Posted on September 2, 2010 by Claire
Thanks McKim. Thanks Mead. Thanks White
Liggett Hall bisecting the Island. Image Courtesy of Library of Congress HABS/HAER collection
In the late 1870s a trio of architects joined together to form the firm McKim, Mead and White. The influences on their work were many but they had a taste for order and grandeur and were involved in a number of prominent urban design schemes as well as buildings. The team was behind the design of Columbia’s Morningside heights campus and they also had a sweeping vision for Governors Island.
Low Library, Columbia University. Image Courtesy of NYCEDC.
In their vision, an entire new campus of formal buildings was laid out on the recently created south island. It retained only Castle Williams, Fort Jay, and the South Battery in the historic district. However the principals of the firm all died by the time a final plan was adopted in 1928 and much of the original scheme was abandoned.
Never the less, the influence of McKim, Mead and White is very evident, particularly in the construction of Building 400. The structure was the first permanent building built on the filled area. The architects did big and imposing really well. They were behind the sorely missing original Penn Station as well as the Brooklyn Museum, the Manhattan Municipal Building and the Boston Public Library, among others.
Original Pennsylvania Station. Image courtesy of Library of Congress, HABS/HAER Collection.
In addition, the imposing structures of Buildings 12, 333, 515 and 555 are all attributed to the firm. Many of the other structures were based on the original Beaux Arts plan developed by these architects.
Thanks guys!
Filed under: Governors Island 101, History | Tagged: New York City, governors island, history, architecture | Leave a Comment »
Posted on September 1, 2010 by Ellen
Kim Mathews of Mathews Neilsen Landscape Architects lead a tram tour on July 11.
By popular demand, we are bringing our Park and Public Space Master Plan Design Tours back for a September encore. Earlier in the summer, dozens of visitors participated in tours of Governors Island lead by members of the West 8 design team and the Trust planning staff. The tours are a unique opportunity to meet members of the design team, learn about plans for 87- acres of park and public open space on the Island, and imagine the Island’s future transformation.
During the the one-hour long tours, particpants will tour the Island and discuss the vision for the design of the new spaces, including the Hills, Liggett Terrace, the Great Promenade, and greens spaces in the Historic District, which are included in West 8’s design of the park and public spaces. If you are interested in one of the tours, please sign up in advance at http://govislanddesigntour.eventbrite.com/. All tours are first come, first served. Pre-registration closes the day before the tour. However, walk-up participants are welcome if space is available.
September Tour Schedule (please register in advance to ensure a seat):
Rachel Lazlo (West 8 ) : Saturday, September 11 / Tram Tour / 10:15 AM
Michael Beirut (Pentagram) : Friday, September 17 / Tram Tour/ 10:15 AM
Blair Guppy (West 8 ) : Saturday, September 25 / Bike Tour / 11: 15 AM
Filed under: Park and Public Space Master Plan, Upcoming Events | Tagged: I'm on a tram!, I'm on a bike!, design tour | Leave a Comment »
Posted on August 31, 2010 by Elizabeth
The work of more than 100 independent artists will be featured on the Governors Island Art Fair, opening this Saturday.
Every Saturday and Sunday this September, visitors to Governors Island can see musical acts, performance artists and interactive creative programs, in addition to the paintings, photographs, sculpture, video, and sound and object installation pieces that are displayed in the Third Annual Governors Island Art Fair.
The Fair is presented by the 4 Heads, whose work has been presented on the Island in previous years. The art of more than 100 independent artists will be featured and displayed in Building 12, which was formerly used as military housing. Each artist is given his or her own room in which to present their work.
The public is invited to view the fair every Saturday and Sunday in September from 11 AM to 6 PM. Admission is free. The Fair kicks off this Saturday with an opening party, beginning at 11 AM.
Filed under: Art on the Island | Tagged: 4 Heads, Governors Island Art Fair | Leave a Comment »
Posted on August 30, 2010 by Elizabeth
The Jazz Age Lawn party again brought wonderful music and dancing to Governors Island (photo by Gabi Porter at newyork.metromix.com)
This past weekend, Governors Island headed back in time to the 1920′s with flappers, bathing beauties and great jazz music from Michael Arenella and the Dreamland Orchestra.
The Jazz Age Lawn Party has been a fixture on the Island for the past several years and has drawn thousands to listen to the great music, learn the Charleston or take part in the bathing beauties parade or the pie recipe contest.
Click here to see more pictures of the Lawn Party on the Island.
Filed under: Weekend Report | Tagged: Jazz-Age, Lawn Party, Michael Arenella and the Dreamland Orchestra | Leave a Comment »
Posted on August 23, 2010 by Ellen
Boston's public hammock to population ratio is now 1:622,000. (Photo John Tlumacki/Boston Globe)
An email from a collegue alerted us to a bit of breaking hammock news out of Boston. Just last week, the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway installed a GIANT 33-foot communal hammock . It looks fantastic, and we love the idea of having one big communal hammock for everyone to share. Designed by Hansy Better Barraza, the hammock was funded by the Awesome Foundation, and constructed with the help of volunteers. That’s our kind of hammock.
