BALLAST | FrenchKissGroup

Central Park is an extraordinary place, a real breath of fresh air amidst the density of

Manhattan. It is the back yard of all New Yorkers. Our ambition is to offer a unique experience of the site, especially the Reservoir. Thanks to its dimensions, this artificial lake offers a view

on the special urban landscape that is the identity of the city. Its periphery of 2.54 km, is used on daily basis by runners.

An unattainable path of stone crosses the Reservoir in a straight radical gesture. It borders two unused ancient stone buildings. Our ambition is to offer an experience with water in a physical way by establishing our experience on this path.The pavilion will be implanted in a sustainable logic of rehabilitation,using one of the existing buildings, the North Gate, to allow a public reception and to house technical rooms, dressing rooms, a kitchen and toilettes.

The Ballast provides a strong framing of the New York skyline, a real scenic background where various many events could take place. The intimate experience of the site given by the view, the water and the reflections it holds, give a special mood to the activities that will take place here.

The pavilion was designed as a universal space that can accommodate and adapt to all kinds of activities. It can be summed up as a folded roof and an independent floor. The roof, supported by the walls, floats and can vary its height thanks to a ballast system, the same way as in a submarine.

Thus, the space can adapt to different proposed activities. It can become more intimate with a lower roof or expand to accommodate larger events, ranging from an exhibition to a concert.

The floor consists of 350 tiles  of 1m2 of acacia. On one hand, this wood is rot-proof.

On the other hand, the use of this tree is widespread in the US to reforest the old quarries. However, the regulation of plantations must be managed because acacia tends to be invasive, hence the importance of its use in construction.The tiles are seperate, which allow them to rise thanks to a jack.

Therefore, the lodge offers an infinite amount of possibilities for  scenography. The tiles can be Assize, podiums, risers …

The envelope is made of reflective polished stainless steel, in order to dissipate the outside and impact as little as possible the landscape. Inside, the reflections are of completely different dimensions, the horizon draws out from them and the walls disappear.

Our choice of material is not only part of a sustainability concerns, but also uses the Ballast and its adaptability to allow it to live many different many lives.