reNEWable times square

In an earlier post, I mentioned that the city (Bloomberg) is planning a serious reconfiguration of Times Square slated to start in 2012 as part of the 'green light midtown' project, and that in the interim, they'd issued a RFP for temporary design treatments for the newish pedestrian blocks of Broadway, called 'reNEWable times square'.

Fran, Tusia, Jason & I took a stab at the proposal, and handed in our ideas this past Friday. It basically  breaks all their rules (i.e all they wanted was a 2D, 4 color replicable/simple design to be painted onto the pedestrian stretch of Broadway...), but here it is, in exactly 300 words:

"Our proposal is three-fold. First, the Kinetic Path, an interlocking, replicable leaf pattern of piezoelectric tiles, will be integrated into pedestrian areas. When walked on, these tiles convert the energy of footsteps into electricity. Second, this electricity will be used to: (1) power LED Light Installations integrated into the “stem” of each leaf within the Kinetic Path. Each will display a work by a recognized poet that celebrates NYC; and (2) supplement the power needed to light
municipal facilities in Times Square, such as the TCKTS booth and staircase. Third, Sculptural Gardens will be: (1) integrated horizontally into one section of each Kinetic Path; and (2) hung vertically on either side of the booth. 
 
"NYC is a model for the other great metropolis of the world, and under the Bloomberg Administration it is becoming a leader in urban environmental initiatives. Our proposal touches on all six elements of PlaNYC and encourages direct civil participation. The Kinetic Path raises awareness of our individual capacity to contribute to the preservation of the environment and makes pedestrians aware of their role in the City’s energy initiatives, encouraging further individual environmental efforts and developing a sense of pride in civil participation. At the same time, the collective energy created by the 350,000+ daily pedestrians renders the tiles functional, thus contributing to the greening of Times Square.
The Sculptural Gardens serve a double purpose: (1) they aid in air purification, temperature cooling and water re-use, which complements the improved traffic mobility goals of Green Light for Midtown; and (2) they add an inviting element that encompasses existing seating arrangements and provides a pleasant space to enjoy a relaxing moment. The Light Installations offer an opportunity for both New Yorkers and tourists to discover or revisit some of the most celebrated works inspired by the City."