Future Expansion's “Flatiron Reflection” wins fourth Flatiron Public Plaza Holiday Competition

When the holiday season arrives (it's almost here, believe it or not), “Flatiron Reflection” will be a festive display in New York's Flatiron District for all to enjoy. Designed by Future Expansion Architects, the playful installation was announced last week as the winner of the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership and Van Alen Institute's fourth Flatiron Public Plaza Holiday Design Competition, which seeks the best proposal for a fun, temporary installation in the heart of the Flatiron District.

The other teams who were invited to compete this year were Annie Barrett/BAS; FIRM a.d. with Marman and Borins; Hive Public Space; Kyle May, Architect; Practice; The Principals; and Schaum/Shieh.

Located on the North Flatiron Public Plaza at Broadway, Fifth Avenue, and 23rd Street, Flatiron Reflection will serve as a centerpiece for the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership's holiday festivities.  Read on for more about the winning proposal.

Designed to be experienced up-close and from a distance, Flatiron Reflection encourages new perspectives of its bustling city environment. The installation's mirrored surface creates a play of light, reflection, and shadow. From afar, its folds create soft reflections that become more defined as you approach.

“A bundle of shimmering tubes creates a fragmented column at the scale of the public plaza. The fluted perimeter offers niches that can be occupied, while a panoramic central space opens out like a stage into the plaza. The conical interior form cuts out the visual noise of the city to isolate the image of the Flatiron Building and its neighbors on the skyline.”

“The installation is designed for three scales of experience: the deeply creased exterior makes spaces for individuals; the interior room offers an intimate panorama for small groups; and the north-facing wedge presents a platform toward the plaza. We hope that the installation opens new possibilities for interaction and experiences while reinforcing the pure public essence of the site,” describe Deirdre and Nicholas McDermott, the principals of Future Expansion.

“The glistening materials and choir-like sculptural formation will prompt passersby to engage with the art, while serving as a backdrop for festive programming throughout the holiday season,” describes Wendy Feuer, NYCDOT Assistant Commissioner of Design + Art + Wayfinding.

The installation will be open daily through the holidays until January 1. 

The 2017 competition jury featured:
Nick Athanail, The Corcoran Group and Flatiron Partnership board member
Michael Bierut, Partner, Pentagram
Emily Colasacco, New York City Department of Transportation Art
Courtney Whitelocke, New York City Department of Transportation Art
Jessica Healy, Van Alen board member
Michael Szivos, SoftLAB
Jennifer Brown, Executive Director, Flatiron Partnership
Aleksey Lukyanov-Cherny, Partner, SITU Studio
Ahmed El Husseiny, Partner, AE Superlab
David van der Leer, Executive Director, Van Alen Institute
Debra Simon, Director, Times Square Arts

All images courtesy of the Van Alen Institute.

Check out the other competition proposals in the gallery below.