Competition Details
Spring 2009
Critic - Chris Beorkrem
Univ. North Carolina - Charlotte
A project by: New York City Affiliate of Architecture for Humanity, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, & Architizer LLC
Open to architects, engineers, artists, students and youth, FlyNY aspires to inspire design novices and professionals alike through the challenge of designing and flying a kite. At this summer's event, over 4,000 design professionals and community members are expected in attendance.
Founded in 2008 by architects Aurelie Paradiso and Victoria Partridge Walsh, FlyNY is an event by the New York City Affiliate of Architecture for Humanity.
In 2009, the inaugural FlyNY kite-flying extravaganza attracted over 2,000 designers, families and kite enthusiasts to Riverside Park. On a beautiful afternoon, volunteers distributed over 600 free kite kits to community children. A panel of distinguished judges, including Michael Sorkin, evaluated the designers’ original designs first flight. Winning designs were exhibited and auctioned to benefit the New York Affiliate of Architecture for Humanity.
Our challenge was to not only design and make a kite for the competition, but to design a kite pavilion to house multiple kites in the Central Park of New York City, namely in the East Meadow. Our kite consisted of recycled plastic grocery bags fused together to create a tyvek-like material, lightweight and durable & reclaimed drinking straws from typical fast food restaurants. The pavilion is a demonstration in movement with obscured sight lines creating a space that promotes discovery and wonderment.
Richard South © 2024 — New York City & Phoenix