Safe Island:
Our proposed project is to transform the street corner into “Safe Island” which will not only targets to resolve the safety and traffic problems on metro-street but also improve the living quality of New York community. The major flaw that causes traffic accidents on the existing site is due to the lack of visual communication among pedestrian, bicyclist, and car driver. The Safe Island Pavilion not only functions as traffic sign to alert the car driver for safe drive but also reinforce their visual communication with other. It integrates different traffic sign elements as part of its architectural element while improves their essential functions. Thus, it resolves the conflict between pedestrian safety and traffic congestion on busy street and also fulfills the need for contemporary transportation hub.

Safety Hierarchy:
Our proposed project suggests that the bicycle path shall be kept in distance away from street car. Based on the existing street layout, bicycle path is planned with less consideration for the safety of bicyclist. Therefore, we challenge this traditional notion by inventing the new street layout. Meanwhile, we believe that the pedestrian safety shall be taken into primary consideration by expanding sidewalk for promising street safety while reducing the driving lanes on 9th street such as from six lanes to four lanes. Thus, it allows the sidewalk to have maximum performance space for pedestrian, and it slows down the speed of driving car. As what we have believed, street pedestrian and bicyclist safety is much more important than the speed of driving car.

Event Hub:
The Safe Island Pavilion also becomes a major transportation hub or “Event Hub” which brings different street activities and transportation systems to network together. It allows passengers to wait at its sheltering space for metro bus and train. Contemporary architectural material is employed into this sculptural and multi-functional architecture. Its shiny and reflective surface is made by smooth fiber plastic which allows clear reflection from certain perspective direction and also enriches the spatial quality inside the Event Hub. Meanwhile, its reflective surface is literally transformed as a device that informs for the arrival of transportation. This compelling architecture allows natural light and air to improve the existing subway system which integrates into more healthy and sustainable infrastructural system. The unique of the Safe Island Pavilion will not only promise the safety to street passenger and bicyclist but also address the need of New York infrastructural system. More importantly, it transforms every street corner of New York with its friendly sculptural architecture and Safe Island so that it models itself as the new urban prototype of our 21st century streets.