In the New York studio, the motto is work hard, work harder then work even more but occasionally we do find pockets in the day to have a bit of fun. One of such occasions came after Studio one Friday afternoon, when a few of us strolled over to Battery Park. The park itself is just visible from studio and is a nice break from the tall buildings that dominate the Downtown skyline. Battery Park is one of New York City’s oldest parks and is the largest public open space Downtown.
Historically it was fondly called the “emerald doorstep” and is quickly becoming the hub of all waterborne transportation for New York Harbor. Of particular interest is the SeaGlass Carousel located at the southern edge of the park, the carousel is inspired by the underwater world. Designed by AAP NYC planning faculty at WXY Architecture + Urban Design its exterior swirls around and up, mimicking the shape of a shell. The interior has soft colored lighting that transitions slowly from one color to the next. Riders hop into the massive fish also LED lit, designed by George Tyspin Opera Factory. WXY Architecture + Urban Design describe the carousel as a “project that transforms the traditional ride structure into an instrument of the future with digital projection and electrified glass technology with an original musical score recorded live by New York City Musicians”. The underwater theme is a throwback to the New York Aquarium which at one time was located on the very same spot.
Although the ride was clearly aimed at children, we were all too happy to hop on and enjoy it. After a grueling week in studio it was extremely relaxing to sway gently up and down while also revolving around, alternating between views from the inside and outside. For a moment, we became part of the spectacle of the of the exhibit as people looked in on us as we rode the ride. As we continue the semester we hope to find even more of these ad hoc surprises the city has to offer. They are a good way to break up our routine and after all it is experiences like this that make the New York Studio unique.
