My first month in Manhattan was probably the most exciting and challenging time in my last years: New job, new city, new home, new friends, new experiences.
Last Sunday 4th February I had the pleassure to assist to a fantastic lecture in Queens Museum (New York). The conference, «Never built Live» showed us a different New York: A New york that was never built. A New York that architects dreamed of. All this ideas were also presented in an exhibition.
A dozen architects, planners, and historians discussed the stories behind the show´s unrealized urban visions. The exhibition was co-curated by Sam Lubell and Greg Goldin and was designed by Christian Wassman. Some of the people we had the pleasure to meet were Jennifer Gray that explained us some of the unbuilt projects from Frank Lloyd Wright, Juan Porral from Grimshaw or Andrea Lamberti from Rafael Viñoly Architects, between others. Every one of them explained at least one project of their office with drawings, videos, installations and sketchs. Most of them where not awarding projects from competitions so we were able to compare the reality of the winners and the current buildings with the unrealized thougts.
After the lecture, that was around two hours, we visited the exhibition where models, drawings and explanations where shown. We could see a New York with some wide avenues crossing their tissue, some other alternatives for the Guggenheim Museum or originals plans and elevations from Frank Lloyd Wright. Also another urban airport was planned to be built in the west side of Manhattan. Everything was improved with white bright models located on the iconic huge model of New York of Queens Museum, on the position and situation where they would be.
The lecture and exhibitions showed a hidden New York behind its iconic skyscrapers. An enriching experience I will never forget and that made us fall in love with this city of dreams!
