MOMA / P.S.1 URBAN BEACH

Commissioned for the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center courtyard, the MoMA/P.S.1 Urban Beach is based on two distinct but interrelated elements: the diamond roof and the ground object. The ground object integrates various programmatic elements, such as wading pools, lounge furniture, and stages at different heights. Rather than defaulting to a conventional, vector-based structure, the roof is made of chunky diamond-shaped volumes ranging up to 9’ deep and 50’ long.

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A translucent outer enclosure of expanded aluminum ‘vacuum forms’ the diamonds; pressing from top and bottom like clamshell toy packaging. This second skin provides shade for the P.S.1 courtyard, but also binds the diamonds together into a new object. During the day, the diamonds fade to the background and the piece appears monolithic. At night, the piece appears to transform into a luminous set of discrete objects.

LOCATION

New York City, New York

TYPE

Pavilion

YEAR

2003

FLOOR AREA

10,000 SF

CLIENT

The Museum of Modern Art / P.S.1

DESIGN TEAM

Principal: Tom Wiscombe, AIA
Project Management: Burr Dodd, Dionicio Valdez Construction Supervision: Kai Hellat

PROJECT TEAM

Design Architect: TWA, Los Angeles
Structural: DeSimone NY, Derrick Roorda, S.E.
Metal Fabrication: Amsterdam Metalworks

The roof operates as a long-span structure through the use of chunky, interconnected diamond-shaped volumes.

A translucent outer enclosure vacuum forms the diamonds; pressing from top and bottom, producing crenellations and pleats.

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