RED HOOK: The Bicycle Master Plan Design Competition

Result

Result announced.
View winners entry...

Overview

The Forum for Urban Design is launching a design competition to re-imagine Red Hook as the most bicycle friendly neighborhood in all of New York. Not only could bicycling become the predominant method of transportation for neighborhood residents, it could become a destination for urban cyclists and foster sustainable development.

Description
Located in the southeast corner of Brooklyn, Red Hook is the only neighborhood close to Manhattan that is underserved by public transportation. One train station at Smith/9th Streets in nearby Carroll Gardens is a mile from the heart of Red Hook, which is otherwise served by two bus lines and a Water Taxi that goes to Wall Street (but only in the summer months). Because transportation options are limited, Red Hook residents are unable to conveniently connect to the city around them and as a result, the neighborhood itself has experienced sporadic economic development.

The design competition has three components: one emphasizing architecture, the second emphasizing urban planning and design, and the third emphasizing feasibility (i.e. funding sources). 1. retrofitting a bike garage (or “loft”) at the Smith/9th Street Station, and 2. connecting this elevated train stop to the rest of the neighborhood via dedicated bike lanes and other bike amenities, 3. identifying funding sources such as the reauthorization of federal surface transportation legislation, foundations, and commercial sponsors.

Jury
Vishaan Chakrabarti (Vice President, Related Companies)
Judith Kunoff (Chief Architect, New York City Transit)
Jonathan Marvel (Principal, Rogers Marvel Architects)
Aaron Naparstek (Journalist and community organizer, Streetsblog)
*Philip Nobel (Architecture and Design Critic, Metropolis magazine)
Ryan Russo (Director of Pedestrian and Bicycle Programs, NYC DOT)
*Alexandros Washburn (Chief of Urban Design, City of New York)
Andrea White (Executive Director of Bikestation)
(*Red Hook resident)

Judging Process
Two-Stage, Anonymous Competition

Prize
Five finalists
First Prize: $4,000
Four Runners-Up: $1,000
Crowd Favorite: $500

Entry Fee
Students: Free
Individuals: $50
Teams: $100

Entries
A maximum of ten (10) digital images and a short (no more than 7 minute-long) video presentation burned to a CD , Written Statement (no more than 500 words)

Timetable
Finalists Announced: Sept. 2, 2008
Display Material Deadline: Sept. 16, 2008
Winners Announced at Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition event: September 20, 2008

Promoter
Forum for Urban Design

Official Website
http://forumforurbandesign.org/bikecomp.html