The Dryline

Urban flood protection infrastructure

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    BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (Copenhagen/New York) and One Architecture (Amsterdam), in collaboration with the City of New York, propose a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan using a series of raised berms and other measures to create public spaces along the water’s edge, forming a large-scale integrated flood protection system.

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    Project update February 2016 – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, USA

    A coastal protection barrier in the form of a huge city park is being designed by internationally-renowned architecture firm, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).

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    Global Bronze Awards 2015 prize ceremony – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

    Winners of the Global Bronze prize of the LafargeHolcim Awards: a consortium led by BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group (Copenhagen/New York) and One Architecture (Amsterdam) together with representatives of LafargeHolcim, and the Global Awards jury. The Dryline project addresses New York City’s vulnerability to coastal flooding with a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan.

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    Global Bronze Awards 2015 prize ceremony – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

    Presentation to the winning team from The Dryline (l-r): Daniel Zarrilli, Director at the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency; Stephen Whitehouse, Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners; Bjarke Ingels and Jeremy Siegel, BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    View of BIG U from The Battery in the financial district. Berms are strategically located to protect the infrastructure below and create a protective upland landscape. The plan envisions a new maritime/environmental education facility. Flood protection in this zone protects USD 1.9 billion in potential damages (NPV), including infrastructure beneath. The system has a benefit-cost ratio greater than 5.0.

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    Global finalist entry 2015 - The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure

    The undulating berm in East River Park will rise 15 feet to provide flood protection and connect coast and community. It will support diverse new plantings, provide enhanced prospects on the park, and create social spaces. Existing sports fields will be maintained. Wide landscaped bridges will connect the East River Park to the community.

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    Global finalist entry 2015 - The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure

    Reprogramming: Dark spaces below highways are turned into urban community areas.

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    Global finalist entry 2015 - The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure

    Lower east side north: section and bird's eye view.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    How can the mandate of large-scale protective infrastructure with meaningful community engagement be obtained? How can the requirements of a “Robert Moses” hard infrastructure combined with the local community-driven sensitivity of Jane Jacobs be manifest? BIG U contains a protective ribbon: 21 km (13 mi) of flood protection tailored to each neighborhood and the community it serves.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    The meandering protective BIG Bench creates unique spaces for socializing.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    The three components the make up BIG U: BIG Bench, Battery, and Berm.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    BIG Bench flood protection is designed as if it were street furniture: attractive, fun, practical.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    Abandoned underpass becomes public space, activated by a continuous band of flood defense/amenities.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    Flip-down flood gates double as an art installation or enclosure for a winter market.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    Dark parking lots beneath highways become an urban marketplace.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    The Berm increases much-needed park space and connectivity; the highways now hinder pedestrian access.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    New urban civic amenities add public space and do not fear the elements; they embrace them!

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    Holcim Awards North America ceremony, Toronto, Canada

    Presenting the Holcim Awards Silver (l-r): Enrique Norten, Member of the Board of the Holcim Foundation and Principal & Founder of TEN Arquitectos; Kai-Uwe Bergmann – BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, New York and Matthijs Bouw - One Architecture, Amsterdam – members of the consortium winning Holcim Awards Silver for “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure”; Alain Bourguignon, Holcim Area Manager for North America and the United Kingdom; and jury member Mark Jarzombek, Associate Dean, School of Architecture & Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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    Holcim Awards North America ceremony, Toronto, Canada

    Winners of the Holcim Awards (l-r): David Benjamin, The Living, New York – winner of Holcim Awards Bronze for “Hy-Fi: Zero carbon emissions compostable structure”; Caitlin Taylor and Amy Mielke, Water Pore Partnership, New York – winners of Holcim Awards Gold for “Poreform: Water absorptive surface and subterranean basin”; and Kai-Uwe Bergmann – BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, New York and Matthijs Bouw - One Architecture, Amsterdam – members of the consortium winning Holcim Awards Silver for “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure”.

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    Bjarke Ingles is Founding Partner of BIG, Bjarke Ingels Group based in Copenhagen, Denmark and winner of the Global Holcim Awards Bronze 2015.

