2/19/09

New York’s Office for Design & Architecture (ODA) recently unveiled its plan for the conversion of an old gas station into the Long Island City Bakery, According to the ODA the project will be “situated at the crossroads of the older commercial Long Island City and the newer residential Long Island City with housing developments near the East River.”

The ODA has said there will be a two fold design approach to the construction of the bakery. “The first process involves the conversion of a gas station mechanics garage into a warm, inviting and sustainable environment. The second challenge is to evoke the idea of a bakery into an architectural expression that responded to the owner’s tight budget.”

The use of steel channels and wooden dough rollers in the exterior design of the building will help to create an innovative rain screen. These design elements will be complimented with grass throughout the parking lot and Boston Ivy that will continue vegetation up the front of the building.

The design team plans to utilize and refurbish key existing elements of the building including walls, garage doors, and skylights. Leaving these elements exposed “recognizes the past use of the garage while integrating the new ideas centered around baking.”

Posted by Nicholas Van Kuren