Cities are not truly defined by their skylines, but rather by their ground. What is on and below the surface tells a story of place, program, and people. It reveals what and who is valued. In this project, the water itself becomes a new type of ground.
Bridgeport alone is home to over 300 brownfield sites, infiltrating the ground where communities live, grow, and play. The city is an industrial landscape in its most literal sense. While efforts should - and are - being made to rehabilitate that land of Bridgeport, there is much opportunity in increasing access to Bridgeport Harbor. Unlike land, water isn’t defined by its municipality or zip code, but instead designated especially for the use and benefit of the public. It can be utilized as a means of expansive connection, expanding beyond Bridgeport to the larger Connecticut area.
To accomplish this, referencing barges and pontoon boats, a series of modular structures are placed within Bridgeport Harbor. They connect resources, knowledge, and leisure across Bridgeport and surrounding communities while surviving coastal threats of flooding and rising waters. In heights of economic and environmental uncertainty, this flexible system allows for adaptive aggregation or segregation depending on community needs.
