Micro-School (K-8),  Design studio work's Re-edition 

Exhibition at Bibliowicz Family Gallery at Milstein Hall, 2014 

Ithaca, New York 2014

IN BETWEEN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE REALM

Manhattan is a kind of island with a definite perimeter, unlike other political boundaries. The cityscape beyond the physical limit generates New York City’s identity.

Instead of hundreds of piers as manufacturing ports, the city’s waterfront has begun to transform into new public spaces such as Battery Park and the East River Waterfront Esplanade.

Manhattan is framed between the West Side highway and the elevated FDR drive along the East River. A by-product of the overbuilt six-lane FDR drive (four lanes are enough, according to the traffic census) are 9.44 miles of abandoned space, part of which is converted here to a new public space in this densely inhabited New York City.

As a new prototype, this K-6 primary school optimizes the space adjacent to the FDR drive by inserting shared community programs underneath and classrooms alongside it. The school’s gymnasium (for playing sports or music concerts) which is inserted beneath is opened to the local communities which are suffering from lack of public space. This shared space can also be accessed from the East River esplanade and waterfront. This public space reconnects the city through its waterfront.

This new school’s green rooftop playground along the elevated highway builds a green network with the other roof gardens in New York City, such as Rockefeller Centre’s rooftop garden, with the hope of one day becomes a city landmark.