Earlier this year some renderings for a Governors Island redesign were released. Out of the five contending designs, all of which the NY Times architecture critic Nicolai Ouroussof called "unambitious", a winner was finally chosen. Earlier today at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal, Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Spitzer announced the Dutch firm West 8 has been selected to recreate the open space on the island. This was one of the firms that Ouroussof pointed out as having a "thoughtful" design back in June. So what's in store for the 90 acres of parkland?
A two-mile promenade along the water, a park on the southern half and an improved park design within the northern Historic District-- amongst other things. Like a lot of red flowers!
Bloomberg stated today that "New York is re-embracing the waterfront for the first time in more than a century. This park on Governor's Island will be at the center of this new era of waterfront recreation for New York City, and will complement the City's other great parks and recreation spaces." The best part, however, is that West 8 will use recycled materials from demolished buildings, a move that will help keep our landfills a little less full, and in turn help create "a sustainable park for New York.”
When can we expect to romp around the new waterfront park? 2013. Until then, view more of their renderings here.
