Kicking off a five-year collaboration between the NYC Parks Department and a group of architecture graduate students at Parsons is a new 'do for a WPA-era public pool in Washington Heights. Highbridge Park Pool will be re-christened "Splash House" thanks to The Design Workshop at Parsons, led by Alfred Zollinger of Brooklyn firm Matter Practice.
In a throwback to the 11 public pools built during Robert Moses's tenure as "master builder" of New York (an avid swimmer himself, that Moses), the revamped pool at Highbridge Park can be modified for year-round usage. Better yet? It should be finished for the 2012 season!
According to Parsons:
"Natural systems of light, ventilation and water make a lightweight and efficient porous structure, which remains sensitive to its historic context. It includes sliding doors, which allow the locker area to be converted into additional changing rooms during peak times, and also a water curtain that functions as a play feature for children. In addition to the design and construction of Splash House, the Design Workshop students also created a master plan for the center that outlines future improvements."
· Parsons Collaborates With NYC Parks & Recreation [Archinect]
· The Design Workshop at Parsons [Parsons]