Arkansas-based architecture practice Somewhere Studio has won the seventh edition of the annual City of Dreams Pavilion Competition with Salvage Swings proposal. The pavilion, pending approvals and fundraising, will be installed on Roosevelt Island and open to the public for the summer 2019 season. A kickstarter campaign has already been started for the pavilion and is awaiting supports. 

Salvage Swings utilizes scrap cross-laminated timber panels to create a fun and inviting summer pavilion. The pavilion is constructed of 12 simple modules that frame a swing and the swinger’s view.

The annual City of Dream Pavilion Competition is hosted by Figment, the Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) of the American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY), and the Structural Engineers Association of New York (SEAoNY). 

The City of Dreams Pavilion, so named for its focus on the future of a world that faces strains on both economic and natural resources, aims to promote sustainability-oriented thinking in the architecture and design communities, requiring designers to consider the environmental impact of their designs, from materials sourcing to disposal (or ideally reuse) of waste at the end of the season.

The modules, which are held together with an oversized finger joint, are identical in size but made unique through a playful patterning of painted hatches and windows. The material cut-out of the panels for that create the windows is reused to make the swing seats. 

At Roosevelt Island, the modules are organized in a triangular form, enabling community swinging while creating a covered seating areas and a interrupted visual field, enabling hide-and-seek games. 

The generous central space created by the 12 structures can also host community events. The modular design also allows for the swings to be easily separated following the summer and relocated as individual swings to parks and schools across New York City.

The team will work with Figment, ENYA, SEAoNY, the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, and the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation to select the exact site for Salvage Swings, refine the design, obtain necessary approvals, and fabricate and install the pavilion on the island.

Salvage Swings is accepting tax-deductible donations to support the fabrication, installation, and maintenance of the pavilion on Roosevelt Island for the 2019 summer season.

All images courtesy of Somewhere Studio

> via Figment