Bronx, NY, USA - The implantation of amenity seeds along the Grand Concourse function as an urban activators where mix of programs are encompassed for people to explore.  Retaining its role as main spine of the Bronx, this intervention allows an emergence of connective tissues to establish a field of swells to embrace the community within and beyond the Concourse.

 

Concept

 

The Bronx is equipped with dispersed parks and amenities for us to explore in many scales.  While Robert Moses’s plan dedicated to infrastructural system may have benefited the vehicular traffic flows, it failed to address a rich pedestrian experience that still hinders the revelation of the true Bronx. Physical divergence is apparent through its presence and limits the communal activities. A symbiotic relationship of prosperous pedestrian experience and retained vehicular experience is essential.

 

Process

 

The design preconceives the inherent character that the site holds for current traffics.  Its unique features can be further exploited for enhanced pedestrian activities to infiltrate into the Grand Concourse.  Varying scales of static and dynamic "swells" accommodate an appropriate program for its surrounding context and its connections to establish unique swell-scapes.  The physical swells permit constant fluctuations of pedestrian and vehicular flow.  It will further identify connections to the peripheral key environment of what Bronx already has prepared for the community, establish a swelling pedestrian activities that oscillates back and forth.

 

Key Physical Features

 

Swells are composed of varying scale of seeds that sprout in multi-directions along the Grand Concourse for enhanced pedestrian circulations and rerouted vehicular flows.  Amenities include green markets, outdoor theaters, parks and lawns, urban beaches and lakes, various retail and commercial spaces.  They also act as visual and sound barriers against the adjacent bypassing vehicles.  At both endpoints of the Concourse are series of observatory islands for a contemplation of expansive peripheral views.  The swell system also allow further sprouting of landscapes that connect utilize another zone of existing and proposed amenities to augment. These extended intervention are resulting transformation into a building skin system over existing buildings, swells of architectural features to accommodate additional retail and commercial activities, or as simple as extended green space over the existing blocks and streets.

Type A - Intersection at Fordam Rd. is one of the energetic points for pedestrians along the Grand Concourse with retail stores.  While providing additional pavilions for future developments, an open-air space free of vehicular traffic is provided for more active and harmonized communal experience.  As for this scenario, the greenscapes are further extended beyond the Grand Concourse to provide even more active community-oriented linkage to Fordham University and beyond.

Type B - A parkscape located at various residential zones provide rich amenities for local communities to utilize this area while maintaining the vehicular flow underneath the Grand Concourse.  The varying transformations from green park, urban beach (skating rink during winter), canopies, etc., provide many possible programs for communal and personal usage.

Type C - Within the cultural heart of the Bronx situates a newly transformed Franz Sigel Park with a site-integrated green amphitheater structure.  By utilizing its elevation, the park can contains communal terraced plantation surface for local produces.  Residential zone parks are subtly elevated to create a sound barrier against the vehicular traffics, maintaining it tranquil moments.

Type D - Series of chain-linked observation platforms celebrates the entry and exit for vehicular visitors and residents at each end of the Grand Concourse.  Pedestrians can access these platforms and enjoy the peripheral views of the Bronx and its rich natural conditions.  These platforms are spacious enough for occasional communal activities and contemplation.