Alphabet City is a small neighborhood in Manhattan between 14th st and Houston Avenue and between 1st Avenue and the East River. Each student in this studio was asked to choose a site there and make a “gift” to the local community and the city by choosing a program. After visiting several times the area and walking around i observed that alphabet city was very close to East River, and the park running along its border, but was separated, by the FDR Highway, from the shore and had no connection or relation with it at all.

I also discovered the Con-Ed East River Generation Station, a huge industrial building, situated where 14th st meets with the river. The power plant has a very strong physical presence and identity and offered the opportunity to access the water and be transformed into a new program for Alphabet City and also to become an attraction for all New Yorkers. Such a building would not resist much longer as an industrial facility in the middle of the metropolis. Into what could it be transformed?

The Building could be used as a metropolitan balnearium, something like contemporary roman baths. This program could take advantage of the monumentality of the structures, its vicinity to the river, and its capacity to produce steam.

Several references where studied and taken into account: The roman baths because of their urban attitude towards leisure, Moorish baths in their use of light and ambiance, Sutro Baths for their adaptation of industrial means to build artificial environments of relaxation and enjoyment and also because of their fusion of therapeuthical, sports, leisure and exhibition activities all in one space. The notion of doing and at the same time being observed doing.