Dunescape:
an urban beach by SHoP
July 2, 2000 - September, 2000

Dunescape by SHoP transforms P.S.1’s courtyard into an oasis. It is the third outdoor environment created for P.S.1’s annual Warm Up series, and the debut project of the newly inaugurated MoMA/P.S.1 Young Architects Program, a five-year series of competitions that will annually provide emerging architects the opportunity to realize a project at P.S.1 from the concept drawings to construction.

SHoP’s winning design provides a variety of ways to enjoy the summer weather – visitors will lounge, socialize, sunbathe, wade in pools, or walk through a spray of mist to cool off. The heightened parts of the structure provide shade, while those closer to the ground function as inclined seating areas. One section, a thickened translucent wall, creates individual cabanas where visitors may change their clothing. Lifeguard stands serve as performance platforms. Water runs across the entire surface, collecting in pools throughout the courtyard as a mist garden disperses water into the air.

Accompanying the environment will be a line of summer products – towels, beach chairs, umbrellas, t-shirts, hats, shorts – that allow museum visitors to enjoy the sun-drenched space.

SHoP’s partners are Christopher R. Sharples, William W. Sharples, Coren D. Sharples, Kimberly J. Holden and Gregg A. Pasquarelli.

Also opening Sunday, July 2nd is Architecture Prize, an exhibition in P.S.1’s first floor drawing corridor, organized by Terence Riley, Chief Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, The Museum of Modern Art. This exhibition presents the architectural drawings from the proposals of the three finalists in the MoMA/P.S.1 Young Architects Program. Finalists include SHoP, Taeg Nishimoto, and LOT/EK, each of whom was awarded $1000 for their outstanding proposals for P.S.1’s courtyard.

The creation of Dunescape is the result of the combined efforts of P.S.1 and The Museum of Modern Art through the newly initiated MoMA/P.S.1 Young Architects Program.

Dunescape and Architecture Prize are made possible by Judy and Peter Price.

Additional generous support is provided by John K. Castle, Dr. Axel and Lili Stawski, Agnes Gund and Daniel Shapiro, The Contemporary Arts Council of The Museum of Modern Art, and other individual donors.