City November 22, 2010 2:55 PM

LQC: Solar Caroussel

LQC: Solar Caroussel
Buffalo Rising
Buffalo Rising 18
Roger Schroeder:

Sometime back when the first solar powered carrousel was proposed, I produced this rendering to help imagine what it might look like in the canal harbor development. The design was rejected by some as not being exciting enough for a solar powered carrousel and I can understand the thinking.

The original proposal was much more complex and a challenge to integrate into the site. I suggest this project as a way of thinking of small parts contributing to a whole that is much more than the elements. The carrousel does not have to be a corporation with an executive director, classrooms, a food court and programs ... it can just be the carrousel uniquely powered by the sun or maybe the wind mill down the lake - (Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper -LQC).

Plots are already in place for a building this size, everything does not have to be decided before we can start. We have the needed historic plan in place. We just need the vision to see the whole in the parts.

Solar-Caroussel-location-Bu.jpg

spot-H2O-Buffalo-NY.jpg
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18 Comments Leave a comment
Greg
November 22, 2010 2:58 PM
Greg

Forgive me for my misinterpretation, but the "solar" carousel will be inside a brick, shaded building? When I think solar carousel, I think of light reaching me as I'm on the carousel, not a dark brick structure (no offense to historical significance).

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MrGreenJeans
November 22, 2010 3:15 PM
MrGreenJeans

Something more festive & attractive than a concrete garage or the structural iron on a gasometer would be nice, too.

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Jesse
November 22, 2010 3:18 PM
Jesse

LQCBoooooring.

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5to81ALLDAY
November 22, 2010 3:20 PM
5to81ALLDAY

side comment: I can't stop looking at the Skyway and how it impedes the waterfront's potential


awful

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chetroia
November 22, 2010 3:34 PM
chetroia

You right. It takes all the cars and puts them above the waterfront. Its nice view from up there but that's all it is is a view. How would anyone want to open business if the cars drive by above your head and have no access to the waterfront. Take that bridge down so people can actually drive through the waterfront with the cars bring some traffic below the city instead above..

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Urban Cowboy
November 22, 2010 4:02 PM
Urban Cowboy

I, nor any of my peer group, would never go more then once down to canalside to see such a thing. It projects like this that scare me about what will become of our waterfront........

This type of thing should be below 10 other projects in order of importance.

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Travelrrr
November 22, 2010 4:06 PM
Travelrrr

Right. So, the point is to have many different offerings that appeal to many different tastes-this is only one concept. Good for kids not you and your "peers".

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replied to Urban Cowboy
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davvid
November 22, 2010 4:17 PM
davvid

So the original proposal was "complex" and a "challenge"...why would you scrap it entirely? It seems like somebody wanted something more "faux historic".

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grad94
November 22, 2010 5:04 PM
grad94

about your headline: carousel has only 1 S, not 2.

there's something underwhelming about the shed. it reminds me of plow truck garage.

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pierre.wallinder
November 22, 2010 6:20 PM
pierre.wallinder

I am usually one of the most encouraging persons on the planet,
but I fail to be enthused about a concrete garage with a carousel inside, located on Buffalo's historic Canalside.

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Lego1981
November 22, 2010 6:38 PM
Lego1981

So, all the orginal ideas are coming back to the table and we may never see anything built here, because noone can agree on what should be there?

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tomswonderful
November 22, 2010 7:40 PM
tomswonderful

Well, it is very ugly. On the other hand, built this way it can be easily converted into a Wilson Farms when it fails.

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whatever
November 23, 2010 12:48 AM
whatever

"it can be easily converted into a Wilson Farms when it fails"

With all due respect to historically-sensitive solar merry-go-rounds and the people who love them, a Wilson Farms would be more popular there. Regular people who want to hang out near the water could get beers or pop or smokes. Some nearby competition might help keep sandwich and ice cream prices down at The Hatch.

Add a Wilson Farms to the idea list. WF is also a Buffalo-owned company, so the buy-local freaks should be happy. And it's one of the leading recyclers in the area so the greens should be ok with it too. I'm sensing the first true consensus here. Good work, Tom.

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Tahooter
November 22, 2010 7:52 PM
Tahooter

Love the idea of a carousel on the waterfront.

But don't want it within the strict Canal Side area. If purists don't want a waterwheel or more faux canals, then how does a solar carousel ring true.

LQCj's design is uninspired. While well-intentioned it makes the case to not build just anything to just get something built.

I imagine something under glass (a la Wright gas station), and a carousel designed to make Alice in Wonderland swoon.

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downtown resident
November 23, 2010 6:34 AM
downtown resident

Not to rain on anyones parade or anything, but carousels actually have a historic tie to our area, though not Buffalo. In North Tonawanda, there was an original wood carving factory for carousels back in late 1800's, early 1900's. And yes there is a museum there to honor that history. But a carousel on the waterfront would be a tribute to our area and would be an addition to other things people come to see. To make it solar powered shows a new edge to our technology. But it should be have a visible exterior, glass or open to enjoy the nice days.

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bobbycat
November 23, 2010 7:41 AM
bobbycat

There is a really nice Carousel at the defunct Irondequoit / Medley Center mall in Rochester. Maybe we could get that for cheap. The Carousel was supposed to be a draw for that mall, maybe it'll be more successful in Buffalo.

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GTB
November 23, 2010 4:46 PM
GTB

love the idea of getting a carousel from a mall in Rochester that failed and putting it in buffalo. maybe it will work better here????... What? Doesn't that put this idea a little bit in perspective, in my opinion the only reason that this would make sence in this location is to move the entire museum downtown , buts thats a horrible idea... so basically i think you know i feel bout this whole thing. but i guess it would be something but wtf just build it there will be something at least.

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arced
November 26, 2010 11:34 AM
arced

There is a good precedent for the carrousel on a waterfront in Greensport, NY. The building is more festive and exciting than Roger's proposals. See http://www.greenportvillage.com/mitchellpark.html .

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