Urban Revitalization Project to Bring Icebergs to Cities

Woods Bagot Inner-city New York Principal Jeffry Holmes may have just come up with a creative way to drum up business in otherwise dead construction sites. With the economy tanking or in plateau, there are many business construction projects on hold, waiting for the economy to turn them a favor. As Holmes passed these empty lots every day on his way to work, he contemplated a way to bring life to these dead plots.

Unconventional meets practical in these prefab and functional designs which utilize minimal construction and incorporate top-end design. These modular steel frames, translucent polycarbonate panels topped with superlight weight ETFE are designed with recycled materials. The cradle quality buildings are meant to be placeholders for empty lots and constructions projects on hold. Special lighting effects can project advertisement on the exterior, including the project or sale of the property, while the internal structure can house temporary projects such as art galleries, non-profit start-ups, seasonal and pop-up retail shops, cultural events, and other short-lived businesses. Thus brining life and commerce to a once dead construction zone and possibly drumming up interest, property value and even sales of otherwise dead construction zones.

When construction resumes the building can be packed up and stored or transferred to another local. The designs also offer solar hot-water, natural lighting, active ventilation and natural heating and cooling, in addition to a stunning art-architectural statement.