Coney Island Museum (study project)
Summer Program, Parsons The New School for Design, New York City, 2010
The project consisted in the interior renovation of the Coney Island Museum, dedicated to interpreting and preserving the history of Coney Island (Brooklyn, New York City). The Museum is located in an historic building and overlooks the main landmarks of Coney Island like the Cyclone Rollercoaster, the Wonder Wheel and the Parachute Jump.
The Museum is on the first floor. The ground floor hosts different facilities: a bar, a seating area, a souvenirs' shop and the entrance of the popular freak show. During the four-week of the summer program we were asked to redesign the ground floor. The actual design was confused with no clear division between the activities.
I created an open space were people could freely circulate, taking advance of the different activities: purchasing tickets or souvenirs, drinking a beer, waiting for the show.
The main piece of the site is the bar counter. Across the bar counter all the activities take place.
The shape of the bar follows the main circulation and the inspiration came from a neon light found in a corner of the museum. The pattern over the counter is a collage of pictures taken in Coney Island.
I wanted to create a feeling of being in a fish bowl, overlooking the crazy, wild and exciting experience of Coney Island, just waiting to dive into.
