101
author Bram D’hoedt promotors Ward Verbakel Tom Thys READERS Benoit Moritz Giovanni Santa Maria Maarten Van Acker EAST RIVER EXCHANGE Versatile revitalization of a Navy Yard pier

East River Exchange

Embed Size (px)

DESCRIPTION

graduation thesis

Citation preview

  • a u t h o r

    Bram Dhoedt

    p r o m o t o rs

    Ward Verbakel

    Tom Thys

    R E A D E RS

    Benoit Moritz

    Giovanni Santa Maria

    Maarten Van Acker

    E AS T R I V E R E XC H A N G EVersatile revitalization of a Navy Yard pier

  • Copyright by K.U.Leuven

    Without written permission of the promotors and the authors it is forbidden to reproduce or adapt in any form or by any means any part of this publication. Requests for obtaining the right to reproduce or utilize parts of this publication should be addressed to K.U.Leuven, Faculty of Engineering Kasteelpark Arenberg 1, B-3001 Heverlee (Belgi). Telefoon +32-16-32 13 50 & Fax. +32-16-32 19 88.

    A written permission of the promotor is also required to use the methods, products, schematics and programs described in this work for industrial or commercial use, and for submitting this publication in scientifi c contests.

    All images in this booklet are, unless credits are given, made or drawn by the authors (Studio Brooklyn).

  • STUDIO BROOKLYN AT WORK, INDIVIDUAL DESIGN THESIS

    EAST RIVER EXCHANGEVersatile revitalization of a Navy Yard pier

    Bram Dhoedt

    Benoit Moritz

    Giovanni Santa Maria

  • ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to express my greatest gratitude towards my promotors, Tom Thys and Ward Verbakel, whose -as always, very critical- guidance was invaluable throughout this year of thinking / writing / experimenting / struggling / deadlining and designing (in changing order of appearance). The expectations of my final academical year were high and I have not been let down. Thank you for keeping to push me towards the end! I am grateful to Mattias Schevenels for his external feedback and insights. I would like to thank my readers Benoit Moritz, Giovanni Santa Maria and Maarten Van Acker for taking the time to read and evaluate this thesis. Within the company of my fellow Studio Brooklyn-ers this year turned out to be an unforgettable one!My first five years into the engaging world of architecture would of course not have been possible without the everlasting support of my parents. Thank you for keeping to believe in me and giving me the opportunity to fulfill my ambitious dreams. Of course, this last year was also a hard one for my friends. Thank you for not taking each no I wont be able to come, Im working for my thesis too personal! Lastly, I would like to thank Brenda Mordijck, for supporting and understanding me in times I most needed it!

    Bram Dhoedt

  • EA

    ST

    RIV

    ER

    EX

    CH

    AN

    GE

    the evolution of bnybny today

    surrounding tissuebny and the sixth borough

    brooklyn madebrooklyn changed

    creative impulsetransport in need

    greener choices

    case studies

    8 case studies

    brooklyn 102: sixth chapter on a productive borough

    brooklyn navy yard: industrious enclave

    individual design proJects

  • EAST RIVER EXCHANGE versatile revitalization of a Navy Yard pier is the fourth and individual volume out of a series of four studio books presenting the results of the KU Leuven Master of Architecture graduation thesis Studio Brooklyn at work, a guide to the post-crisis city. The investigation was carried out during the academic year 2012-2013 by eight graduation students. Brooklyn 102, the first of three studio books is a sequel on last years Brooklyn 101 and explores Brooklyn as a productive city. The second studio book, an elaborate site analysis, is limited to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a single industrial enclave in the borough. The former shipyard, now industrial park, represents in many ways the tendencies going on in the borough. The third and last studio book is a collection of 8 case studies. Throughout the collective research, personal design proposals have arisen and led to the students individual design thesis. The first three books are considered as a background to assist the reader in situating this design project in its context.

