Urban Oasis, New York City

Among the three possible spots the New York district proved to be the best choice. It was an important aspect to choose a city which we can easily approach architecturally and culturally, which allows more freedom and possesses a more changeable city view.  We were of the opinion that it is the New York spot that has the most colourful environment, too.

It is an especially advantageous givenness that it is bordered with busy roads and it has a nearby riverside, too.

In the process of the design-work we recalled our personal experiences during the lockdown period, what we missed the most and how it enriched our lives with positive changes. We strived to the creation of an area which helps its dwellers to manage their everyday lives in a smooth way, in spite of the pandemic. With our plan we created a micro-world, which can function in itself, as well, in case of emergency, but it can get in contact with its neighbourhood, too. It was an important aspect of the conception to make every function available on the spot, which can help people tide over the hard times of lockdown. In such a pandemic period people have a greater demand for fresh air, green environment and close contact to nature. We were set on the expansion of green surface as large as possible, helping thus the free time activities. We laid special emphasis on climatic factors; this is why we let green vegetation grow over the high buildings. In our conception we focused on the creation of cantilever roof projectures in order to afford the dwellers the feeling of having a separated outdoor milieu where they can retire during the period of pandemic.

On the building site we formed an undulating relief, enlarging thus the rate of green surface and also making the ground level friendlier and more changeable. The space arrangement created this way resulted in exciting features of the terrain. With the vertical movement of the ground two different levels came into being, one of which is a green area converted into a park providing the dwellers the possibility of relaxation and close contact to nature. We created an own lake, too, which offers numerous opportunities for free time activities in case of prohibition on leaving the area. The other part is a deepened section, which has got a city-like character. This area serves the essential functions of everyday life. You can find the buildings of the different services and health care here. These two levels are well separated areas; nevertheless, they are well connected in counteraction. The green level has been placed in the front, thus the deepened level, which can cause noise doesn’t disturb the relaxation area.

For the creation of the road-network - as an inspiration - we took the picture of the Manhattan Metro lines. These routes present a well-functioning system, which assures the smooth operation of transport, and referring back to the spirit of the metropolis we get back to the Genius loci.

After examining the lines of the underground, we developed and applied it to our own territory.  We built out three main lines to serve as the basis of transport. One of the lines starting out from the level of High line, crosses the other route, and then takes the direction to the parking places ending in a staircase which offers easy access to the parking places. The other line leads to the doctors’ consulting room from the side of the football field. The third one cutting the ground into two, runs between the buildings and goes round the lake at the end. The interlaced road system provides easy accessibility of every part of the area. It was an important aspect to create good connection among the different functions. The interrelated roads set on the site are connected to the multi lane road in the borderline of the site, offering the possibility of the connection with the outer world, and improving the accessibility of the site.

At the start of the planning process we examined its surroundings and structure. The situation and size of the buildings neighbouring the area had an influence on the orientation of the buildings to be built. As there are high skyscrapers standing in the neighbourhood we placed our building complex on the part where it can get enough light and won’t be overshadowed. The parking place was placed in the area next to the four buildings, to the North-East from them. To the North and South-West the area of the sport fields and recreation grounds was outlined. This part lies closest to the riverside. The network of the roads determined the coordinates of the buildings. We did not want to let the large city character get lost - this is the reason for the higher slender buildings; it was one of our aims, however, not to let the area get the image of a crowded city, but to provide a unified composition with a balanced proportion system.

Examining the density of the population of the town we concluded that the optimal number of inhabitants in an area of this size is about 600. This consideration determined the number of buildings, too. The centre of the arrangement is built up of 3 main buildings, which serve the dwelling-, office- and recreation functions. In the neighbourhood of these buildings there are two other lower ones with office- and recreational floors. In the construction of these building a preliminary decision had an important role, namely that every dwelling floor should have a terrace as big as the flat itself. The plants set here can get enough sunshine, and they provide the appropriate temperature for the flats. During the arrangement of the different functions we considered which of them demands more light and which of them can be settled under the ground floor. The recreational parts were put on the higher floors of the building complex. It provides appropriate protection and security for the dwellers here, and the crowd going to the offices dos not cross the flats, serving thus the quiet of the dwellers of the flats. The entertainment facilities, cafés and libraries were settled in the centre of the building mass. The best places for the offices are the lower floors.  The levels are available by means of the elevators passing along the centre of the building mass. The premises of the different services and healthcare settled on the deepened levels are provided with skylights. Their appearance reminds us of the shapes occurring all over the site. These functions do not need much light.

Form design: During the process of planning it was one of our aims to recall the image of the skyscrapers in the high buildings. The spot is surrounded by a range of high, schematic skyscrapers. The design of the planned buildings was determined by the endeavour to step out of this regular, diagrammatic world of forms and lead the new building complex over to an organic one. We created a form pattern as a basis, with the variation and slight altering of which the contours of the buildings gained their shapes. The determined forms serve also to distinguish the different levels of the building. The terraces of the flats are fixed with cantilever ceilings. With a simplified variation of this method we formed a basin in our site and placed into this dip our four high buildings which host the dwelling functions as well. We set these four buildings here, because it is necessary for the residents to be able to have access to the services functioning under this level and they contain the ways to the functions underground. The high buildings were connected with bridges, forming thus an exciting construction enabling the passage between the building masses.

At the choice of the building materials it was an important factor to endeavour for the ones as simple as possible and to let the green surfaces show up.