Downtown Alliance To Host Two Public Design Projects

The Downtown Alliance is unveiling two installations along Water Street in October designed to both delight and inspire. “These works will animate public space at a time when we are appreciating our open spaces more than ever,” said Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin. “Ziggy is whimsical and uplifting, and ‘Out-of-Office’ provides a practical and inspiring take on a new approach to public seating in the COVID era. We can all use a little more beauty and some fresh ideas these days.”

Ziggy is an installation by design studio Hou de Sousa and will be located on the plaza at 200 Water Street. Ziggy uses cords tied to a steel structure illuminated by colorful lights to create exciting views of the surrounding landscape. The installation welcomes visitors from all angles, and simultaneously frames views of the surrounding context. The structural footprint features several “gateways” that are designed to serve as benches. The linear elements that define Ziggy’s volume and form are lightweight, visually transparent and impervious to wind. As pedestrians enjoy the colorful display, they can see their surroundings through a new perspective.
The studio shared that “we designed Ziggy as a kaleidoscopic spark of joy for our fellow New Yorkers. Showing the project Downtown is a dream come true.” 

Ziggy will be installed on October 5. 

FANTÁSTICA’s “Out-of-Office” is a flexible outdoor seating concept which will be piloted at the Elevated Acre at 55 Water Street. It reimagines the new work environment, combining workspaces and desks in a variety of configurations to seamlessly transition the office outside. The installation is part of the Fast Casual product line of modular toolkits to expand the footprints of restaurants, small businesses and offices. All components come in a standard six-foot length that provide automatic visual cues to reinforce safe social distancing guidelines. The patent-pending design redefines street infrastructure by using traffic safety elements like Jersey barriers and water-filled barricades to provide utmost structural integrity, while offering a cost-effective, customizable and reusable solution for public space. The module is ADA-compliant and can be installed curbside, in plazas or along Open Streets.

“The pandemic has pushed us all to rethink public space and the workplace is no exception,” said FANTÁSTICA founding principal J. Manuel Mansylla. “The ‘Out-of-Office’ takes the stress out of returning to an in-person work environment by expanding space and connecting with the outdoors so people can take advantage of all the benefits that come with working outside.”

“Out-of-Office” will be in place in mid-October. FANTÁSTICA will also be debuting other related, innovative public space concepts in Times Square and the Flatiron District in the coming days.
These installations are part of a continuing series of public art activations by the Alliance for Downtown New York, following most recently the successful installation of “Oscillation” and “Prismatica,” along Water Street in 2019.