  • ABSTRACT Against the background of the post-industrial city a recent tendency of -unilateral- riverside development is taking place: industrial zoned hardscapes are becoming home to soft urban users and usages. In opposition to this trend, this design is the manifestation of the extrapolation of a programs active on a wide range of scales into the versatile, productive and resilient waterfront development of a deteriorating pier at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

    Bram D'hoedt

  • I. NAVY YARD: qualities and opportunities 12 From watersite to backside 14 Deteriorating piers 16 Reaching the yard 20 Opportunity 22

    II. TOWARDS THE WATERFRONT 24 The archipelago that is NY 26 Ferry net-work 30 Marine waste transfer 32 Closing the loop 34 Casestudy: Walmart boxes 36

    III. INTERVENTION 38 Scales of impact 40

    IV. DESIGN 42 Elements of exchange 44 Plans 54 Elevations 72 Sections 78 Situation plan 84

    V. EPILOGUE 86 The bigger picture 88 VI. ADDENDUM 90

    VII. REFERENCES 96

    INDEX

  • I. NAVY YARD: qualities and opportunitiesThe present-day economical situation has left its mark on the Navy Yard, an industrial park bordering the East River in Brooklyn. The once vibrant US Marine Base has turned into a fragmented industrial site home to mainly small scale creative/tech companies. As a consequence, the water oriented yard has turned its back towards the waterfront leaving the infrastructure on the waters edge to deteriorate. Furthermore, the different tenants require distinctive needs and external expertise. This chapter briefl y

    recapitulates and refocuses some themes extensively described in the second studio volume: Brooklyn Navy Yard: industrious enclave.

  • I. NAVY YARD: qualities and opportunities

  • 14

    Historical image of manual labourers paving pier c at the exanding Brooklyn Navy Yard of 1936.

    Image showing the Navy Yards inactive and fenced off waterfront. The railtracks have been covered in a layer of concrete. Heavy industrial usage with trucks and blue collar jobs with manual laborers made place for cars and white collar jobs.

  • 15

    FROM WATERSITE TO BACKSIDEThe industrial park of the Navy Yard can apply as an exemplary case for what has been happening on a far larger scale. Big, often polluting industries along the waters edge cease to exist or migrate elsewhere, out of the citys centre. Even so the Navy Yard, where as of 1801 the site has been in use as the US prime battleship building facility. At its peak, wartime of WWII, almost 70.000 people where employed at the yard. By 1970 the yard was taken over by Seatrain, however it too ceased to exist in the following decade. When the Navy Yard Development Corporation

    took over, an era of exclusive orientation towards the waterfront came to an end. The current Navy Yard has been turned into a industrial park employing 7000 people in a variety of rather small companies, ranging from the creative and tech sector to small scale industrial manufacturing. The Navy Yard transformed spectacularly: from a site working together towards a common goal: building warships, towards a fragmented industrial park with independent tenants and individual goals. The tenants too changed, as manual labor jobs became less required.

  • 16

    Close-up of pier d with the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building and the Williamsburg Bridge at the background.

    Close-up of deteriorated pier g with the Brooklyn Navy Yard Cogeneration Plant, Manhattan Bridge and the -under construction- Freedom Tower at the Background.

  • 17

    pier

    c

    pier

    ddr

    ydoc

    k 4

    drydock 2

    drydock 3drydock 5

    drydock 6

    pier g

    pier j

    pier k

    barge basindr

    ydoc

    k 1

    DETERIORATING PIERSHistorically the Yards waterfront expanded artifi cially from its 0.6 miles in

    1600s towards the current 6.7 miles by constructing drydocks and piers. Despite the tendency of expanding waterfront, three piers, three drydocks and the barge basin have fallen into disuse to an extentthat nature is reclaiming the concreted surface of these naval infrastructures. The once vibrant face of the Navy Yard has turned into an anonymous backside.

    in use

    in disuse

  • 18

    1924 1951

    The most profoundly suffering from this lack of activity is pier g. In the span of a century the battleship producing pier slowly degraded. From the capacious 650 ft (200m) of concreted hardscape only a fraction remains, deteriorated and reduced to rubble. The process of degrations even seems to be accelerating in the last decade.

  • 19

    1996

    2008

    2013

  • 20

    Clinton Ave.00.00 02.00 04.00 06.00 08.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00 22.00

    Cumberland St.

    Sands St.

