Architects Propose Creating ‘Icebergs’ On Stalled NYC Construction Sites

Like giant urban pot holes, dozens of abandoned construction sites dot Manhattan. They are a lasting remnant of the real estate downturn. Why not just leave these sites alone? For the developers who ran out of financing these underdeveloped locations still cost them a ton of money in property taxes. Some sites rack up millions each year and can lead to a deficit trap not easy to escape the longer the land remains undeveloped.  Not content to see these barricaded plots of land go unused, architects Woods Bagot have proposed installing modular inflatable structures that both generate interest and income as well as being environmentally sensitive.

Rather than create structures fill-in structures that would drain taxpayer funds, the architects instead devised dramatic temporary steel structures that could be quickly assembled and easily configured to a range of site sizes. Called ‘Icebergs’, the structures would be wrapped with the fabric/plastic hybrid material EFTE which is currently used in a lot of large dome tent structures. Steel would only be used in the base of each of the Icebergs. Large air pockets would be created inside each Iceberg and inflated with  a fan unit powered by a solar energy. The volumes of the building would therefore have a very low carbon footprint.

One revenue generating idea is to take advantage of the translucent characteristics of the EFTE. Advertising could be projected on the surfaces of the Icebergs although the architects stress they would hope the content is curated in a respectful manner. The interior spaces could be leased out for pop-up stores or as brand pavilions and go for a discounted rental rate. The architects are currently pitching the idea to developers so it might not be long before we see the first Iceberg in Manhattan.

[via Fast Company]