In any high profile architecture design competition it is always interesting to see the proposals of
the finalists. Usually you’ll find a collection of top notch, far out designs that simply would not fit the look and feel that the jury, or financiers were looking for. Last month, Smith-Miller + Hawkinson’s proposal for the New York City Aquarium was crowned victorious, however one of the other finalists was certainly as deserving, if not moreso. Today, we’ll delve into the tremendously advantageous and untraditional proposal by finalists WXY Architecture and West 8.
Their design for the perimeter of the new Aquarium for NYC on Coney Island aimed to be porous
and engaging. Their design has features that interact with visitors and casual passers-by. Some of their main ideas were a ‘living’ dune landscape, coral inspired retaining wall and a 60 ft high jellyfish pavilion. This is by far the most visible sign of their design, and probably the singular factor that could make or break their proposal. Personally, I love it, as it’s a glowing beacon that is playful, artsy, and an obvious symbol of aquatic life.
