To some critics, Manhattan's 200-year-old street grid plan is rigid, inorganic, and unyielding. Gregory Wessner of The Architectural League noted how supple the 1811 plan was, however, in remarks made at The Museum of the City of New York last Saturday. He was introducing the panel who chose finalists from those who answered a call for ideas for he future of Manhattan called The Unfinished Grid. Wessner pointed out that the establishment of the 1811 Manhattan grid plan predated skyscrapers, subways, and automobile traffic?all things that are today integral to Manhattan's identity. More than 120 plans were submitted, some more fanciful than others. Renderings from the eight finalists can be seen above, courtesy of The Huffington Post.
The exhibition, The Unfinished Grid: Design Speculations For Manhattan runs through April 15, 2012 at The Museum of The City of New York. It is running concurrently with The Greatest Grid: The Master Plan of Manhattan, 1811-2011.
· Manhattan Grid Plan: Planning The Future Design Of New York City [HuffPo]
· Museum Celebrates Street Grid [Curbed]
· The Greatest Grid [MCNY]
· The Unfinished Grid [MCNY]
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