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    Feature interview – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

    Feature interview – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

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    Feature interview – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

    Feature interview – The Dryline: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York City, USA

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    Holcim Awards North America media briefing, Toronto, Canada

    “We build resilient infrastructure - but we actually think about the people and their activities.” – member of the Holcim Awards Silver winning consortium Kai-Uwe Bergmann – BIG Bjarke Ingels Group for “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York”.

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    Holcim Awards North America media briefing, Toronto, Canada

    Winners of the Holcim Awards Silver (l-r): Kai-Uwe Bergmann – BIG Bjarke Ingels Group, New York and Matthijs Bouw - One Architecture, New York – members of the consortium winning Holcim Awards Silver for “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York”.

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    “Sustainability? Social solutions for generations to come” – Kai-Uwe Bergmann

    Kai-Uwe Bergmann from Bjarke Ingels Group – BIG proposes a large-scale flood protection system by means of a set of small-scale interventions. “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, USA” won the Holcim Awards Silver for civic infrastructure that responds to climate change and rising global sea levels.

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    “Sustainability? Bringing all the benefits together” – Matthijs Bouw

    Matthijs Bouw from One Architecture sees the potential for social and economic benefits in the flood protection infrastructure. “Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, USA” won the Holcim Awards Silver for its innovative hard infrastructure with local community-driven sensitivity.

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    Project entry 2014 North America – Rebuild by Design: Urban flood protection infrastructure, New York, NY, USA

    The international team.

  • Awards Bronze 2014–2015 Global
  • Awards Silver 2014–2015 North America

The Dryline (BIG U) addresses New York City’s vulnerability to coastal flooding with a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan. The 12 km-long infrastructural barrier incorporates public space with the high-water barrier doubling as parks, seating, bicycle shelters or skateboard ramps. Embankments add green areas and spaces beneath elevated roadways are built out with pavilions for public use. In an emergency, the shutters close forming a floodwater barrier.

By Daniel Kidd, Kai-Uwe Bergmann , Jeremy Siegel, Thomas Christoffersen, - BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (New York), New York, NY, USAStephen Whitehouse, Melon Wedick, Laura Starr, Andrea Parker, - Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners, New York, NY, USADaniel Payne, - AEA Consulting, Beacon, NY, USAChristina Kaunzinger, - Green Shield Ecology, Bridgewater, NJ, USAByron Stigge, - Level Agency for Infrastructure, New York, NY, USAMatthijs Bouw, - One Architecture, Amsterdam, NetherlandsPrem Krishnamurthy, - Project Projects, New York, NY, USAIvo de Jeu, Bjarke Ingels , - BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group, Copenhagen, DenmarkJames Lima, - James Lima Planning + Development, New York, NY, USAEdgar J. Westerhof, - ARCADIS, USASteven Baumgartner - Buro Happold Engineering, New York City, USA

Ideas: Urban Requalification, Economic & Social Empowerment

The Dryline (BIG U) addresses New York City’s vulnerability to coastal flooding with a protective ribbon in Southern Manhattan. The 12 km-long infrastructural barrier incorporates public space with the high-water barrier doubling as parks, seating, bicycle shelters or skateboard ramps.

Embankments add green areas and spaces beneath elevated roadways are built out with pavilions for public use. In an emergency, the shutters close forming a floodwater barrier.

The Dryline

Project authors

  • Daniel Kidd

    BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (New York)

    USA

  • Stephen Whitehouse

    Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

    USA

  • DP
    Daniel Payne

    AEA Consulting

    USA

  • Melon Wedick

    Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

    USA

  • Winner of "Rebuild by Design Urban flood protection infrastructure, NewYork, USA"
    Christina Kaunzinger

    Green Shield Ecology

    USA

  • Byron Stigge

    Level Agency for Infrastructure

    USA

  • Jeremy Siegel

    BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (New York)

    USA

  • Thomas Christoffersen

    BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group (New York)

    USA

  • Holcim Awards North America ceremony, Toronto, Canada
    Matthijs Bouw

    One Architecture

    Netherlands

  • Prem Krishnamurthy

    Project Projects

    USA

  • Laura Starr

    Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

    USA

  • Ivo de Jeu

  • Andrea Parker

    Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners

    USA

  • James Lima

    James Lima Planning + Development

    USA

  • Edgar J. Westerhof

    ARCADIS

    USA

  • Steven Baumgartner

    Buro Happold Engineering

    USA

Project updates