    Washington Ave.

    Vanderbilt Ave. Clymer St.

    Building 92

    NYPD towing

  • 21

    REACHING THE YARDThe majority of the companies currently active in the industrial park do not depend on the unique marine infrastructure and location along the East River. The eight entrances radially dispersed along the land border along with the elevated Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) passing nearby provide for an easy access by car or by truck. The easy accessibility for its commuting tenants

    however, fails miserably short in terms of public transport. It is as if the subway, NYCs most popular mode of commuting, takes a wide turn around the Navy Yard. Since the employees no longer live in the near vicinity of the yard this poses an inconvenience for a modern industrial park that is promoting itself as sustainable and green.

  • 22

  • OPPORTUNITYPrecisely because the blue fingers of the

    Navy Yard reach so far out into the East River towards the Lower East Side of Manhattan a stunning view enrolls itself. A unique and invaluable decor offers the promise for a rich and versatile productive waterfront. The trio of illustrious bridges -Brooklyn/Manhattan/Wi l l iamsburg Bridge- can be recognized in the

    background along with the new Freedom Tower, Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. On the opposite site of the river the office buildings of Downtown Brooklyn

    rise above the industrial cranes and buildings of the Navy Yard. The East River also provides for many passengers along the East River. A great opportunity to see and be seen!

    23

  • II. TOWARDS THE WATERFRONTAs the waters surrounding New York City are becoming cleaner and healthier, a renewed interest in the rivers surrounding New York City can be observed in the last few decades. This chapter explores some of these recent trends and ambitious projects of which some are planned and others are being implemented, each of which preludes on its own way a renewed relation and rediscovery of the waterfront.

  • 26

    1213 14

    16

    242

    3

    19

    23

    22

    20

    21

    7

    854

    29

    26

    25

    27

  • 27

    1516

    9

    10

    14

    181117

    26

    28

    1 Manhattan Island (MI)2

    5

    34

    67

    10

    89

    1112

    15

    1314

    1617

    2021

    1819

    2322

    Ellis Island (EI)Liberty Island (LI)Mill Rock (MR)Randalls Island (RDI)Roosevelt Island (RVI)U Thant Island (UTI)Wards Island (WI)City Island (CI)Hunters Island (HTI)Rat Island (RI)North Brother Island (NVI)South Brother Island (SBI)Rikers Island (RKI)The Canarsie Pol (CP)Ruffl e Bar (RB)High Island (HGI)Hart Island (HI)Hoffman Island (HMI)Isle of Meadows (IOM)Pralls Island (PLI)Shooters Island (SHI)Swinburne Island (SI)

    24 Governors Island (GI)

    The New York City area consists of several islands. Connected by means of program and function, these islands form a part of a larger ensemble: an archipelago. Essential to Manhattans evolution are the islands in its surroundings, wether they contain the programs not desired but nevertheless indispensable to the city (heavy industries, asylums, ...), forming a protection against the elements (taking the force out of storm surges), containing the domesticated heterotopias necessary to a city (like prisons, hospitals, ...) or

    being a testing ground for experimental architectural models. However over time, some functions have fallen into disuse. With the refocus on the waterfront in the last decade, New Yorks islands reappear into picture. The network holding together the cluster of islands to form New York City is under a constant process of change and is as agile as the tidal pulse of the ocean it is embraced by. Constantly shifting its functionality, relationship with the other islands and its own appearance, it is clear that these islands are not a constant.

    25

    2726

    Brooklyn (BKN)Queens (Q)Staten Island (SI)

    29 New Jersey (NJ)28 Bronx (B)

    THE ARCHIPELAGO THAT IS NY

    tunnel

    bridge

    ferry

  • 28

    Render image of West8 Masterplan for Governors Island

    Render image of West8 Masterplan for Governors Island

    Render image of Governors Island and public space master plan by West8

  • 29

    Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Masterplan technology centre Roosevelt Island

    Two island projects are about to begin construction: a public park and housing development on Governors Island and the construction of a technological centre on Roosevelt Island. International renowned architectural offices are

    assigned to design the plans.The masterplan of West8 consists out of the redevelopment of Governors Island into a public accessible park in combination with housing developments. The focus of the design is creating a sustainable, car-free, recreation park;

    a destination, a park of pleasure. The first phase of the masterplan began

    construction in the summer of 2012.On Roosevelt Island a new masterplan by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill contains the design for a new technological university and a tech campus. This project aims to be the new Silicon Valley and has the support of major businesses in the field (Google, Facebook, Ebay, ...).

