ANDREW MAGNUS_MidReview 021720

As we’ve shown, Old PS64 is sited in a space of instability. Built on ground we know will flood in the next 20 years, and in one of the most diverse and disparate neighborhoods in Manhattan, the reformation of this site can offer hope for both ecology and community. This project affirms farming as medicine in three ways. First, the produce of the farm can physically nourish participants (offering a chance for education on nutrition and a respite from the pre-packaged bodega default). Second, the farm offers a quiet meditative space for gardeners, already known to lower high blood pressure and cortisol levels in adults across Manhattan. Third, the farm acts as a third space for students and families to engage outside of home and civic spaces. The final design combines three environment based operations, synthesizing ideas of solar carving, public admixture, and water resiliency.