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This year we selected two incredible Architectural Pavilions to be installed on Governors Island. Billion Oyster Pavilion by BanG studio of New York City and Organic Growth by Izaskun Chinchilla Architects of Madrid and London. Both projects have recently launch Kickstarter campaigns to fund the creation of their pavilions. Click here to see both campaigns and to learn how to get involved. 

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Billion Oyster Pavilion

by BanG Studio (Babak Bryan, AIA; Henry Grosman; and Suzie Betts; with Sam Janis, Harbor School/Billion Oyster Project), New York, NY

BanG’s proposal for the Billion Oyster Pavilion joins two of Governors Island’s most exciting enterprises: FIGMENT/ENYA/SEAoNY’s City of Dreams Pavilion and The New York Harbor School’s Billion Oyster Project. The materials that form the woven canopy (steel rebar, nylon rope, and hose clamps) are used in their harbor restoration work. The base of the pavilion is comprised of custom-cast “Reef Balls,” a restoration device that the school will also use as part of their habitat creation effort. The pavilion will be donated to the Harbor School and its materials will be completely re-used on the island once the summer ends and the pavilion is decommissioned.

Support their Kickstarter campaign here! 

Organic Growth

 by Izaskun Chinchilla Architects (Izaskun Chinchilla Moreno, Sally Hart, Adriana Cabello Plasencia, Alejandro Espallargas Omedas and Alfonso Aracil Sánchez), Madrid and London

 Izaskun Chinchilla Architects’ design takes inspiration from nature to create an innovative and flexible solution that directly engages with local communities and familiar materials. Flower structures such as those found in hydrangeas have the ability to respond to the natural environment, growing and morphing to remain in balance with nature. Izaskun believes architecture must adopt a similar responsiveness, adapting to uncertain budgets, social change and ecological dynamics naturally, beautifully and intuitively. The proposed design employs commonly found materials, giving them a new life after they have become unfit for their original purpose. The design utilizes broken umbrellas, old stools and damaged bicycle wheels, which several institutions in New York are already recycling. As with mop-head flowers, the pavilion is composed of many smaller elements, all of which can be dismantled and re-used after the summer. Branches composed of several umbrellas and tripods, can be easily reused as sun, wind, and rain protection in outdoor spaces all around the city. Larger elements can be beautiful indoor chandeliers and can be useful for community centers or other public spaces. Izaskun Chinchilla is a Senior Teaching Fellow, Senior Research Associate and Public Engagement Fellow at Bartlett School of Architecture, University College of London.

Support their Kickstarter campaign here!

Join the FIGMENT team and community on Tues. Feb. 10 at Open House Club (244 East Houston) from 7:00-10:00 PM for our February Meet & Greet event.

The FIGMENT NYC team will be on hand to share exciting updates about our 2015 Sculpture Program and City of Dreams Pavilions (yes, plural!). Bring us your questions about submitting a proposal for FIGMENT Minigolf, the Treehouse, or FIGMENT weekend, and if you're interested in, or just curious about volunteering or getting involved in FIGMENT in any way, this is a great opportunity to learn more. 

We'll be joined this month by the team from ALPHA; FIGMENT's weekend camping event for creators.  Happening in Maryland, April 24th-26th, we use a bucolic space for workshops, skill-shares, building and burning (of art) too. Meet the ALPHA team and connect with other attendees to plan projects. Our effigy team, ALPHAGY, will be on hand as well and looking for volunteers. Learn more about the event at alpha.figmentproject.org and rsvp for the event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1539870592945929/ .

As always, the good company of our amazing FIGMENT/ALPHA community is assured, so join us to round out your Tuesday with a little creative energy and great people no matter whether or not you have questions.

Pleas RSVP to the Facebook event here, and please help us spread the word.

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) are pleased to announce that a distinguished jury has selected two winning designs in the fifth annual City of Dreams Pavilion Competition: Billion Oyster Pavilion by BanG Studio of New York City and Organic Growth by Izaskun Chinchilla Architects of Madrid and London. Pending approvals and fundraising, these pavilions will both be assembled on Governors Island and open to the public for the summer 2015 season.

Read the full story here.