Soundview Ferry Terminal

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The proposal features three building volumes clustered along the waterfront by an existing dock in Soundview, creating an intimate semi-enclosed courtyard for an outdoor market and public events. The two passageways on the ground level allows for flow into the market as well as towards the waterfront and the landing dock for ferry transportation. The larger upper levels of the three buildings are connected, each offering full height, naturally-lit spaces for small business incubation, offices, and storage.

Dimensions & Packaging

The ground level of the complex features 600-square-meter warehouse space, 380-square-meter events and administrative spaces, and 100-square-meter ferry waiting room. The upper level features 4 commercial incubators totaling 475 square meters, 500-square-meter warehouse space, and 710-square-meter lobby, huddle space and circulation space.

Tags

Market, Ferry, Commercial

Production Technology

Since the complex is designed to offer an intimate, semi-enclosed outdoor space for the market while also allowing adequate flow from the ferry dock to the neighborhood, it has a small footprint divided into individual spaces on the ground level. The upper level, however, has a large open connected space for best productivity and communication among the incubators. This means that the upper parts of the building are cantilevered and is realized through a space frame structure supported by fanning columns.

Design Challenge

The main challenge is to incorporate the variety of program in one complex that also utilizes the waterfront location for both its spatial and scenic values. The market component of the program asks for a fluid connection between the indoor and outdoor spaces, which also serves the transit function of the ferry terminal. Another design challenge is the inversion of traditional indoor and outdoor spatial qualities. The outdoor space is intimate and while the indoor space is open and vast.

Project Duration

The project was conceived in the fall of 2017 for a site in Soundview, Bronx in New York City.

Operation Flow

This complex serves commuters who take the Soundview ferry to their workplace across New York City. In the morning, they wait for the ferry in the waiting room at the east end of the complex. After a day of work, they walk from the ferry dock and through an outdoor plaza towards the waterfront market, which features local produce and creative products developed by the food incubators housed on the upper level of the building. After shopping at the market and thus supporting the incubators, they will walk through the underpass at the west end of the complex towards their homes or local public transit stops in the area.

Research

The design seeks to create a sense of intimacy and spontaneity of free-flowing informal markets in the cervices of a dense urban fabric. The designer studied Emile Zola’s realist novel The Belly of Paris as an example and selected multiple materials for a paneling system to emulate the material variety and historical patina of buildings described by Zola.

Inspiration

The old, crumbling yet incredibly vivid and intimate architecture and streetscape of Paris described by Emile Zola in his book The Belly of Paris serves as the main inspiration for this mixed used design combing an outdoor market, a commuter ferry terminal, and incubator spaces for restaurant industry entrepreneurs.

Colors of Soundview Ferry Terminal