Where can you take a spin on a dolphin and submerge yourself into a huge school of fish—without any scuba gear? A new carousel planned for Battery Park, Manhattan will offer the public a virtual underwater experience at the very southern tip of New York City. The interactive designers Local Projects, and the architecture firm Weisz + Yoes Architecture / Urban Design have teamed up to create the sea-theme carousel for Battery Park that has already caused a buzz in New York, even though it is still in the planning phase. Instead of wooden horses, bears and elephants, the public will ride on glowing sea creatures designed by sculptor Barbara Broughel. Schools of fish projected onto a spiraling roof will create an immersive ocean environment. The waiting area will feature interactive fish tanks, where visitors can use their shadows to communicate with and “feed” digital fish.
An award-winning design studio, Local Projects has specialized in innovative interactive interfaces. “What makes the Battery Park Carousel project unique is an interface that is accessible and easy to use, and where the framing and format is equally exciting as the content.” The schools of fish were filmed specially for the project by the staff of the New York City Aquarium, which is an advisory partner in the project. The carousel is part of a $8.5 million ongoing reconstruction project to enhance the southern most tip of Battery Park, The Bosque, which includes a new fountain (also designed by Weisz + Yoes Studio), extensive landscaping and restored monuments.
For those eager to dive in for an underwater ride, you will have to wait: the carousel is expected to open in the summer of 2007.
Design Credits:
Architectural
Design: Weisz + Yoes Architecture
Media Design: Local Projects
Graphic
Design: Doyle Partners
Figure Artist: Barbara Broughel
