This was Frank Lloyd Wright’s last dream: the “city of the future” on Ellis Island, envisioned in1959 and design by Taliesin Associated Architects where a former immigration center was dismantled in the second half of the 1950s.
-updated August, 2021-
ELLIS ISLAND
Through 62 years, Ellis Island served as the entry point for millions of immigrants who took their first look at their new country from under the protective gaze of the Statue of Liberty. During its busiest year on record, in 1907, the island processed 1,285,349 people, according to local journalist descriptions. But its history started in 1808, Ellis Island was purchased by the State of New York from a private owner in 1808 and ceded to the United States Government. It remains federal property under the shared territorial jurisdiction of New York and New Jersey, according to Debra Pickrel’s article at Metropolis Magazine.
Fruit of dream of two NBC radio and television executive investors which inquired to Frank Lloyd Wright to help them shape a prototype of “the city of the future”, he happily accepted their proposal at his 90 years old, yes, he was still active, but, unfortunately Wright died just few days before he could officially meet the investors.
Although Wright had sketched-off his Ellis Island’s concept on a napkin, no drawings had been produced by the architect but his team, Taliesin Asociated Architects (TAA) did complete a set of drawings after meetings with investors, the result was a proposal called “Project Key”.
PROYECT KEY
“Proyect Key”, was the name given to the final prototype in wich the city would stood on a circular podium superimposed on the rectangular island and would had featured a cable-supported structure extending radially from central towers and descended to the circular perimeter of the island.
On top of that podium would had sit everything a modern community could ever need. Apartments were had situated in towers, and visitors could stay at the 500-room hotel, while glass-domed structures dotted around the island would had house facilities like restaurants, shops, banks, a hospital, a library, a theater, a planetarium, a church, a sports stadium, nightclubs and more.
Also, a swimming pool would had cordoned off in the sea, moving sidewalks were had placed around the community, and up to 450 boats would had dock on the sides of the island under cover from the top piece of land.
NATIONAL MONUMENT
Despite the effort made with plans and a millionaire bid, this project as many other proposals before and after this “Project Key”, were not carried out.
In 1965, Ellis Island was incorporated as part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument. Nowadays, Ellis Island is a place to visit and to be remembered, there you’ll find The National Inmigration Museum. Thus Ellis Island has become a poetic symbol of the American dream.
image 1: As a part of those projects never built in New York, journalist reports the news accompanied with colorful drawings :
‘’..After the immigration centre was decommissioned in 1954 the site was offered to developers.
The highest bid proposed a ‘completely self-contained city of the future’ designed by recently deceased Frank Lloyd Wright.
It featured a circular podium superimposed on the rectangular island. There were thousands of apartments and a 500-room hotel. Facilities inside domes would house theatres, hospitals, churches and schools. Cars would be replaced by moving pavements. Proposals were rejected and the island was declared a national monument…’’ written by
image 2: Ellis Island. Bain News Service. Between ca. 1915 and ca. 1920. Library of Congress.
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