After numerous objections were made at the Design Commission hearing on Monday, plans to redesign a section of the Loeb Boathouse concession in Central Park, including the outside bar, ramp, railings, and deck, were withdrawn.
By Geoffrey Croft
A controversial redesign of Central Park's Loeb Boathouse was withdrawn on Monday, just weeks after the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission had approved it.
Critics derided the addition of a futuristic new bar, which looked a little like a spaceship, as being out of character with the scenic landmark park. The Design Commission agreed, and expressed surprise the plan had made it as far as them. After numerous objections were made at a hearing on Monday, boathouse operator Dean Poll withdrew the application which includes a redesign of the outside bar, a ramp, railings, and deck.
It's another setback for Poll this year, whose takeover of the Tavern on the Green folded when he was unable to reach a bargain with union workers. That landmark space now has four food trucks parked outside, an arrangement that's costing the city millions of dollars in lost revenue.
The president of the Design Commission, James P. Stuckey, recommended that the designers, Koutsomitis Architects PC, and Parks Department go back to the drawing board, according to the preservation group Landmark West! He requested the applicant return to them at staff level and begin the approval process again with three or four new approaches. Commissioners remarked that the design was alien to the environment of the boathouse; they objected to the bar having a beachy, Copacabana feel. Mr. Stuckey asked the applicant to think more about the appropriateness of the design.
Opened in 1954, the Loeb Boathouse fits within the English Romantic style of the public park designed by Olmsted and Vaux in 1856, the Design Commission noted. The plan for the redesign went before the Landmarks Preservation Commission on September 28, and in response to the commission's recommendations, and preservation activists, the architects made a number of mostly cosmetic changes: The bar's roof changed from glass to solid copper with two skylights cut out along the sides to allow light into the bar area. The inner gate and structural housing and columns were changed to a dark gray aluminum to blend into the park. The trellis along the outside of the roof above the seating area is now wood rather than aluminum. A major source of contention was the raising of the dock away from the lake. The new design added a wood step down to the water to better visually connect the dock seating area to the water rather than floating so far above it.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission approved the changes at a subsequent meeting on October 12, over the objections of Landmark West! In testimony before the Design Commission at Monday's hearing, the preservation group said, "By modifying the materials selection—from aluminum to wood, from glass to copper—the reconstructed bar no longer competes with the Loeb Boathouse, nor does it falsely read as an extension thereof. Instead, it is distinctly separate and secondary. Yet for all their intentions, modified dressings do nothing if the design itself remains inappropriate. The bar’s design recalls, first, a suburban mall kiosk and, second, a beach-side rest station. But at no point a neo-Victorian pavilion befitting Central Park."
When reached about Monday's decision, Landmark West! expressed their appreciation. “Landmark West! is incredibly pleased that the Design Commission took a strong stand on this application, especially after it passed through a number of other stages of public review with far less criticism. This was a prime example of money and the desire to generate revenue -- not design integrity -- being the driving force behind park projects. What we get, of course, is an outrageous, flamboyant design that belongs anywhere but in a scenic landmark like Central Park. The Design Commission picked up on this precisely, and we think it’s terrific.”
Last month Community Board 8 also gave the plan a thumb's down. "We had a strong resolution against this, even people who normally wouldn't have cared voted against it," said a CB 8 board member who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "It was too tall, bulky, too modern, wrong materials, colors. It's the wrong design for that location. Totally inappropriate. It was an obtrusive presence that called attention to itself."
When asked for comment regarding Monday's proceedings, a representative for Koutsomitis Architects PC said in an e-mail yesterday the firm was "not able to provide information on the project at this time." (The firm also declined to provide a rendering of the design) When reached by phone earlier, the representative said it was going back to the Design Commission "as soon as possible."
The outdoor terrace and bar at the Loeb Boathouse is a popular gathering place to have a drink and light food.
Notes from Monday's Design Commission meeting supplied by Landmark West!
- James Polshek, architect
- This is an historic occasion, as its the first time since the 1970s that I agree with LW!
- Agree that the existing bar is problematic, but the proposed teardrop shape is inappropriate and alien to the environment of the Boathouse
- Geometry of the boathouse works well, and should inspire new design
- (Alluding to LW! statement) The proposed bar has a beachy, Copacabana feel; hint of pergola to the design until things begin to curve, which creates a nautical, ship-like feel, like a barge that is waiting to float out to sea
- Too high (most perceptible when see height of bartender in rendering)
- Surprised that design as-is received so many approvals and made it as far as their Commission
- Believe an appropriate design would be orthogonal
Additional comments were made by Commissioners Signe Nielsen, landscape architect, and James Stuckey expressing agreement with Polshek and other points.
Testimony of LANDMARK WEST!
Certificate of Appropriateness Committee
Before the Design Commission
Loeb Boathouse, Central Park
November 15, 2010
LANDMARK WEST! is a not-for-profit community organization committed to the preservation of the architectural heritage of the Upper West Side.
The LANDMARK WEST! Certificate of Appropriateness design review committee wishes to comment on the application to reconstruct the bar pavilion, a shed and an adjacent site work at the Loeb Boathouse, within Central Park, an English Romantic style public park designed by Olmsted and Vaux in 1856, and designated a Scenic Landmark.
LANDMARK WEST! first reviewed this project on September 14, 2010, almost exactly two months ago. The design at that time could only be categorized as “‘Anywhere, USA’ goes for ‘downtown chic’”. An ultra-white color palette and selection of reflective finishes was totally antithetical to the ruse in urbe character—that is, imbuing the urban city with the rusticity of the country—that defines Central Park. In direct meetings with the applicant, and appearances before our local Manhattan Community Board 7 and before the Landmarks Preservation Commission, we urged the applicant to abandon this inappropriate treatment and to use, rather, dark tones and rustic materials to complement the Loeb Boathouse.
Designed by Stuart Constable in 1954, the Boathouse’s long and low silhouette and use of bricks and stone—rustic materials—harmonize with the surrounding environment. Satellite buildings added later, such as the bar in question, the ticket booth and a utilitarian shed, are constructed in dark tones and wood, to both blend into the larger context of the Boathouse and its surroundings, and not compete with the prominence of the Boathouse.
The design as presented today has evolved since that mid-September review. By modifying the materials selection—from aluminum to wood, from glass to copper—the reconstructed bar no longer competes with the Loeb Boathouse, nor does it falsely read as an extension thereof. Instead, it is distinctly separate and secondary. Yet for all their intentions, modified dressings do nothing if the design itself remains inappropriate. The bar’s design recalls, first, a suburban mall kiosk and, second, a beach-side rest station. But at no point a neo-Victorian pavilion befitting Central Park.
LANDMARK WEST! thanks the applicant for their serious consideration of both our committee’s comments as well as those of the LPC. We believe that the design of the reconstructed bar has been well-served by the public review process, but that the need for further design revision remains.
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