The Folding Boat

The Folding Boat, located along the shore of the Harlem River, is a multifunctional space serving as a rowing facility for the community college, a small library, and a museum dedicated to sport rowing. Featuring a folded metal roof, this structure defines its interior space by seamlessly blending walls into ceilings. Positioned at the convergence of historical and modern districts, the meticulous placement of elements respects programs, circulation, and the urban landscape.

The Folding Boat project draws inspiration from the site's unique topography, using folding in design to echo its slopes and enhance aesthetics. Located along the Harlem River, it's a rowing facility, a small library, and a sports museum. The folded metal roof blends spaces, respecting historical context and urban landscape. This research explores folding's integration in various scales, programs, and experiences, enhancing architectural aesthetics and functionality.

The project's inspiration stems from the unique topography of the site, characterized by varying slopes. This distinctive landscape presents an opportunity to mimic and enhance the site's features through folding in the design. The folded elements echo the site's topography and contribute to the project's special aesthetic qualities.

This project explores the integration of folding as architectural elements across various scales, experiences, and programs within the context of the Rowing Boat project. Serving as a sports museum, a rowing boat facility for a local college, and a community center for the neighborhood, the project examines how folding techniques can be applied to create dynamic spaces and functional designs. Through case studies and design explorations, this research delves into the innovative use of folding to enhance architectural aesthetics, spatial experiences, and programmatic functionalities within a multi-functional facility.