To refresh your memory, GRO Architects‘ floating walkways are designed to extend from piers and use the river current to spin their large turbines. Power would be generated silently while the passersby could also use the spaces within the network of turbines for walkways, public spaces, or even residences as the project’s title suggests.

The first iterations of this design featured a set of open structures with faceted cladding and rib cage-like walkways. In Brian Novello’s version, the walkways are more like enclosed passageways inside of the swirling turbines, and a sleek and technical look has been given to the central connecting modules that act as green spaces for trees. This new look is similar to the pristine, yet engineered style of a brightly colored Dyson vacuum, but it is appropriate since the action of water in a turbine lends itself to these twisting forms.

Brian Novello has posted a fly through video of the project, which gives a nice overview of the spaces. These structures could act as a nice retreat from the city streets, since they seems very inviting in their modernity. In addition to the architectural achievements, the FH2 Flood Harvesting Housing project could have significant value for adding green space and collecting power for the city. We hope that these design updates means that headway is being made toward making a hydropower project a reality in New York City.

+ GRO Architects

Via The Awesomer

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