CITY OF DREAMS Pavilion by Izaskun Chinchilla

Since 2010, FIGMENT, the Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY) have hosted a competition to design and construct an architectural pavilion on Governors Island, NY. This year, Izaskun Chinchilla has won the ‘City of Dreams’ Pavilion competition. The Pavilion is intended as a sheltered gathering place for 50 or more people to meet, learn about the arts programs on the island, engage with a performance or lecture, and the historic context of Governors Island. The theme of ‘the City of Dreams’ looks to the future – of cities, people and crucially, to our relationship with materials and the sustainability of our environment. The competition asks entrants to consider how architecture and design can address these concerns through the materials, practices and relationships they embed within their design.

Izaskun Chinchilla’s winning design takes inspiration from nature to create an innovative and flexible solution that directly engages with local communities and familiar materials. Flower structures such as those found in hydrangeas have the ability to respond to the natural environment, growing and morphing to remain in balance with nature.  Izaskun believes architecture must adopt a similar responsiveness, adapting to uncertain budgets, social change and ecological dynamics naturally, beautifully and intuitively.

The proposed design employs commonly found materials, giving them a new life after they have become unfit for their original purpose. The design utilizes broken umbrellas, old stools and damaged bicycle wheels, which several institutions in NY are already recycling.  As with mop-head flowers, the Pavilion is itself composed of many smaller elements, all of which can be dismantled and re-used after the Summer. Branches composed of several umbrellas and tripods, can be easily reused as sun, wind and rain protection in outdoor spaces all around the city. Larger elements can be beautiful indoor chandeliers and both elements can be useful for community centers or NGOs.

Photographies: Kevin Wong & Sergio Reyes.