Frank Gesualdi, Hayley Eber

New York, NY USA
H2grOw

Gateway National Recreation Area is comprised of 61% water. As a network of landmasses spread across a vast fluid terrain, GNRA has the unique opportunity to engage in and celebrate the potential of this aquatic landscape.

H2grOw is a conceptual systems design project that draws on techniques of floater hydroponics*, exploring the possibilities of using water as a resource for planting, transportation, energy harnessing, food production and recreation. A fleet of mobile Hydro Pods, measuring 75' x 140', is deployed across Gateway's network of islands and peninsulas. Each pod is a hydroponic eco-system grown completely without soil. This new landscape is supported primarily on a pontoon ring structure, beneath which hangs a semi permeable membrane housing all essential nutrients.

Sorting Landscape: The principles of data sorting are applied to this large array of mobile landscape "particles", allowing for unlimited reconfigurations and combinatorial complexity. As all robust ecosystems depend on a balance of conditions to maintain a dynamic equilibrium, H2grOw provides a level of responsiveness suitable for the natural rhythms of Gateway. The landscape units self-sort and cluster to form diverse combinations of both similar and dissimilar plant species and environments.

Floyd Bennett Field, acting as the public and programmatic center of Gateway, is a microcosm of the entire network of islands in the park. The hardscapes of the existing field are flooded, allowing the Hydro Pods to circulate through the site. The newly formed water bound landmasses of FBF support a variety of recreational and cultural programs that are destinations along the vast circuit of ecologies that comprise Gateway.



* Hydroponics (literally "water working") refers to a method for growing plants in a nutrient solution without soil. The science of hydroponics proves that soil isn't required for plant growth but the elements, minerals and nutrients that soil contains are. A hydroponic solution provides the exact nutrients needed for plants in precisely correct ratios.
Disclaimer: Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics, but some will do better than others.

BIO

Frank Gesualdi was born outside of New York City in 1976. He received a Professional B. Arch from Syracuse University in 1999 and a M.S. in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University in 2004. He joined Diller Scofidio + Renfro in 2004, where he has worked on the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts renovation project, including the full renovation of Alice Tully Hall, and a number of international competitions. Prior to joining DS+R, he was a Project Designer for STUDIOS Architecture in Washington, DC where he was a lead designer for The Nysmith School.

Hayley Eber was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1976. She received a B.AS from The University of Cape Town in 1997, a B.Arch from the Cooper Union in 2000, and an M.Arch from Princeton University in 2002. She joined Diller Scofidio + Renfro from 2002 to 2006, where her experience spanned the fields of architecture, urban design, multi-media theater, curatorial projects, and the visual arts. Her involvement includes lead designer for The Highline Competition, Lincoln Center Information Landscape and project architect on recent art projects: Who's Your DaDa? at MoMA in collaboration with The Wooster Group and Have You Ever Been Mistaken for a Muslim? in Lille, France with film director Mira Nair. Prior to joining DS+R, she worked at Eisenman Architects in NY and at Wiel Arets Architects in Maastricht. She currently heads up a solo practice in New York and teaches at Princeton University and The Cooper Union.