A Hybrid Biological Park/ Ecological Lab Facility

Populous is an urban park, educational complex, and aquatic nature reservoir for indigenous life forms on the Hudson river along the west side of Manhattan.  Grappling on the resident typology of the pier as a collection of pylons, Populous creates an aggregated of programatically diverse units within a single morphological typology.  Using structural/ skinning expression to actualize programmatic function and volumetric parameters as typological controls a single system takes of a diverse array of functions in a single population.  Small low profile area’s become a diverse urban park growing from planter to park bench to boat launch before rapidly expanding to highly functional enclosures.  Conic formations act a rain water collectors feeding through filtration centers into bubble shape biological research labs.  Pylons plunge into the water creating points of collection and isolation for local plant and wildlife reserves.  The system evaluates itself post mapping by measuring the diameter to specify program potential, according to each diameter relative to functional range/ density to determine typological stage.  With typology established  an independent mapping is read against the each position to establish diversity and intensity of program relative to planned intent.  Populous is a system of rules who’s complex self actualization when combined creates a diverse and rich texture of function.

Typologies > 1a:plates, 1b:pores, 2a:pools, 2b:benches, 3a:eddies, 3b:launches, 4a:columns, 4b:canopies, 4c: huts, 5a: amalgamations

Program> 1  :  urban park, 2: biology lab, 3: aquatic nature preserve, 4: educational complex, 5: ferry port, 6: boat launch

Materials> 1  :  prefabricated faceted aluminum, 2: prefab/ site cast concrete, 3: on site thermal formed glass, 4: earth/ grass/ water, 5: wooden lathe, 6: composite wooden beams