PIEZOSCAPE
Piezo-: combining form from the Greek word piezein meaning "to press."
-Scape: combining form denoting a scene or view.
A leafless stalk in plants that arises from a rosette of leaves and bears one or more
flowers.
This proposal for the Fresh Kills landscape engages visitors and the environment into generating energy
using piezoelectricity, which is the conversion of mechanical movement into electricity. Energy from
wind, sound vibration, and human movement can collectively be harvested from the same generating
source of naturally-occurring, renewable or recycled piezoelectric materials that can be mechanically
deformed by the movement of walkable surfaces and bendable wind-capturing stalks and streamers.
Working with the vision of Fresh Kills Park as a destination for large-scale events as well as for more
individual recreational activities, we developed a set of systems that would be combined to form a
series of spaces to support a range of activity (and energy generating) intensities and frequencies. Areas
are differentiated as to their use and the type of energy source being harvested. These systems are
anticipated to generate enough energy to power all proposed onsite facilities. Excess energy can be
stored in the Energy Bank for distribution to local power distribution centers.
COMPONENTS
Piezoelectric components are combined into three types of configurations to respond to different types
of movements. The surface system is comprised of wood plank decking reclaimed in part from
demolished sections of the Coney Island Boardwalk arranged in a chevron pattern activates piezoelectric
film through pressure from walking or biking. The decking is supported on the ground by continuous
linear concrete grade beams along their edges. The wind system is a curving, tapering bamboo
fiberglass stalk and frame system that activates energy generation through bending. A nylon "kite"
attached to it activates piezoelectric crystals embedded at its base when it bends in response to air
movement. The stalks share the same concrete support. The vibration system is a rigid structural
network of bamboo fiberglass struts that support "hairs" of piezoelectric film that generate energy from
vibration. An indication system comprised of a network of LED lights is embedded in all three systems
will illuminate on a chromatic scale to indicate areas of energy generation and levels of harvesting
intensity.
KITEWAY: HUMAN AND WIND MOVEMENT HARVESTING
The Kiteway circuit is approximately 8 miles (15 acres) of kite-lined jogging and biking paths that roughly
follow the existing trails on the perimeter of the north and east sites. Separate lanes of boardwalk are
designated for bikes and pedestrians and are continuously lined with wind kites. The path bridges over
the Main Creek separating the North and East Mounds. Benches are formed from the surface at scenic
areas to provide places to take a break from exercise. This system is comprised of an outer loop that
provides more focused training and an inner network of meandering paths that link the other program
spaces together throughout the site.
SNACKSCAPE: SOUND VIBRATION AND HUMAN MOVEMENT HARVESTING
The 1.5 acre Snackscape is located just north of the Boat Launch and is positioned as a place for visitors
to lunch in view of the waterfront activities. It is a large stepped decked area that can accommodate
school groups . Linear strips of decking are raised to form table surfaces for picnic spreads. A trellis of
bamboo-reinforced fiberglass rods supports the piezoelectric hair system that responds to noise
vibrations and provides a nominal amount of shading.
WINDFIELD: WIND MOVEMENT HARVESTING
The Windfield is a dense 40 acre field of kites mounted on bamboo-reinforced fiberglass stalks
concentrated at the areas exposed to the prevailing winds from the northwest. The band on the North
Mound will be visible from the West Shore Expressway, while the one on the East Mound can be viewed
from the Main Creek.
PLAYSCAPE: HUMAN MOVEMENT AND SOUND VIBRATION HARVESTING
The 2.5 acre Playscape is a landscape of ramped and curving surfaces to accommodate a range of
activities, from running and jumping to skateboarding and BMX bike stunts. The movement of people
and vehicles over the surface compresses the piezoelectric components to generate energy. This area is
located on the west bank of the East Mound, with a view of the Main Creek and North Mound along the
biking/jogging circuit.
RACEWAY: HUMAN MOVEMENT HARVESTING
In the design of the 400 meter (half-acre) bicycle Raceway, the stalk components are used to suspend a
banked oval bike track to harvest the movements of the system as bicycles race over the surface at high
speed. The track is located at the northeast end of the East Mound adjacent to the biking/jogging
circuit.
SOUND STAGE AND ENERGY BANK: HUMAN MOVEMENT AND SOUND VIBRATION HARVESTING
The 2.5 acre Soundstage is designed to host large gatherings (up to 10,000 people) and can harvest the
energy of people moving and dancing as well as the vibrational noise from events. The Energy Bank, or
storage facility for harvested energy, is located under the stage and raised seating. This facility is
located on the East Mound adjacent to the main access road to the park. A graphical representation of
energy stored at any given time consisting of a network of LED lighting would be displayed across the
structure's envelope.