Streetscape Territories: on site workshop about participation in Coney Island, New York

Since Rem Koolhaas described Coney Island’s historic role and context (Koolhaas, 1978) in the urban growth and architectural innovation in New York City, many new challenges appeared. Starting from the increasing number of storms attacking the area’s waterfront, the ongoing rise of the sea level, the aftermath of the financial crisis and its effect on investments and real estate projects in the area, till the changing immigration waves or new patterns of the way urban space is consumed, Coney Island has definitely changed a lot during the last decades. This set of multiple challenges was the starting point of a research and design project, focusing on the meaning and role of streetscapes, that was used as a conceptual framework for this international workshop. Many actors were involved in this workshop, from the inhabitants till local real estate promoters, policy makers, design and planning professionals and academics. The selected group of participants used this theme and selected area to explore, define and develop an urban or architectural intervention in the area, working with the mentioned multiple dimensions this area’s future is defined by. Coherence, sustainability and feasibility were important criteria for discussion and reflection. There was one main study area, situated at the western part of the island and characterised by a fragile connection with the mainland and with the waterfront: the area in between Coney Island Creek at the North of the Island to the amusement park at the South. This area embodies an enormous potential as to its transforming industrial activity, some new commercial and leisure activities, the immediate access to nature and its metropolitan connectivity. The area includes as well a wide range of territorial scenarios to align research and proposal approaches: from gated communities, privatisation of beaches and public space, pockets of collective spaces, etc.status: publishe