NY Aquarium Goes for "Whale" of a Design

The NY Sun reports that the New York Aquarium has selected a plan for its redesign. The Wallace Roberts & Todd and Cloud 9 design has a dramatic "wavy, cage-like enclosure." NY Times critic Nicholas Ouroussoff said it resembles a whale last October when the design, along with two others, were announced as finalists.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (which oversees the aquarium along with the city's zoos) is working on details of funding and construction with the Economic Development Corporation. With much of the revitalization of Coney Island still being worked out, what with Thor Equities's massive re-imagining of the area, Coney Island historian Charles Denson tells the Sun, "It's going to be one of the main attractions in Coney Island. There's not much less."

We hope the project works out - it's an exciting project that looks amazing. And it'll kind of match the West 8th Street subway station!

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By Jen Chung in Arts and Events on March 7, 2007 9:45 AM

Comments [rss]

djego padilla

The structure resembles a fishing net, rather than a whale. Not a very sympathetic metaphor for the inhabitants of the aquarium, Zaha Hadid would of rocked this one.

wow

I'm so excited for this; for once they actually picked a design for something that I like. I remember when the different possibilities were released, this was my favorite of them. Abstract, yet elegant and interesting at the same time. Kudos.

Ira

Looks very much like the Olympic Park in Munich. I can imagine skaters dying to get their boards up there.

lc

This is very trendy. The "sky curtain" provides protection from the elements while allowing people to feel the outdoors and natural light. A similar design will be used for the new Cultural Center at Kowloon Station in Hong Kong.

Toby

Looks like Frank Ghery light.

xnan

After reading & re-reading it repeatedly, I submit that the Sun's quote should read here,"It's going to be one of the main attractions in Coney Island. There's not much LEFT." Not LESS, but LEFT.

How is it that Gothamist's "quirky, yet adorably awful" grammar extends even to copying & pasting from another source?? Remarkable. Truly.

MT

It's so exciting to see New York getting some progressive architecture again. We've had too much bland schlock for way too long now. I"m so glad to see the city is getting interested in design again.

Now let's make 80 South Street happen too!