The Water Dyke MOMA PS1 Rockaway Call for Ideas Winning Proposal in New York by Sorg Architects

Article source: Sorg Architects

In response to MOMA/PS1’s challenge to present innovative ideas to protect the coastline area of the Rockaways in New York City, which had been destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, Sorg Architects focused not only on rebuilding the boardwalk there, but on creating the boardwalk as simultaneously a community gathering place and a functional infrastructure to protect the shoreline.

Image Courtesy © Sorg Architects

• Architects: Sorg Architects
• Project: The Water Dyke MOMA PS1 Rockaway Call for Ideas Winning Proposal
• Location: New York,  U.S.A
• Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPj48bGdSOQ

Image Courtesy © Sorg Architects

Unlike traditional dykes or flood walls that create hard barriers, the Water Dyke is a “soft” infrastructure solution to protect against increasingly powerful storm surges and flooding. Traditional methods block views and access for people and cause major disruption to delicate ecosystems with large in-ground foundations and impassable walls.

Image Courtesy © Sorg Architects

The Water Dkye, on the other hand, performs the same function but does not cut people off from the very thing that attracts them to the water front. Similarly, the Water Dyke supports the natural environment by allowing free passage for wildlife and though a minimally invasive structural system. The Water Dyke prevents damage to urban infrastructure while restoring and protecting waterfront environments.

Image Courtesy © Sorg Architects

The concept of the Water Dyke is to harness the water itself to retain a storm surge and thereby protect the shoreline from damaging floods. When water rises to dangerous levels, fabric bubbles underneath the boardwalk equipped with one-way valves capture the surging water and begin to fill up. As the bubbles inflate, the hinged boardwalk is lifted, creating a wall supported by the inflated bubbles that has harnessed the power of the storm surge itself.

Image Courtesy © Sorg Architects

The Water Dyke, as an environmentally friendly infrastructure solution to protect vulnerable coastal areas from damaging storm surges and flooding, employs a minimally invasive approach that remains sensitive to retaining and enhancing quality of life and enjoyment for our waterfront communities.

Image Courtesy © Sorg Architects

Image Courtesy © Sorg Architects

Image Courtesy © Sorg Architects

Tags: New York, U.S.A.

Category: Public Landscapes

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