    The campus is planned to break ground in 2014.

  • 30

    Image of the East River Ferry arriving at the Dumbo ferry stop with the Manhattan Bridge in the background.

    This ferry initiative encourages the use of the ferry as a leisure activity. Right page map shows the different public ferry compagnies active in the New York - New Jersey Upper bay

    New York Waterways

    public ferry by company

    New York Water Taxi

    Liberty Landing Marina

    New York Ferry

    Seastreak

    East River Ferry

    New Jersey Ferry

    Governors Island Ferry

    Billy Bey

    Staten Island Ferry

  • 31

    New York Waterways

    public ferry by company

    New York Water Taxi

    Liberty Landing Marina

    New York Ferry

    Seastreak

    East River Ferry

    New Jersey Ferry

    Governors Island Ferry

    Billy Bey

    Staten Island Ferry

    With the migration out of the city of waterfront industrial activity more and more people live and recreate at the waterfront. The ferry as a way of mass public transport is gradually becoming a valuable alternative to the subway. This is most clearly illustrated by 21 million passengers annually on the Staten Island ferry. It is part of the daily Staten Island-Manhattan commute, a not to be underestimated economical importance to the City. A second example is the success of the East River Ferry, a pilot program initiated in the wake of the Vision 2020, New Yorks City Comprehensive Waterfront Plan. After its fi rst year of operation, the

    ferry transported over 1 million costumers between its fi ve stops in Brooklyn and its

    two stops in Manhattan. In this way the ferry provides in a pleasant north-south connection over the East River. The ferry network is also of critical importance to the tourism sector, providing in an easy and affordable way towards the islands with their museums. As opposed to the grey network of congested streets and noise, or the dark network of the underground, one of the main assets of the blue network is perhaps that it is a water highway without speed limits, congestion or noise within a stunning environment.

    FERRY NET-WORK

  • Image of a waste transfer station in Gowanus Canal currently being transformed to cope with the new requirements.

    Image of the East 91st Street marine waste-transfer station, Manhattan, neighboring the Asphalt Green recreational facility. Despite great community protest preperations for reopening the site are in progress.

    Image of the Pier 52 marine waste-transfer station, Manhattan

    32

  • MARINE WASTE TRANSFERUnder the Mayor Bloomberg Administration, a new solid waste management program is taking place. The main objective is to reduce the environmental and social impact of heavy garbage-truck-traffi c on the access roads

    to New York City. A total amount of about 2000 long-haul trucking trips a day are moving 22 thousand tons of garbage on a daily base from waste transfer stations (WTS) to landfi lls outside of the City

    since the last landfi ll closed its doors in

    2001. In particular the neighborhoods surrounding South Bronx, Newtown Creek (Brooklyn) and Jamaica (Queens) are responsible for nearly 65 percent of NYCs waste handling. By stimulating waste transfer by barge (1barge= 28 tractor-trailer trucks) instead of waste transfer by long-haul trucks, the impact on these communities can be reduced and distributed more evenly.

    33

  • 34

    Image of a garbage truck dumping recyclable paper in a barge at a waste transfer stationin Staten Island.

    Image of two barges filled with waste transported by a tugboat.

    Image of the construction of the Sims recycling factory at Sunset Park. The recycling factory will be fully operational by 2014.

  • 35

    current system

    optimal system

    empty

    full

    consumer waste transfer station recycling factory

    collectedcompressed & transferred sorted & recycled

    consumer waste transfer station recycling factory

    collected compressed sorted & recycled

    recycled material

    waste

    current system

    ideal system

    The current system that will be implemented proposes to ship the locally collected waste towards a landfill

    or recycling centre. The citys waste management plan also incentivizes recycling, and a brand new recycling centre in Sunset park is soon to be operational. Since the main objective is to cut down on transport costs and the associated pollution, this system could

    be taken one step further by allowing recycled goods to be distributed back into the city through these waste transfer stations. In this way fuel consumption/pollution will be reduced dramatically as in the current system the carriers of goods (trucks and barges) are empty during half of their trips. Especially if focussed on industrial sites with selective recyclables and products.

