a muggers paradise (how is prospect park any less dangerous?), just need a damn pedestrian bridge to make it desireably accesible.
Nice renderings. I wish we did get those Autumn reds. This is gonna be hot.
Ridiculous fantasy.
And typically French in that they treat our historic places and monuments as totally expendable trash. To them, America has no history. Could you imagine if they proposed a scheme like this for one of the “etoiles” in Paris?
Why would the NYC Art Commission and the Landmarks Commission agree to completely disfigure historic Grand Army Plaza in this way?
This one probably would have one the Muggers Choice Award too.