P.S.1 out of 7295 - BIG's Finalist Proposal

Previously on Bustler, we featured the winning design of the annual PS1 Young Architects Program, curated by The Museum of Modern Art and P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center.

Among the finalists was also the fascinating entry ‘P.S.1 out of 7295’ by Danish BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group:

The finalists were asked to present designs for temporary urban landscapes that incorporate elements of shade, water, seating, and bar areas for the expansive courtyard entrance of P.S.1. The competition program focused on designs which address sustainability, recycling, and reuse.

Here’s how BIG explain their concept:

How can you make something temporary sustainable?

Building something in order to tear it down three months later seems like the epitome of excess and wastefulness. BIG proposes a structure that creates maximum impact with a minimum of means, where human life unfolds to the fullest with minimum material expense. An installation that consists of 99.9% air is formed as a cloud-like landscape for playing, relaxing, and dancing that provides seating, playgrounds, water, shade and light. The P.S.1 installation is conceived as a three-month chapter in the cradle to cradle life-cycle design of the cloudscape. The fabric of the cloudscape is translucent recycled PVC, made from recycled truck bed covers and bags, reducing the environmental impact by 80% on average by eliminating the raw material extraction and production processes.

The cloudscape is continuous from the entrance to the courtyard, taking on three primary forms – a bubbly dune in the big rectangular courtyard, including a mega air mattress for play and physical activity and a paddling pool surrounded by bouncy seating; a three-dimensional cumulus landscape in the main courtyard with a covered chill out area of air mattresses and beanbags as well as a shaded bar for staff and guests; and a cluster of free floating cirrus clouds above the DJ and dance floor.

The cloudscape is composed of spheres of two different sizes made from a composition of identical triangulated S-shapes. After deflation at the end of the season, the S-shapes can be folded into Manhattan Portage Bags. Each bag is given a unique number that is printed on the fabric along with the pattern and folding instructions. After the season the bags can be sold as numbered fragments of the total piece - P.S.1 out of 7295.

Project Details:
PROJECT: P.S.1 OUT OF 7295
CLIENT: P.S.1 MoMA
SIZE: 1,550 M2
LOCATION: LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK / USA
PS1 CREDIT LIST
Partner-in-Charge: Bjarke Ingels
Project Leader: Jakob Henke
Contributors: Daniel Sundlin, Aleksander Tokarz, Alysen Hiller, Xi Chen

Images: BIG