Y3S1D5

In the heart of New York City, a city celebrated for its meticulously arranged grid of streets and avenues, lies Sara Roosevelt Park—a striking deviation from this order, presenting a unique urban landscape between the vibrant neighborhoods of Chinatown and the Lower East Side. It was here, during the first semester of my junior year at Pratt Institute, that my partner and I embarked on a visionary project that would not only challenge the traditional urban grid but also foster community engagement, environmental education, and sustainable urban development. This project has been recognized for its innovative approach and has been archived in the In-Process Book produced by Pratt, a prestigious accolade that underscores the project's significance and our commitment to architectural excellence.

Our design draws inspiration from the juxtaposition of Manhattan’s rigid grid system with the organic, disruptive presence of Sara Roosevelt Park. This area, rich with the history of grassroots activism led by figures like Liz Christy and the Green Guerillas, who transformed derelict lots into vibrant green spaces, served as both muse and canvas for our work. Embracing this legacy, we envisioned a space that not only integrates with the park’s natural and social landscape but also acts as a beacon of community and environmental reclamation.

Central to our design is a multifunctional community center, underpinned by the ethos of the Green Guerillas, now our anchor tenant. This partnership informed the creation of a series of spaces dedicated to environmental education, including a sun-drenched garden situated to take full advantage of the unique solar geometry created by neighboring high-rises. This garden, climbing over an exposed steel frame, becomes a living testament to the possibility of green renewal in urban environments. Overlooking this green canopy are classrooms and a "teaching" garden, where the lifecycle of plants is explored from seedling to maturity, embodying our vision for hands-on learning and community engagement.

Our architectural strategy reflects a dialogue between the existing urban fabric and our intervention, navigating between Manhattan's orthogonal grid and the angled trajectories inspired by nearby streets like Bowery. This interplay creates dynamic spaces within the project, inviting visitors to engage with the site through multiple pathways—be it the bustling produce market at the building's edge or the serene ascent to the community center and event space. The incorporation of sustainable elements, such as photovoltaic panels and a double-skinned polycarbonate roof, emphasizes our commitment to environmental stewardship, capturing and recycling energy to nourish the project's green heart.