Plaza by the Williamsburg bridge. Image Courtesy of Lasse Lyhne-Hansen
In the celebration of what would be Paul Rudolph’s 100th birthday, designer Lasse Lyhne-Hansen has revisited one of the famed architect’s largest and last major US projects: a study on the Lower Manhattan Expressway in 1967.
“LOMEX REVISITED” places the LOMEX study in an alternate universe to honor Paul Rudolph’s centenary, seeking to “search for the beauty in this hated, unbuilt masterpiece” that even in Rudolph’s own opinion was rightfully defeated by Jane Jacobs.
Paul Rudolph's original vision of LOMEX. Image
Commissioned by the Ford Foundation, the LOMEX was a study on the implications of the Lower Manhattan Expressway, a Robert Moses proposal for a Y-shaped highway that would have connected Holland Tunnel to Williamsburg and Manhattan Bridges, demolishing much of SoHo. Through the LOMEX, Rudolph created a megastructure with such intensity that the road infrastructure would become irrelevant. The expressway project was canceled in 1971.
View from terrace in the high-rises. Image Courtesy of Lasse Lyhne-Hansen
For LOMEX REVISITED, Lyhne-Hansen focused on two areas drawn in birds-eye perspective sections, inspired by iconic imagery from Rudolph publications. Rather than competing with the original drawings, the new imagery takes eye-height perspectives, “trying to capture the epic image as well as the everyday scenes to experience the many facets of the space.”
Looking up on the cantilevering units. Image Courtesy of Lasse Lyhne-Hansen
Through the work of translating the drawings to 3D many blanks and inconsistencies were encountered, which is natural for a project that is a study rather than an actual building. The inconsistencies were navigated by researching Paul Rudolph’s built work and projects and combined the available drawings aiming to bring out the best of the project.
-Lasse Lyhne-Hansen
Plaza by the Williamsburg bridge. Image Courtesy of Lasse Lyhne-Hansen
Retaining an element of abstraction, materials are not specified nor obvious, remaining true to Rudolph’s methodology. Necessary objects such as handrails and staircases are designed as “combinations of similar objects from his other buildings and whatever indication the drawings would offer.”
Looking across the structure from Columbia St. Image Courtesy of Lasse Lyhne-Hansen
More information on the scheme, and Rudolph’s work, is available via the Paul Rudolph Foundation, who work on the digitization of Rudolph’s work to make them easily accessible to the general public.
Looking into the Low-rise valley. Image Courtesy of Lasse Lyhne-Hansen
News via: Lasse Lyhne-Hansen