and the winners are...

Design Trust for Public Space in partnership with the Grand Army Plaza Coalition has announced the winners of the urban design ideas competition, Reinventing Grand Army Plaza. The competition resulted in over 200 submissions from around the world with two of the finalists hailing from France.

FIRST PRIZE {TIE}

'Please Wake Me Up!' - Traffic is “squeezed” to the Plaza’s spine, allowing the Plaza to reconnect with surrounding neighborhoods. Regular intersections increase traffic safety. A generous, open urban square offers a sense of tranquility and expansiveness. A market hall becomes the greenmarket’s year-round home.

Submitted by: Gauthier le Romancer, Guillaume Derrien from Paris, France


'Canopy' - stands for a strategy of spanning different areas and uses with a connective or sheltering roof. Green 'canopies' or roof-decks bridge over Flatbush Avenue, which becomes the main north/south vehicle route, freeing the west side of the Plaza for other uses. Canopy-shaped forms become community gardens at the west berm, and a canopy-shaped pool surrounds Bailey Fountain.

Submitted by: Anne-Sophie Coue, Christian Matteau, Stephane Mauget, Chrystelle Sanaa of acc&s2 from Nantes, France


SECOND PRIZE
'Urban Stripes' - The Plaza is divided into five east/west ‘stripes’, connecting communities on either side. Each stripe has a distinct appearance and use. The Plaza’s center becomes a large, paved public space, repositioning the Plaza as Prospect Park’s formal entry.

Submitted by: Andras Jambor, Vincent Hertenberger from Paris, France

THIRD PRIZE


'A Center for Brooklyn' - A wide center Plaza is created by pushing all traffic to a broad, tree-lined circular boulevard. The expanded center becomes a platform for a range of community activities, much like Union Square or Bryant Park. An elevated pedestrian promenade circles the Plaza.

Submitted by: James Garrison, Brandt Graves, Simon Kristak, Vanessa Moon, Tim Peterson, Sal Tranchina, Aaron Tweedie, Darshin Van Parijs, Elliot White, and Michael King (Nelson/Nygaard) of Garrison Architects from Brooklyn, New York

From September 13 to October 13, 2008, these visionary plans for a new and improved Grand Army Plaza will be on view in a free, outdoor, public exhibition (designed by Pentagram) in the center of the Plaza.

Visitors to the exhibit will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite ideas via text message in the People's Choice Award; the results will be announced on October 8th.