In order to act as host city of the Olympic Games, the area around Queens in the million-dollar city of New York had to be reorganised in a masterplan. The proposal of Henning Larsen Architects called The Olympic Village is characterised by five overall values: identity, diversity, accessibility, permeability and sustainability.
The Olympic Village contributes to its immediate as well as its wider environment – as an icon viewed from Manhattan and as a city centre of excellence in Queens West.
The area has the shape of a plateau with green public and semi-public spaces with focus on activity and city life. The plateau landscape offers different and varying views from Queens and provides easy access to and from the area. Water is the predominant element and there is public access to the waterfront.
The masterplan presents a vision that meets the needs of single events as for instance the Olympic Games and which is also geared to an unknown future where attraction values such as the city’s proximity to water and nature as well as extra housing will be coveted. The area should invite everyone regardless of background, age and way of life to live out their dream – as is the case in the Olympic Games.
The proposal of Henning Larsen Architects was one of five international entries selected for the final round of competition in 2004.