StreetFest Ideas City 2013, New York // Design competition entry

The urban cocoons attempt to create spatial porosity within the city. The urban grid is translated into a lightweight seemingly permeable scaffolding structure. As such, it disintegrates when seen from certain angles thus allowing for the fabric cocoons to visually sprawl into the streets and pavements unhindered by the regularity of their square boundaries. The project offers an array of uses that could vary in scale and character. Studies into tent typologies led to the concept of a milti-use temporary enclosure/ cover. Each cocoon unit consists of recycled scaffolding and prefabricated fabric ring components. Every unit could be manipulated by stacking, turning on its side, upside down, etc. to allow for interchangeable uses. The basic types are explored in two Categories: horizontal cover (fabric suspended from above) and seating pods (fabric stretched between 3,4,5 sides). These could be combined in expandable clusters in various configurations depending on the use, time, required facilities and number of people.

Design: ALEKSA studio 
Client: Storefront, New York
Location: New York
Dates: 2013
Construction value: $20k