Battery Park World Financial Center

New York, NY

The MPFP contribution to the Manhattan mixed-use development, Battery Park City, is a section of the Hudson River waterfront known as the North Cove. This project, like all the other individual parcels that line the development, came with a set of preconditions. First, the design had to accommodate the mile-long esplanade located at the water’s edge. Second, MPFP and the reputable architect Cesar Pelli were instructed to work with an interdisciplinary team including two artists.

This team divided the site into zones to accommodate a range of uses, from large-scale gatherings to roller-blading, to people-watching and peaceful, solitary sitting. Instead of creating random divisions, MPFP derived the organization from the site itself. The most advantageous zone – along the buildings’ facades where the view was focused outward toward the river – was elevated and reserved for a series of outdoor cafes.