NYIT studio explores the big box invasion into urban territory
When the unstoppable Wal-Mart comes to town, there is sure to be a struggle, and the push to open big box stores in more urban areas has been no different - in fact it has raised new issues as can be seen in the current proposed New York City location.
A studio 3rd year studio at NYIT led by Matt Dockery explores "a hybrid public / private venture designed to allow New York City to reap the benefits of low-cost merchandise without suffering the negative impacts of Big-Box stores on public space, local business and the environment."
The site used by the studio is in Brooklyn adjacent to the proposed Atlantic Yards project designed by Frank Gehry. The charge to the students is to create a new building type to house a mixed program: big box retail, a public arts market, assembly hall, public services, and a parking garage.
Link: Big Box vs. Big Apple
Much more: BoxTank - Multi-Tiered Wal-Mart Becoming Reality
While is may be impossible to stop Wal-Mart from coming to New York City, it is possible to project alternate programmatic, operational and typological scenarios for its pending urban configuration. Not only is such speculation possible - it is critical - given the essential incompatibility of big-box footprints with dense, urban textures and public transportation armatures. The principle objective of this studio is to imagine such alternatives, and to pursue them into the realm of the possible.A few images from the student proposals:
IMAGE ABOVE, JEFF DUNDREA
EVERETTE BARNEY
CHARLES ANGONA
ANDREW SORRENTINO
SEAN CONNOLLY
NO WAL-MART
Already multi-tiered in China
=)