The concept of interaction and connection on different layers within the United Nations Environmental Council building design where the main concepts throughout the design process. On an urban scale the UN-plot is an exception to the typical urban structure of New York. It takes six blocks to complete the United Nations footprint. The Northside of the plot consists of a green structure, which has the opportunity to be an asset to the city in terms of development of public spaces. Besides Central Park and some small public parks inside the city, there are not many opportunities to create a new park in this concrete jungle.
Through analysis, which lead to our urban masterplan, we wanted to improve the connection between the city and the waterfront along the East River. Improvements like rerouting the FDR underground and bringing the security level down of the plot were important criteria. In this way we could achieve the idea of making the UN-plot a part of a public structure. Instead of a high level secured terrain. Challenging the UN urban island effect, as I would like to call it.

The UNEC building design should be a great value in order to achieve this public connection between the city and the riverside. The visual and physical connection between these two worlds runs by the east 47th Street. This street is directly across the UN green structure and defines itself by its profile, which is broader than other streets, and it consists a clear tree structure. Placing the footprint of the building design alongside this ‘green axe’ makes it a contribution in terms of visual guidelines. Next to that it respects the existing green structure.

The concepts of connection and interaction were a great inspiration for the UNEC building design. The program consisted of mixtures between private and public functions. The scheme of the design was basically dividing the program into three boxes, private functions, public functions and joint functions. throughout the design process this resulted into three buildings, separated but also connected by an interspace. This interspace also created a visual connection to four viewpoints in its urban surroundings. A view on the United Nations plot, a view towards the city, a view alongside the East River and a view across the East River towards the borough of Brooklyn.

The development on how to define the three different elements in terms of structure, connection and composition was an important part of the design process.
Decisions made had an influence on different layers like the impact of the composition on an urban scale, but also on the spacial qualities inside the building and thirth, the materialisation of the three elements inside this composition. The structure, dimensions and facade typologies were a direct result of the systematic settlement of the program. Concepts like flexible workspaces, visual and physical connections between functions, and spacial qualities were a great asset in designing a new headquarters for the United Nations Environmental Council.