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2004 ASLA Professional Awards

Analysis and Planning Award of Merit

West Harlem Master Plan and Waterfront Park, New York, NY
W Architecture and Landscape Architecture, LLC, New York, NY
Client: New York City Economic Development Corporation

An Important project with positive influence. . . Solution successfully connects the river to the rest of the city. . . Most elegant. . . Includes all aspects of planning sustainability plus economics.
2004 Professional Awards Jury Comments

Harlem's Hudson River waterfront renaissance has been undertaken by a neighborhood coalition of at least 40 groups, along with active funding from the city, state, and federal agencies. The specific goals of this project were to assess the present state of the Harlem waterfront, to develop a master plan for the area bounded by 125th Street and 135th Street, Broadway and the Hudson River, and to map out a series of public-private steps. The project plan begins with the design of improvements to city-owned land on the waterfront and culminates in the economic development of the entire neighborhood.

Project Timeline: This shows the two main project phases, the Master Plan and the Phase One Implementation. The Phase One project is currently out to bid. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Project Timeline: This shows the two main project phases, the Master Plan and the Phase One Implementation. The Phase One project is currently out to bid. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Analysis: Key Concepts. These diagrams, taken from the Master Plan report and placed together here, outline some of the most important findings. The area is a valley; it is crossed by three sets of viaduct structures; 125th Street crosses the main east west streets at a diagonal, leading to the design idea that the valley is a place of deposition; and the elements at the waters edge should also collect like the viaduct elements. In addition the shoals and sandbar diagram inspired the idea that a more ecological approach to the piers would make them not perpendicular to the shore. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Analysis: Key Concepts. These diagrams, taken from the Master Plan report and placed together here, outline some of the most important findings. The area is a valley; it is crossed by three sets of viaduct structures; 125th Street crosses the main east west streets at a diagonal, leading to the design idea that the valley is a place of deposition; and the elements at the waters edge should also collect like the viaduct elements. In addition the shoals and sandbar diagram inspired the idea that a more ecological approach to the piers would make them not perpendicular to the shore. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Plan changes over time. From the first plan shown to the Working Group to
the final Master Plan layout, the piers and upland relationship changes to accommodate various water functions and corresponding land functions. Once Phase One started and funding was secured, the community made comments which again changed the plan, but the basic design idea remained. In the final version, 125th Street splits open the one long slanted pier into an excursion pier and a recreation pier. The space between forms a "mini-harbor" at the foot of 125th Street. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Plan changes over time. From the first plan shown to the Working Group to
the final Master Plan layout, the piers and upland relationship changes to accommodate various water functions and corresponding land functions. Once Phase One started and funding was secured, the community made comments which again changed the plan, but the basic design idea remained. In the final version, 125th Street splits open the one long slanted pier into an excursion pier and a recreation pier. The space between forms a "mini-harbor" at the foot of 125th Street. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Location in Manhattan and cultural neighbors (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Location in Manhattan and cultural neighbors (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Economic Development (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Economic Development

The Three Phase Plan; the plan was divided into three stages, or phases: Phase One, waterfront park and piers to attract people to the area. Phase Two, transportation improvements, to allow people to arrive more easily. Phase Three, economic and community development which changes the density and zoning of the area to create a "bowl" of buildings emphasizing the valley topography. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

The Three Phase Plan; the plan was divided into three stages, or phases: Phase One, waterfront park and piers to attract people to the area. Phase Two, transportation improvements, to allow people to arrive more easily. Phase Three, economic and community development which changes the density and zoning of the area to create a "bowl" of buildings emphasizing the valley topography. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Streetscape Guidelines: Plan showing view corridors to the water, illustrations of planting which complements the arches, and plan diagram of night lighting. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Streetscape Guidelines: Plan showing view corridors to the water, illustrations of planting which complements the arches, and plan diagram of night lighting. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Excerpts from various report pages showing "after" views, diagrams of height increase concepts, and a section at the water's edge.
Phase One Implementation (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Excerpts from various report pages showing "after" views, diagrams of height increase concepts, and a section at the water's edge.
Phase One Implementation (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Drawing of plan, rendering of the diagonal path between the woodland and the planting beds. Diagonal forms were used to create a feeling of greater space in the narrow site. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Drawing of plan, rendering of the diagonal path between the woodland and the planting beds. Diagonal forms were used to create a feeling of greater space in the narrow site. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Drawing of street furniture. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

Rendering of the water's edge and "before" photo. Woodland and planting areas to the right of the drawing. (Design: W Architecture and Landscape Architecture)

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