    CLOSING THE LOOP

    consumer waste transfer station recycling factory

    collected compressed sorted & recycled

    recycled material

    waste

    current system

    ideal system

    35

  • Video of a Walmart promotional video of the recyclable pizza boxes.

    Image of the collection and compression of the recyclable boxes in a Walmart store.

    Image of a Walmart truck transporting the 100% recycled boxes.

    36

  • CASESTUDY: WALMART BOXES

    consumer recycling factory

    collected sorted & recycled

    WALMART

    37

    The closed loop process of the recycled cardboard in Walmart.

    By firstly collecting and compacting

    the cardboard waste at the stores and transporting the cardboard packaging directly to the box supplier, Walmart has succeeded in closing the cardboard waste loop. Not only do they limit the usage of new resources for their cardboard production, they also dropped fuel costs by 30% by ensuring the trucks take as much full trips as possible. The same carrier is used to carry the waste and return the recycled product.

  • III. INTERVENTIONMy design intervention is the transformation of a pier on the Navy Yard into a versatile, active and productive waterfront development which the Brooklyn of tomorrow has in mind. The proposition consists of the superposition of different programs with different scales of impact into one design on one location which ensures a strong exchange on a wide range of people and issues. By combining this extra-ordinary program, East River Exchange takes full advantage of the unique qualities and site specific conditions of the Navy Yard and its surroundings.

  • 40

    MSSSS

    Small scale. At the smallest level, the design revitalizes the unused infrastructure of pier g and the underused industrial hardscape of the Navy Yard.

    Medium scale. By plugging the Navy Yard into the East River Ferry network by means of a ferry stop, there is also met with the poor public transport accessibility of the Yard. Combining the facilities of the ferry stop with an extended stay hotel intended for business expats, a space of daily interaction and exchange has been set up. Additionally, the prime location in the vicinity of Lower East Side Manhattan provides for a strong asset in awareness from and for the Yard.

  • 41

    XLXLXLXLXLXLXLXLXLXLXLXLXLXLXLXLXLLLLLLLLLL

    Large scale. On a wider range, the intervention utilizes the existing access roads for heavy traffi c in combination

    with the active use of the waterfront and its location in a wide industrial area by installing a marine waste transfer station.

    Xtra Large scale. Of course this waste transfer station adds into spreading the daily impact of waste transfer in a more even manner throughout the borough and especially the Newtown Creek district. Reduced emissions and reduced traffi c

    are some of the positive consequences for the wellbeing of the City in general.

    SCALES OF IMPACT

  • IV. DESIGNThe superposition of a recyclables/waste transfer station, a business hotel and a naval entrance to the Yard provides for an intense internal and external, visual and physical exchange which is reflected by the openness of the architecture itself.

    Instead of hiding the recycling process in a sealed off and closed building, the design actively and openly displays the art of moving trash for the many passengers of the East River. In this way the building promotes the importance of recycling. The awareness of a building at this particular site is enormous and can be utilized to educate and inform the greater public that theres no garbage, theres no away.East River Exchange marks the transition from land to water, from truck to barge, from public to industrial. It is the versatile and productive activation of a waterfront infrastructure.

  • 444444

    12

    3

    4

    5

    1

    5

    3

    2

    4

    access platform

    waste tipping oor

    business / extended stay hotel

    oce building

    storage

  • 45

    12

    3

    4

    5

    OVERVIEWThe design consists of three main elements: the ferry platform (1) acts as an additional entrance for the commuting Navy Yard tenant; the industrial recycling program divided into a waste tipping fl oor (2) and a storage facility (5) for the

    temporarily storing of recycled goods and the extended stay business hotel (3) on top.

