Parachute Pavilion
Competition, Coney Island, New York
Project year: 2005
Organizer: Van Alen Institute (VAI)
Program:
Design a new pavilion in Coney Island’s amusement district, in the shadow of the famed Parachute Jump—an iconic reminder of Coney Island history that is now a designated landmark. The Parachute Pavilion is planned to be an all-season generator of activity, drawing the public onto the boardwalk, the beach and Surf Avenue, and to a new recreational destination.
Summary:
The design proposal seeks to capture the "spirit of the place" defined by the Parachute Jump, the Steeplechase Pier, and the Rieghleman Boadrwalk. The site by its nature is a place to come and to come again, a place to go and to go by - a destination and departure point. The design reinforces the tradition of pedestrian walking on Coney Island. A system of walkways, ramps, stairs and bridges brings the traffic from the city, the Boardwalk and the Pier into a new "urban knot". The pavilion is woven into the fabric of the existing environment. The architecture is inspired by the ocean waves, provokes movement and exploration, and offers multiple viewpoints to the tower.
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