Since we introduced dozens of movable hammocks at Picnic Point last year, they have become a signature experience of Governors Island. Thousands of visitors have rested, rocked and played in our public hammocks in view of the Statue of Liberty. And the Governors Island Park and Public Space Master Plan will ensure that future visitors will find hammocks too. The plan includes an area called Hammock Grove, which will be shady and botanically rich and feature . . . yep, public hammocks.
Filed under: Media, What's New? | Tagged: awesome, hammocks | Leave a Comment »
Posted on August 19, 2010 by Claire
Governors Island: Shape shifter
- Map of New York Harbor circa 1835. The familiar ice cream cone shape of the island has yet to emerge.
The current and future island have much to offer; 2.2 mile promenade with harbor views, a green for picnicking, lounging and swinging while gazing at the Statue of Liberty, and a dynamic and exciting future park and open space. However, only one hundred years ago these places were part of the harbor. The original island comprised only what is now the historic district, north of the Colonels Row green. The island measured 69.4 acres, half of its current size.
At the end of the 19th century, military commanders were determined to expand Governors Island to accommodate a full regiment. Developments in Manhattan provided a way for this to occur. In the 1880s, New York City’s population boomed, creating the need for improved transportation systems. The military made arrangements with the City of New York to dump the fill created by the construction of the 4th Avenue subway, New York City’s first, at Governors Island. Between 1900, when construction of the subway began, and the project’s completion in 1912, the city deposited about 4,787,000 cubic yards of fill on the south side of the island, creating 103 acres of new land.
The expanded island, about 100 years later.
The initial expansion was created by the construction of a rip-rap bulkhead on each side of the proposed Island extension. The rip rap wall was an experimental engineering technique, but it was successful and the bulkhead enclosure was filled with the subway excavations and topped with a combination of clay and sand.
Plan showing shape of Island in 1879 superimposed upon Coast Guard era island boundaries and layout.
The increase in the Island’s size took place in the midst of a contentious battle between the City of New York and the federal government for the use of the Island. While plans to expand the military establishment on island proceeded, city officials dreamed of using the island in a host of different ways from an air strip to an immigrant processing center (a role eventually assigned to Ellis Island) and a city park. However, the military persevered and the new expanse of island was used for military staging and to house regiments.
Filed under: Governors Island 101, History, Park and Public Space Master Plan | Tagged: New York City, governors island, New York Harbor, park, history, picnic point | Leave a Comment »
Posted on August 19, 2010 by Elizabeth
Posted on August 18, 2010 by Elizabeth
More than 70 classic VWs will drive onto Governors Island for this weekend's Traffic Jam
The Traffic Jam is a spectator-judged vintage Volkswagen car show and picnic — the first ever in NYC. Come down to Picnic Point on Sunday and see Beetles, buses, dune buggies, Things, and other original and custom VDubs circa the 1950′s through the late 1970′s.
There will be a beer garden, live music, food and a kid’s zone featuring activities run by the
Children’s Museum of the Arts to make sure that visitors of all ages are having a great time.
Check out the
full list of the day’s events and plan your trip out to the Island this Sunday.
Filed under: Upcoming Events | Tagged: Volkswagen, VW, Traffic Jam | Leave a Comment »
Posted on August 13, 2010 by Elizabeth
Photo by Piotr Redlinski for The New York Times from nytimes.com
The New York Times’ critic at large Ed Rothstein examines the arts and culture on Governors Island in an article that appeared on the front page of today’s Weekend Arts section.
The article looks at the diverse array of projects, programs and performances on the Island and features beautiful photos of Island visitors and programs.
Rothstein notes the broad range of projects and programs here, writing:
…the island has been shaping a new culture of its own. Its participants include trapeze artists, bicyclists, conceptual artists, D.J.’s, musicians, dancers and dramatists, and its attractions range from views of the New York Harbor to a free miniature-golf course designed by an arts group, where fanciful stations allow players to take metaphorical potshots at a national missile defense shield or putt a ball in support of carbon-neutral footprints.”
Experience all these opportunities and more by getting on the free ferry and coming out to Governors Island this weekend.
Filed under: Media | Tagged: art and culture, Ed Rothstein, New York Times | 1 Comment »
Posted on August 12, 2010 by Elizabeth
Zombies vs. Commandos Capture the Flag hits Governors Island this Saturday
NYCentric and Chaos Brigade are bringing capture the flag to Governors Island this weekend.
Dress up as a camouflaged commando or a zombie and chase other commandos / zombies around Colonel’s Row in search of prisoners, jail-breaks and the all-important beanbag flag. You can sign up to play once you arrive on the Island.
The game will start at 2:30 at Colonel’s Row and lasts until 5:30.
Interestingly, this is not the first time that zombies have taken over Colonels Row. Last year, zombies were out in full force and even tried to take over the Jazz Age Lawn Party.
Filed under: Upcoming Events | Tagged: capture the flag, zombies, commandos | Leave a Comment »
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