Architecture firm Heatherwick Studio has announced plans for an ambitious project on the San Francisco coast. The project, The Cove, will replace the remnants of a dilapidated pier and car park with an attractive public park in the waves.
In the realisation of The Cove, the existing piers will be completely removed and replaced by a new, taller and modern pier as a concrete structure. The existing 108-year-old piers are deteriorating and have lost structural strength. More importantly, the existing pier deck and associated columns no longer comply with government regulations. This does not yet take into account the projected sea level rise of 0.9 m or more. New modern pier structures are therefore necessary from the point of view of human health, safety and finances.
Intended for future generations, The Cove will be a location where you can enjoy spending an afternoon escaping the hustle and bustle of the city. Much of the available space will be taken up by a central park area the size of 2 ha. This space will include a public-use square and an area with native trees and dune grasses, marshy land and an elliptical walkway. Possibilities for water sports activities and a cinema screen at a central location are also being considered. The park would further be surrounded by a two-storey campus with office and retail space.
The Cove is to be highly sustainable andcarbon-free. If all goes well, it will be completed in 2026.
