NYC Aquarium & Public Waterfront (with Sarah Keane & Roger Wilson)
April 2016

The Drops contests the boundaries of architectural fantasy. The scheme is two part: an iconic architectural assertion, and an ecological intervention. As an icon, the crystal-like towers and giant sculptural levers draw on the historic references from the site. It is a bold new landmark on the Queens’ skyline. As an eco-system, the design acts as a machine, regenerating the waters of the East River. The entire site is an aquarium, both natural and contained. A diversity of native sea life and plant species that once flourished in and around the New York waters will thrive once again. The land is in flux; the visitor experience is continually changing. 

Hypothesis: Can aquarium architecture mediate between land and sea to create a more ecological city form?