Futurescope

Filed under Walk/Tour, projects

Event Information

Artist: Odin Cappello

Part diorama, part “View-Master” walking tour, Futurescope is a unique visualization tool that seeks to examine the waterfront development plans that look to drastically transform the character of the North Brooklyn landscape.

This project was conceived as a way to better visualize the impact of architectural development on a given environment. Where photo realistic computer renderings fail to convey the true scale and impact of planned buildings, Futurescope will succeed in illustrating how such buildings would change the nature of existing landscapes.

The device itself will simply consist of a box with an adjustable eyelevel stand, a viewing window, and interchangeable landscape silhouette cards. The silhouette cards will integrate elements of the existing landscape together with cardboard cutouts? representing planned buildings. The existing background view will remain visible while the high rise building cutouts will stand to represent the space taken once the buildings are erected. The desired effect being a whimsical combination of hand crafted cutout buildings and real life cityscape background.

A walking tour will be designed to guide participants through parts of Williamsburg and Greenpoint to look through the Futurescope at specific sites (approx. six sites/stops) that have been chosen because of their future development plans. There will be a different cutout silhouette card inserted into the Futurescope for each stop along the tour. Based on research into the actual development plans, each Futurescope insert will illustrate how the skyline will be changed by the planned construction. In addition to the visual aid of the Futurescope picture box? the tour guide will provide additional information about the specific building developments.

The main purpose of this event is to create an impartial means with which to visualize how the Brooklyn waterfront might eventually look. While the author does have certain opinions about the impending construction, this event is not meant to be a vehicle for the expression of those opinions.