FIGMENT, the Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY), and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) are pleased to announce that a distinguished jury has selected two winning designs in the fifth annual City of Dreams Pavilion Competition: Billion Oyster Pavilion by BanG Studio of New York City and Organic Growth by Izaskun Chinchilla Architects of Madrid and London. Pending approvals and fundraising, these pavilions will both be assembled on Governors Island and open to the public for the summer 2015 season.
After a four-hour-long deliberation, the jury was deadlocked in deciding between the Billion Oyster Pavilion and Organic Growth Pavilion. The Billion Oyster Pavilion is grounded in local history, tapping into discussions around resiliency and the long-term benefits of growing new oyster beds in New York Harbor. Organic Growth Pavilion brings attention to the large amount of waste in our landfills by repurposing a smorgasbord of parts and pieces from discarded trash.
It wasn't until the jury began debating the suggestion to build two pavilions that the merits of building both outweighed the selection of just one. Given that collaboration and experimentation are part of what FIGMENT is all about, and the premise of this competition that architecture has the ability to reach and involve the public in new ways, the jury agreed that the two pavilion designs would enhance each other and strengthen the competition overall.
Now that the winners have been announced, the design teams will work with FIGMENT, ENYA, SEAoNY, and Governors Island to select the final site for the projects, refine the designs, obtain necessary approvals, and fabricate and install the pavilions on the island.
Building two pavilions rather than one, however, does increase the amount of support required. FIGMENT is accepting tax-deductible donations to support the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of these two pavilions on Governors Island for the 2015 summer season.
To Donate go to: http://newyork.figmentproject.org/support_the_2015_pavilion_kickstarter_campaigns