ASTOR PLACE, NYC
LOOKING AT A SITE IN ASTOR PLACE, ADJACENT TO THE COOPER UNION’S FOUNDATION BUILDING AND KEY NODE OF URBANISM, THIS PROJECT WAS APPROACHED FROM THE IDEA OF THE SURREALIST EXQUISITE CORPSE. WHERE GIVEN PROGRAMS: THE BATH HOUSE, THE PUBLIC PLAZA, AND THE CONVENTION CENTER; WITH PROVIDED FORMS FROM PRECEDENT, ARE COMPOSED WITHIN THE ZONING LIMITS OF THE SITE, FOCUSING ON THE CHALLENGING OF CONVENTIONS REGARDING PRIVACY AND PROMENADE. THE BATH HOUSE, DIRECTLY ACCESSIBLE FROM THE STREET, LEADS TO AN ELEVATED PLAZA THAT ACTS AS A SLICE THROUGH THE ENVELOPE, WHICH ULTIMATELY LEADS TO THE FINAL PROGRAM, THE AUDITORIUM. THE FORMS OF PROGRAM ARE SHRINK-WRAPPED WITH A FACADE, WITH THE SPATIAL POCHE OF THE PROJECT BEING FILLED WITH AN AUXILIARY PROGRAM: A SINGLE-NIGHT HOTEL CENTERED ON COMMUNAL LIVING.