  • 46

    10

    2

    5

    3

    4

    7

    6

    8

    9

    1

    1

    5

    3

    8

    2

    6

    4

    9

    10

    7

    access rampweighbridgefeederpre-load compacter and storage buerdeodorizer/ dust collectorbarge mooring zone

    WASTE CIRCULATION

    unloading baystoragesorting baytruck loading bay

  • 47

    10

    2

    5

    3

    4

    7

    6

    8

    9

    1

    air curtain

    unloading dock

    storage

    loading bay

    dumping platform

    weighbridge

    compacter

    feeder

    loading dock

    deodorizerexhaust air

    dust lter

    changing rooms bathroom

    inkom/ verwelkingsbalie

    arbeider visitor

    dinnerplace

    visitor

    visitor

    visitor

    Trucks loaded with refuse or recyclables drive up the ramp to dump their cargo in the feeder which in turn compacts the materials and acts as a buffer for the time irregularities in the waste disposal. At the same time recycled materials stored in the sorting bay can be loaded into the trucks. By allowing both processes to be applied simultaneously the system provides the trucks to be used for transporting the used and new goods.

    Scheme of The Marine Waste/Recyled goods Transfer system

    WASTE CIRCULATION

  • 48

  • 49

    The structure of the building interacts on a wide range of different levels.First of all it is designed to withstand the heavy mobile loads of the trucking process while at the same time carrying the loads of the hotel on the upper floor.

    Secondly the specific shape of the

    structure is designed to maintain clear passage for its different users and usages. The first floor, designed for

    pedestrians/bikers allows to wonder through a series of oblique columns. Trucks on the second floor are able to

    maneuver smoothly thanks the fewer number of columns. The Vierendeel trusses on the upper floor allow the

    hotel rooms to have a clear view on the surroundings. Also, the oblique form of the columns smoothly phasing out mimics the waves of the water and refers metaphorically to the transition of land to water. Lastly the structure ensures the full openness and visibility on the processes at work in this building.

    STRUCTURE

  • 50

    1

    2

    4

    3

    5

    The fi rst fl oor and upper fl oor contain

    the public program of this building. The ferry deck allows for a direct connection to the Navy Yard industrial site and to the business hotel. The hotel itself takes full advantage of the stunning 360 view on top.

    1

    5

    3

    2

    4

    ferry landingticket oce / info / hotel check-in 33 m2 hotel unit21 m2 hotel unitcommunal facilities

    PUBLIC CIRCULATIONPUBLIC CIRCULATION

  • 51

    4

    5

    3

    2

    1

    1

    5

    3

    2

    4

    ticket oce / info / hotel check-in changing rooms / sanitationcanteen / oce break roomcontrol room / administrationwarehouse

    OFFICE BUILDING

    Located centrally in the design, the office building supports and ensures the

    smooth operation of all other, both public and industrial functions in the building.

    OFFICE BUILDING

  • 52

  • image displaying the north facade

    53

  • 54

  • GROUND FLOOR PLAN

    55

    The ferry platform allows commuters to wait for their ferry covered for the elements. This public platform reaches out into the volume of the offi ce which at

    this level contains a ticket service for the ferry and provides as well the services for the hotel at the upper fl oor. The structure

    of the building piercing through the ferry deck allows for an exiting sensation wondering through these oblique set of columns. The impression of being on a deck and not on solid ground is increased by the voids in the platform.

  • 56

  • 57

    PLAN LEVEL 1The offi ce contains at this level changing

    rooms for the staff of the offi ce, for the

    laborers active in the waste/recycling facility and for the truck drivers starting their daily shift. The preload compacter and storage buffer receives its content from the second fl oor and releases it in

    the waiting barge at the ground fl oor.

  • 60

  • 61

    PLAN LEVEL 2Trucks arriving at the second fl oor go

    through a process of being weighted on the weighbridge, dumping their cargo in the feeder and leaving this level. The system is designed to prevent traffi c

    jams from happening by allowing at least two trucks using the infrastructure simultaneously. At this level the offi ce consists out of the

    canteen with kitchen and an offi ce break

    room.

