white arkitekter wins FAR ROC international design competition

white arkitekter wins FAR ROC international design competition
image © MIR

white arkitekter, along with partners ARUP and gensler have been selected as the winners of the FAR ROC international design competition to redevelop the waterfront of queens that was hard hit by hurricane sandy one year ago.

the swedish firm’s proposal ‘small means and great ends’ was among 117 international submissions entered by international practices, that was shortlisted in a final selection of 10 projects that included the likes of BIG architects and OMA.

the winning scheme sees the integration of interconnected small-scale interventions with multiple functions that collectively form a resilient network designed to withstand extreme environmental conditions, in particularly acknowledging the forces of extreme weather and future uncertainties, creating a landscape that interacts and does not counteract, relating to the forces of ‘like a surfer to the waves’.

proposed boardwalk
image © MIR

the programme ranges from hurricane resiliency strategies that include artificial islands to reduce the impact of forceful waves, as well as housing developments, public and commercial amenities, retirement homes, large landscaped parks and other characteristics that together will form a larger welcoming and sustainable neighbourhood, with the community of arverne east and its resilience at the heart of the scheme.

the beach area
image © MIR

sander schuur, project architect, white, said:
‘arverne east is a place with a strong identity. thousands of residents of arverne east lost their homes during hurricane sandy. but the disaster also led to a stronger sense of community in the area. the essence of white’s proposal is to channel the residents’ involvement and provide them with new tools to act and react in the community’s interest. with our scandinavian approach, we believe we can strengthen and enrich the community and provide the opportunity for the community to realize their dreams.’

housing developments
image © MIR

site plan
image © MIR

click through the gallery of diagrams below for an in depth understanding of white arkitekter’s winning proposal:

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the jury was comprised of:
• steven bluestone, partner, the bluestone organization
• alexander j. felson PhD, RLA, assistant professor, yale university
• brad gair, director, NYC office of housing recovery operations
• ilana judah, co-chair, AIA new york cote
• holly leicht, executive director, new yorkers for parks
• ron moelis, ceo & chairman, L+M development partners
• dolores orr, chairperson, queens community board #14
• rafael pelli AIA, LEED AP, partner, pelli clarke pelli architects
• richard plunz, professor, columbia university
• donovan richards jr., council member, district 31, new york city council
• byron stigge, director, level infrastructure
• katie swenson, vice president, design initiatives, enterprise community partners, inc
• ruthanne visnauskas, commissioner, NYC housing preservation & development.