Proposed by PinkCloud.DK, TENACITY seeks to revitalize the broken system of New York City Public Housing through architectural development, economic stimulus, education, and most importantly – community pride. The goal for this project is to be a catalyst for dialogue, spurring community and governmental action. The design of TENACITY is founded on the firm’s belief that a strong community is built upon three main goals – good health, prosperity, and family. More images and architects’ description after the break.
TENACITY is an architectural research proposal seeking to revitalize long neglected and socially disadvantaged Public Housing communities in New York City. Of New York City’s 8 million residents, there are over 400,000 residents currently living in poverty and deteriorating conditions within New York City’s public housing system. Of the over 2,500 buildings in the city’s public housing stock, most were built during the late 1940s until the mid 1960s; all remain today in various states of disrepair and neglect. Their designs reflected the popular motif of city planning of the day, that of the “Towers in the Park”. Envisioned by architects such as Le Corbusier as the answer to urban poverty, it ultimately resulted in its exacerbation.
TENACITY contains three main components – a ground level containing farms and amenities, a new level above the existing buildings containing High – Tech manufacturing and vocational schools, and lastly a brand new series of residential buildings that rests above the manufacturing buildings. The currently underused ground level of the complex will be converted into pastures and farmland. The lack of fresh vegetables and food currently plaguing many public housing neighborhoods is addressed through the conversion of its existing lawns into productive farm land.
Economic stimulus is provided through the integration of new vocational schools and integrated high-tech factories within the complex. Residents of TENACITY will have the opportunity to receive an education and immediately be hired for high tech manufacturing work following their graduation. Lastly, new residential units will be built, allowing for the existing residential units to be converted into public amenity spaces. By exploiting the vast amount of space contained within the existing design of the Corbusian Super Blocks, TENACITY intends for the design to be a self sustaining driver of social development. With TENACITY, our goal is to utilize design as a driver for social mobility.
Location: New York City, New York, United States
Team: Leon Lai, Kate Lisi, Eric Tan