The studio will focus on a Manhattan superblock, The ubiquitous Manhattan grid was established in 1811. The grid created oblong-shaped blocks, varying slightly in size (approx. 200′ *1,000′), comprised of a repetiton of parcels organized linearly and back-to-back (approx. 25′ *100′). With the advance of technology and the ability to build bigger, the single parcel proved too constraining to accommodate the more ambitious projects. With the introduction of mega-projects in the 20th century, even whole blocks proved inadequate. As a result, multiple blocks were combined to accommodate a new mega-scale structure. Is the superstructure still a relevant model for urban development.

Welcome to 2018 Small Idea 07. Please read and prepare materials listed below before July 8th.

01.Please find at least 2 mega-structural design cases per person/ team (Can be anywhere surrounding the world, whether been built or not), try to understand the design intention and design background of these cases you found. Each student is asked to explore the development and the influence of mega-urbanism. How the mage-urbanism related to the society, the people, the economy, the nature, the programs etc … Try to find something new and something special within these three cases (Besides well-known super studio, archizoom, Metabolism etc …)

02.Please do a research about our site and the Manhattan urban grid. Trying to understand the historical context, design history and urban 胆behind the site and the Manhattan district. Do a research about how New York coding can influence the architectural form in Manhattan or the Rockefeller Center/ Central Park.

03.Once you finished. Trying to use at least 2 collages based on the initial rendering of the Rockefeller center/ Central Park to deliver your idea/concept or your imagination about how the new mega-urbanism should be in Manhattan. The collage should base on the provided image below: (egl and eg2)

Associates:

Numerous design schemes on a variety of possible sites were devised during the initial planning of the project. All the early schemes assumed the opera house would be the centerpiece of the development. Some of the schemes were quite radical and inventive. However, once Rockefeller was committed to the development, and the Metropolitan Opera was detached from it, a new design team was formed – less to produce an innovative scheme then one to exploit the real estate value of the site. In 1929, the firm Todd, Robertson & Todd were hired to lead the project, from then on known as the Associated Architects.

项目概况

Site01:Rockefeller Center, Manhattan, New York (Recommend)

Site02:Central Park, Manhattan, New York

课程目的

The challenge of the studio is to re-conceptualize Rockefeller Center/ Central Park in New York City. The studio will be divided into two main phases.

Phase I : Urban

The first phase will focus on the urban scale and massing. he studio will re­plan Rockefeller Center/Central Park at the urban scale. As a starting point, the project will return to the site configuration that existed at the conception of the original project planning. The new master plan(s) and massing studies will provide the urban context for architectural proposals.

Phase II: Architecture

The second phase will focus on the architectural scale. Each team will design in more detail the architecture of the urban scale plans. This exercise will fulfill the urban ambitions through architecture.