So it was, in a sense, good news that the nonprofit Trust for Governors Island released a proposal on Monday to rezone disused parts of the island, long set aside for economic redevelopment.
It’s an aspirational plan, more than anything. The goal, which has been circulating for a while, is to incubate a new climate research center. Similar ideas have been advanced for decades on Governors Island.
— The New York Times
NYT architecture critic Michael Kimmelman on the recently announced plan by the Trust for Governors Island to develop a center for climate solutions, designed by WXY architecture + urban design, on parts of the island.
"Architecturally speaking, everything will come down to the details — and the as-yet-undetermined tenant(s)," Kimmelman writes. "Meanwhile, here’s hoping the rezoning passes city muster. Planning the future of New York is what we need now. It involves many steps. This is a small but useful one. We need more."
Find details about the Trust's plan here.
3 Comments
How much fossil fuel will be used to carry the staff and visitors to the island every day? The climate research center should be put into the former Neiman Marcus store at Hudson Yards.
Think the idea behind this is to use a "climate center" as a trojan horse to develop Gov Island. The review admits as much -- asking why a Climate Center is even necessary, supporting rezoning, and then saying Gov Island needs a return on investment (which a Climate Center wouldn't do). Bloomberg's pool boy.
Otherwise there is no actual design criticism here minus political posturing (as usual). Why does a climate center need stacked boxes and trees growing on roofs? Why can't it just be one complex? What is even the goal of this climate center? Who cares amiright -- rezone baby!
a prominent but hard to reach site should be reserved for a public monument - trumps presidential library. there would be no ferry service and only people with helicopters could visit. as sea levels rise it would be washed away and forgotten.
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