  • 62

  • 63

    PLAN LEVEL 3The offi ce contains at this fl oor the actual

    administration and control room for the coordination of the marine waste and recycling transfer station. From their elevated position within the building they can observe and supervise the neighboring processes.

  • 66

    * * * *

    *****

  • 67

    * * * *

    *****

    PLAN LEVEL 4The hotel is targeting business expats of the Navy Yard to fulfi ll a need that

    originated with the division of the Navy Yard into many smaller companies. This hotel allows for an extended stay for the expats by providing communal facilities, rooms with a small kitchen and a stunning view on the surroundings. The hotel contains thirteen 33m2 rooms and fourteen 21m2 rooms.

  • 68

    * * * *

    *****

  • 69

    * * * *

    *****

    ROOF PLANBy extending the roofs of the hotel a gallery is created ensuring a comfortable and dry circulation at the upper fl oor.

    The canopy also provides for a sense of reassurance against the powerful and intense background of the Navy Yard.

  • 72

    The access ramp takes a turn to allow the commuters to pass underneath the slope towards the ferry platform. Five loading bays provide for the loading of the stored recycled goods into the trucks.

    SOUTHEAST ELEVATION

  • 73

    NORTHWEST ELEVATIONA small remnant of the old pier g is still present, submersed by the sea. The four stories of the offi ce building have

    an open view on the ferry deck and the dumping platform.

  • 74

  • 75

    NORTHEAST ELEVATIONThe closer the wave-like supporting structure gets to the mainland the stronger it fades away. The structure also allows for a very dynamic perception of the building.

  • 76

  • 77

    SOUTHWEST ELEVATIONAt this facade barges containing recycled goods can unload their freight at the storage facility. The now empty barge continues its way and is filled

    with the refuse dumped by the pre-load compacter and storage buffer. When the barge is filled with refuse, 28 trucks later,

    it returns to the recycling facility to restart the cycle.

  • 7878

  • 79

    SOUTHWEST SECTIONThis section reveals an exciting staircase making its way upwards, swinging in between the oblique columns. In addition with the voids left open in the upper level, these elements ensures a strong exchange of impressions for its users.

    79

  • 80

  • 81

    SOUTHEAST SECTION 1The section shows the process of unloading a barge of recycled goods which are place in the storage hall. The passageway for the pedestrians / bikers towards the ferry platform is stashed under the access ramp for trucks.

  • 82

  • 83

    SOUTHEAST SECTION 2The section reveals the superposition of the programs, yet at the same time ensuring a strong exchange between its different usages and users.

  • WA

    LL

    84

  • WA

    LL

    SITE PLANThe revitalized pier g containing the design is easily accessible for trucks since the Navy Yards road infrastructure is still equipped to deal with heavy industrial usage. Barges waiting to be unloaded can also queue easily thanks to the location of the pier in line with the land mass.

    85

  • V. EPILOGUE

  • East River Exchange

    educational

    cultural

    waste transfer stationmanufacturing

    ferry

    recycling centre

    park

    hotel

    88

    Brooklyn Navy Yard

  • 89

    East River Exchange is of course only one node in a larger network of several marine waste transfer station across Brooklyn and Manhattan. The Sunset Park recycling facility will be fully operational by 2014 and will be able to receive recyclables by barge. Often these new infrastructures are combined with other facilities , e.a

    educational centers, parks, leisure activities, ... to highlight the importance of this new way of handling waste. In this way exchange with the East River can be transformed into the versatile and rich network by allowing a productive and active waterfront to coexist in an evenly manner along with leisure activities, housing and ecological waterscapes.

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

  • VI. ADDENDUM

  • 92

  • 93

    As the large variation in models suggests this year of designing was one of a rather large evolution. In retrospect the principal ideas of the final design were

    there, albeit latent, from the very start. However these ideas need time to mature into concepts with ultimately a design as a final result. A thesis allows you to

    spend this time to think, design, rethink and redesign again. In this way it was a

    huge step in my personal development as an architect and even more in my own design process by spending so much time on one subject. Of course East River Exchange is merely one implementation of a bigger idea: that waterfront development should be as divers as possible to ensure its resilience and adaptivity to the constantly shifting conditions of the New York Metropole.

