HoMa Lake
Trucks are necessary, but a park is better.
The proposal outlined here aims not only to reuse all components of the stadium roof but also to foster a community-oriented approach by creating a space that meets the diverse needs of a neighborhood and places its residents at the heart of the initiative. To improve residents' quality of life, this approach buries the storage facility--so central to the history of this borough--and proposes the creation of a green space above it. This approach creates two distinct functions: a sound barrier to minimize the impact of a sometimes noisy industry to the north of the site, and a vantage point, like a watchtower, from which one can observe the East River.
Water becomes a focal point with which the community can interact. The main membrane and the roof's compression ring are inverted to create a body of water, suitable for swimming in the summer and skating in the winter. Various interventions continue throughout the site: a children's playground that transforms the flying trusses into fun activities; the flying masts, covered with seating and lighting, invite people to rest; while the lining trusses are combined with the interior membrane to create a canopy near the water. As for the cables, they are interwoven to create a weave that acts as a ventilated envelope for the underground functions, which have become more discreet. This weave allows air to circulate within the space while creating a secure and clearly defined area.
With gathering points centralized near the water, the rest of the elevated site allows for a distribution of uses according to the community's needs--from an urban garden to a simple space imbued with a sense of communion with nature--while also serving as a cooling zone for the neighborhood. An elevated path encircles the site and facilitates the movement of cyclists and pedestrians, while the gentle slope makes the path accessible to a diverse range of users, thereby ensuring maximum access to a complex site.
The social fabric ensures a city's longevity and brings with it the industry necessary for its functioning. These two elements can coexist in a city that places the community at its center.
(From competitor's text)
(Unofficial automated translation)
