Brooklyn
Bridge Park in New York City is a Michael Van Valkenburgh project that is
currently under construction. This
project is something new for the public of New York city to enjoy, it has taken
a previously industrial area and altered it into an accessible waterfront for a
city that has a major lack of public park space. The site of this park is at the foot of the
Brooklyn Bridge. It is an area that has
been reestablished as a public space rather than an industrial area. It is this new trend of reclaiming underused
areas that is changing the way in which we view the potential for areas to be
designed. The process of creating a
photo collage perspective works extremely well in identifying and depicting the
areas of the project that have multiple uses, lively activities, and are focal
points of the design.
The scale of
this project is also depicted very well through the use of imagery. The site is shown at the human scale. Above you can see that the site features and
design elements all relate to the human scale, and not to the scale of the
massive bridge and skyline that dominate the background and horizon. This human scale is addressed in multiple
ways. There are both open and intimate
spaces. Spaces for public recreation,
and also spaces for individual use are found throughout the site. Pier 1 was the first section of the park to
be completed. It has a variety of
terrain that gives a unique sense of access to the water.
Pier 1 is
programmed to induce the enjoyment of the landscape through both direct contact
and through distant views. The large
open lawn with an immense uninterrupted view of the skyline is contrasted by
the intimate paths that wind down to access the water. This programming has created a variety of
spaces for people to enjoy no matter what type of recreation they are enjoying.
The images
produced in the design process of Pier 1 are extremely successful in showing
the dynamics of the space. The images
are made to show the wide variety of activity that can take place. This type of image shows the elements of the
site such as scale and terrain that have influenced the design. You can also see the cultural elements with
the large groups of people all inhabiting a small space. The ecology takes a back seat in this image,
but it is not left out. This image shows
the installations of vegetation, but it is not a focal point in this image.
These images
are successful in showing the analysis, discovery, system, tools, and processes
because of the multiple levels of design that they show. The human figures in all the images give a
very obvious depiction to whom and what the site is meant to function to at any
time. Whether it be active or passive
recreation, the meaning is clear as to what the space is meant to support.
The expression
of these spaces through these photomontage scenes provides a level of realism
to a conceptual design. The mixtures of
photographs and the implanted entourage give a extremely easily read image to
what is happening in the space. The multiple
layers including blurs and transparencies blend everything together to create a
large image with little seam work that you eye catches. The perspective is true and well positioned
to show multiple layers of design.
Michael Van
Valkenburgh Assoc. show in their perspective photomontages designs that are successful
and beautiful with people interacting in them.
That is the major feature that I keep seeing in the photomontages form
all of their project images. The
insertion of these vast amount of people make you automatically believe that
the space is vibrant, lively, successful, and loved by the community, even
though it may not even be constructed yet.
I think that this is a huge accomplishment for a simple
photomontage. The insertion of people interacting
seems to be more important than the actual depiction of the minute design
details. I think that the success of
these images it to make it obvious in the image that the space that you are
pitching or depicting is made to seem useable, loveable, respected, and a focal
area.
When
creating these images I think that there is a lot of freedom to really let your
creative take hold and express what a space has the potential to be. Detail and schematic drawings can only get
you so far in expressing how a space is intended to feel and be
experienced. With a successful
photomontage the character of a space can be expressed. A detail drawing, and even artistic drawings
most of the time, struggle to represent and show the amount of detail that a
photomontage can.
I think that
the use of photomontages can easily depict and support the different layers of
design such as site, scale, terrain, ecology, culture, analyses, discovery,
tools, systems, performance, and can exponentially enhance the ability to
communicate ones design to clients and viewers of any education or
background. They are truly a visual tool
that, if used correctly, can give views into your design that cannot be achieved
in any other form of visual aid. I think
that using a tool such as photo shop to create these images will soon trump the
hand drawing process, if it already hasn’t, in terms of effectively visualizing
a concept.
