Welcome to the Archives of The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture. The purpose of this online collection is to function as a tool for scholars, students, architects, preservationists, journalists and other interested parties. The archive consists of photographs, slides, articles and publications from Goldfinger’s lifetime; physical drawings and models; personal photos and memorabilia; and contemporary photographs and articles.
Some of the materials are in the public domain, some are offered under Creative Commons, and some are owned by others, including the Goldfinger Estate. Please speak with a representative of The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture before using any drawings or photos in the Archives. In all cases, the researcher shall determine how to appropriately publish or otherwise distribute the materials found in this collection, while maintaining appropriate protection of the applicable intellectual property rights.
Follow the links below to see Goldfinger’s work during the:
LOCATION
Address: 669 Main Street
City: New York
State: New York
Zip Code: 10044
Nation: United States
STATUS
Type: Housing
Status: Project
TECHNICAL DATA
Date(s): 1975
Site Area:
Floor Area:
Height:
Floors (Above Ground):
Building Cost:
PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Client: The Architectural League of New York
Architect: Myron Goldfinger
Goldfinger Staff: Manuel Castedo; Richard Brodsky; Joel Zitofsky
Associate Architect:
Landscape:
Structural:
MEP:
QS/PM:
SUPPLIERS
Contractor:
Subcontractor(s):
Roosevelt Island Housing
The project scope is to design a housing project for Roosevelt Island. The design is submitted as part of The Roosevelt Island Housing Competition held in 1975 by the Architectural League of New York.
The project description, according to Goldfinger’s Office:
The design provides for three neighborhood units of total social mix to prevent the exclusion of any income group if only one-third or two-third of the project is actually constructed. Each unit has been conceived as a form which can stand independently and not appear unfinished at each stage, yet reaches its full richness in combination with the others as a total statement. The overall massing relates to the existing housing, yet within the general vocabulary develops a particular identity and personality.
Each living unit has some vertical space and interior flow to create more an experience of home rather than apartment. All elderly units are conveniently and securely located along the third floor continuous boardwalk.
The twelfth floor community rooms and terraces shall afford all a view and experience from a high level as complimentary to those from ground floor courtyards and water promenade, and third floor boardwalk. Private and public stepped balconies as well as walkways and courtyards create interaction among residents as experienced in indigenous hill town architecture.
Orientation and massing have been directed to take advantage of the unique site with particular views of water and skyline.
The design is composed of steel and concrete with brick facing.
The percentage of the site at ground level covered by construction is 27%. The percentage of open land, public, semi-private and private space on the site, at ground level is 73%.
Renderings of the project drawn by Manuel Castedo are completed by October 1975.
The competition entries are displayed at an exhibit held at the McGraw-Hill Building in New York City from October 15, 1975 to November 04, 1975.
In 1989, six residential apartment buildings are constructed on part of the proposed site, surrounding a park known as Manhattan Park.
In 1992, architect Michael Fieldman & Partners designs PS/IS 217 - the island’s only school. The 93,000 ft² (8,640.0 m²) building is located on part of the proposed site, at 645 Main Street.
The project remains unbuilt.
DRAWINGS - Design Drawings / Renderings
DRAWINGS - Construction Drawings
DRAWINGS - Shop Drawings
PHOTOS - Project Model
PHOTOS - During Construction
PHOTOS - Completed Project
PHOTOS - Current Conditions
LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Architectural League of New York website and page about their housing initiatives
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation website featuring a history of the island’s development
Typology City blog with a post about the Roosevelt Island Master Plan
NYC Urbanism website with a section about the development of Roosevelt Island
RELATED DOWNLOADS
PROJECT BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Architectural League of New York. The Roosevelt Island Housing Competition. Edited by Deborah Nevins, Wittenborn Art Books, 1975.