Hurricane Sandy may have been five years ago, but its effects can still be felt today. Don’t believe us? Try to get on the L train in 2019 and get back to us.
After Sandy left many Red Hook residents without electricity, the New York City Housing Authority commissioned this innovative project to solve the power problem, while being easy on the eye AND acting as a flood barrier.
The “Lily Pads”, by Kohn Pedersen Fox, are comprised of 14 beautiful green hills that not only function as amazing green zones for 6000 residents but are also capable of generating power in the case of another flood.
One of the most important features of the Lily Pads would be to act as flood barriers. In a statement on their site, KPF says:
KPF was charged with lessening the community’s vulnerability to natural disasters and improving the sustainability and livability of its 28 buildings housing 6,000 people. […] KPF performed extensive design research and rounds of community input, including forums, surveys, and workshops. The final scheme includes 14 above-ground “utility pods” that deliver heat and electricity to each building and offer meeting space for public programming. The additional Lily Pad scheme provides permanent flood barriers in the form of raised earth at the center of internal courtyards and an active flood wall supplemented by passive barriers. These elements transform the experience of residents and guests by providing vibrant, social spaces in conjunction with the area’s infrastructural needs.
$438 million was allocated by FEMA to repair the housing complex and the money to develop this project.
Featured image source [kpf]