  • VII. REFERENCES

  • 98

    p13 Bing Maps, [satellite image of the Navy Yard industrial site], image, Bingmaps.co. Accessed on August 18, 2013. http://be.bing.com/maps/.

    p 14 Anon, [pier c Brooklyn Navy Yard Railway.], Photograph. June 27, 1937. Brooklyn Navy Yard Corp. archives.

    p 18-19 NYCityMap, [historical images of the piers on the Navy Yard], NYC.gov, Accessed May 15, 2013. http://maps.nyc.gov/doitt/nycitymap/.

    p25 Bing Maps, [satellite image of the New York, New Jersey Upper Bay], image, Bingmaps.co. Accessed on August 18, 2013. http://be.bing.com/maps/.

    p26 Google Maps, [Image of the islands surrounding Manhattan], image, Google. Accessed May 18, 2013. https://maps.google.com.

    p28 West8, [render images of the masterplan for Governors Island by West8], Accessed August 19, 2013. http://www.west8.nl/projects/all/governors_island/.

    Anon, Governors Island -Park & Public Space- Masterplan., 2010, Governors Island Preservation and Education Corporation, Accessed May 19, 2013. http://www.govislandpark.com.

    p29 Lange, Alexandra, Silicon Island., The New Yorker, October 15, 2012. Chaykowski, Kathleen, New York Chases Silicon Valley With Roosevelt Island Site., Bloomberg Business Week, August 17, 2012. Obrien, Jane, New Yorks Roosevelt Island to get technology campus, Video, BBC News, June 26, 2012, Accessed December 14, 2012, http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbusiness-18601815.

    Rosenfield , Karissa, Cornells NYC Tech Campus Wins Competition, December 19, 2011, ArchDaily, Accessed May 18, 2013. http://www.archdaily.com/193516.

    p30 Anon, [Ferry Route Map], Map, East River Ferry, Accessed May 19, 2013. http://www.eastriverferry.com/RouteMap.aspx.

    Berger, Joseph, Hoping to Lure Riders With Scenic Commutes., The New York Times, September 11, 2012 .

    Carlson, Jen, Behold the Massive Lines For The East River Ferry This Morning., Gothamist, November 2, 2012. Carlson, Jen, Why isnt Everyone Using the East River Ferry?, Gothamist, September 9, 2012.

    Johnston, Garth, Ferry Exciting: East River Ferry Hits 1,000,000 Passengers., Gothamist, July 16, 2012.

  • 99

    p32 Bing Maps, [satellite image of several marine waste transfer stations], image, Bingmaps.co. Accessed on August 18, 2013. http://be.bing.com/maps/.

    p33 HabitatMap; Organisation of Waterfront Neighborhoods,Barge NYCs Garbage., August, 2011. HabitMap.org. Accessed February 27, 2013. http://www.habitatmap.org/habitatmap_docs/BargeNYCsGarbage.pdf.

    West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc,Existing Marine Waste Transfer And Handling Facilities. Map. April 2, 2003. GISMaps. Accessed April 9. http://www.weact.org/Portals/7/Map%209.pdf.

    p34 Anton, Michael, paper recycling in Staten Island, New York City Department of Sanitation, November 1, 2007, Accessed on August 17, 2013. http://www.flickr.com/photos/nycsanitation/7979390916/in/photostream/.

    Bing Maps, [satellite image the Sims recycling factory at Sunset Park], image, Bingmaps.co. Accessed on August 18, 2013. http://be.bing.com/maps/.

    p36 Anon, The Secret Life of a Deli Pizza Box, Video, 2010, Chatfield Productions. Accessed on August 17, 2013. http://vimeo.com/9892027. Clifford, Stephanie, Unexpected Ally Helps Wal-Mart Cut Waste, The New York Times, April 13, 2013. Accessed August 17, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/business/wal-mart-and-environmental-fund- team-up-to-cut-waste.html?_r=0.

    Anon, [Image of Wal-mart bundling cardboard waste], 2012, The New York Times Company, April 13, 2013. Accessed August 17, 2013. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/business/wal-mart-and-environmental-fund- team-up-to-cut-waste.html?_r=1&.