MOBILITY / ADAPTABILITY / ECONOMY OF SPACE / TOURISM / INDUSTRY / POSSIBILITY

The project was a finalist for a SHIFTboston design competition, and became the subject of a second design competition hosted by SHIFTboston. The mission of the competition was to generate radical ideas to rethink Boston’s urban fabric. Conceived at a macro scale, the goal was to revitalize Boston’s waterfront. When the project was created, waterfront areas adjacent to Boston Harbor were largely unused and inaccessible to the general public. The intent was to strategically target underdeveloped areas along the waterfront in order to increase foot traffic.

The design competition entry includes a series of floating platforms that could be customized based on local demand and site appropriateness. The solution centers on flexibility and waterfront access. Comprised of standard 210’ x 60’ X13.5’ Ocean Going Deck Barges, the floating network was intended to remedy the expense of permanent waterfront development and provide new connection nodes to coastal areas. The barges are intended as a temporary means of place-making or insert themselves as a more permanent site solution based on circumstance.

The design was inspired by the idea of reclaimed topography. A cue was taken from Boston’s historical development where Back Bay and much of South Boston was backfilled. At a micro scale, the barge build-out features a series of artificial contours and social pockets that create public park space for seasonal activities. These forms are designed to capture the energy of Boston’s road networks and shipping routes. A collection of introspective spaces take form below deck. The upper level contour zones encourage social interaction and views out to the surrounding landscape.

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