weiss / manfredi: city + river + arch

‘the city + the arch + the river’ 2015, st louis

american team weiss / manfredi are one of the five finalists in the competition ‘the city + the arch + the river’ 2015 in st louis, missouri. the competition asked participants to redesign the surroundings of the the iconic arch and weave the national park back into the fabric of the city and the region, by rejuvenating connections and bringing the area back to life.

the design involves coordinating with local, state, and federal agencies; historic and landmarked settings; highly visible and symbolic spaces; urban waterfronts with complex infrastructural and industrial conditions; historically, ecologically, and culturally rich settings; and projects that catalyze sustainable economic and community development.

the framing a modern masterpiece competition has the obvious potential to connect cities as well as the urgent need to bridge communities, extend economies, recover ecologies, and intertwine divergent histories for a sustainable future. from a context of social, cultural, ecological, and infrastructural complexity, an innovative and elegant design will emerge. we believe this competition represents a compelling opportunity to frame a transformative sequence of experiences that engage the complex histories and identities that define our communities, cities, and nation.