NEW YORK PAVILION- WORLDS FAIR 1964
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A New York Times article really resonated with
me. I had seen the images countless times in
recent films and from the freeway but as with all
rusting hulking ruins, I had to see it up close.
Quick summary, among Philip Johnson's initial
attempts at breaking from Mies' influence, the
towers were erected for the 1964 World's Fair.
There are a number of images on the internet
including the scan of the colored pamplet that
accompanied World's Fair goers back in
1964/65. I'll include the links as soon as I get
permission from the web authors.
The image above was seen from the subway
station platform which now provides access to
Shea Stadium.
The fair rotunda. Of the initial World's Fair, much of the
initial Site Plan appears to have survived (at least from what
I can tell reading Flushing Park maps)
The approach from the subway platform was
from the north making photography difficult.
The partially cloudy day allowed me to take
decent photos but flattened most of my images.
I arrived near mid day which meant that most of
the shadows would have been rather harsh
anyways.
The Uniglobe appears to be well kept. According to the
article, $422 million went into rehabilitating the park and I
imagine part of it went into upkeep for the sphere.
The approach from the subway platform was
from the north making photography difficult.
The partially cloudy day allowed me to take
decent photos but flattened most of my images.
I arrived near mid day which meant that most of
the shadows would have been rather harsh
anyways.
Fantastic! Sky blue on a cloudy day. The sea is
an image. No need for water. The paint conveys
the illusion well enough.
"NO BATHING" No problem.
Adaptation and alternative use. Like swimming pools in
Los Angeles, CA, the NO BATHING pool becomes a skate
park.
Western Hemisphere.
Approaching the New York Pavilion from the North.
Money Shots.
Location for two time capsules. From what I gather
from the internet, there should be another capsule from
1964 at an alternative location. This just happens to
be close by to the Pavilion.
Another mark. Vandals or those who missed
the event but still wanted to contribute to the
time capsule.
More architectural porno.
"Keep Out" I think. Conflicting signals. The sign is
hard to make out. But, the hole in the fence. A good a
sign as any.
So, in I go. Architecture is fearless. As architects should be.
Closer more intimate shots of the structure. They may not show with the
resolution of these images (I've the higher resolution ones) but you can make
out the stairs in these slit openings.
Rusty elevator machinery, pits, and stripped electrical wiring. If
this was an archaeological dig, I suspect that looters have
already made off with all the more valuable metals.
More mixed signals. The door says "Danger
Keep Out."
The open padlock says otherwise.
Rusty stairs. This was the stairwell core to
the lowest of the three platforms.
There is a tether line here. The NY Times article
mentions rappelling contractors who changed the
warning light atop the towers. I suppose this was the
initial route into the structure.
There is a reason that the maintenance guys used
rappelling lines. The rivets that held L-steel clips in
place to support the steps seem to have failed at
various locations.
No pathway through this zone after all.
So this will be the best picture I have of the
platforms.
You can purchase high resolution prints of these
images. Or, if you are a fellow artist, architect,
deriver, stalker or flanneur, these images can be
made available to you (just include me somewhere in
your credits). Click on the contact below.
