This thesis project, in collaboration with project partner Brice Lamiri, tackles the issue of technological obsolescence and the nature of rapid change. Most of the core principles are inspired by the futurist group Archigram, journalist Jane Jacobs, and lessons from a general contractor professor. Since the site was the Brooklyn Naval Yard, a historical manufacturing enclave, the main question we sought to answer was: “What will be the state of manufacturing in 10 years? 20 years? 50 years? 100 years?” etc.

   It was appropriate for the project that during the course of the project, the site was hit by Hurricane Sandy, adding another dimension to types of change that can occur. Such a major event often precedes major shifts in urban planning priorities. It also afforded the opportunity for me to contact over 150 people working in various facilities within the Naval Yard, and identify areas with different types of damage resulting from the hurricane.

   One of the main challenges of this project was to reconcile different priorities of design between me and my partner. Almost every major design proposal preceded a heated debate over its merits, required sacrifices, architectonics, the spirit of this project, and the nature of Architecture itself. The collaboration forced us to come up with systems of decision-making,  responsibilities, compromises, and what it really means to work with another person.

   Most of the graphics were done by me, while my partner was responsible for diagrams and plans of the overall master plan of the site, as well as a few renders. All the images provided on this sheet of work samples were made by me.