This project is part of the Complex Projects graduation studio, which investigates urban challenges as a result of political, economic, and environmental change. In this project especially environmental change is being considered, but also political and economic changes are intrinsically linked to this environmental change. With the current changing climate, an increased risk of extreme weather conditions, such as flooding and storms, will change the urban landscape of Manhattan, New York. Previously, there have already been numerous large storms which cause flooding and large-scale damage in the city. Currently, New York has an individualistic approach to larger scale issues, but these will not continue to suffice and are often short-term solutions in protecting the larger scale public infrastructure. On the waterfronts of Midtown Manhattan, new coastal barriers will be constructed as part of a larger scale resiliency project, to protect the city from flooding. The project is located on part of this coastal barrier, and investigates how a New York type building (in scale and density) can be placed on the new urban development, using the clash in the grid and the changing in levels to
create a building, comprising of housing and retail, connected through public and private atriums.