Reclaiming an urban void

Statue of Liberty with its changing timely definition has always been a universal symbol of freedom, patriotism, and liberty. A gift by France to the USA in 1889, it embodied hope and opportunity in the era the country had entered into.

The terminal along with nearby Ellis Island and Liberty Park constitutes the Historic Trilogy. It holds great national value besides being a cultural and historic melting point. Despite the universality of its image, what the place represents is open to interpretation. In the broadest sense - it was a gateway to America. The first welcoming sight for immigrants. It also was a symbol of liberation for slaves during the late 1800s. During the 2001 Terrorist attack, it became a symbol of strength. It’s meaning changes with time and through many cultural barriers.

The presidency of Donald Trump has stirred debate about what it means to be an American today. In lieu of changing the political and cultural spectrum, what does liberty mean today?  

Challenge was to rethink a disused 4000 sqm railway shed into space for culture, art, and public relationships. Design that retrieves collective memories and also responds to the contemporary idea of what space stands for. It can be a memorial, a relic, an interpretation, an urban park - any idea that infuses the new meaning of liberty in the existent urban void? 

 

The jury for the competition consisted of esteemed designers, professionals, and academicians from around the world. The Lead Jurors for the competitions were as follows: 

Carol Ross Barney, Design Principal, Ross Barney Architects, United States

Daniel Bonilla, Director, tab>I taller de arquitectura de bogotá, Colombia

 

Some of the Best of competition projects as follows:

 

Winning Project: MOTION: New Jersey Culture Center

By: Hao Zhong, Peicong Zhang & Yuchen Qiu

Description: This design intends to preserve collective memories of the train shed by maintaining its architectural gesture and to infuse new meaning to this existent urban void by creating a cultural center that will once again become a converging point for people from different cultures and different ethnicities.

-----------------

Editor’s Choice: Free modular unit

By: Mengyang WU & 佳莹 连

Description: Through the combination and splicing of modular units, plus the interaction between people and space, they gradually find their place and role in this space in social interaction. Unit combinations adjusted according to user needs are also divided into fixed areas and non-fixed areas.

 

---

 

Discover the design brief here: https://uni.xyz/competitions/liberty-today/info/about   

Discover the full results here: https://uni.xyz/competitions/liberty-today/entries   

---

Follow us on social media: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | Youtube

---

Discover other design competitions to participate here: https://uni.xyz/competitions