The Oculus

Last Saturday's NYC Urban Sketchers location was the Oculus, a wonderful architectural landmark and transportation hub in Lower Manhattan. Designed to look look like the wings of a dove from the outside, the interior features a large shopping mall with stores, restaurants, and public art. It was dedigned by Santiago Calatrava. I have never actually stopped in the building before. I was always walking thru on my way from the subway to another location. It was nice to stop and explore.

It was a cold morning, so we were hoping the temperature would warm up enough to sit outside in the afternoon. Instead we headed inside first for a sketch. I loved the view of the outside that I saw from one of the platforms near the street entrance. My friend, Susan, was sketching across from me. Including her gave a little bit of a hint of the scale of the windows upstairs.

 

Around 1:00 we bundled up and headed outside. The wind was the biggest problem but we scoped out the area and found a spot that was sheltered enough so we could sketch. The part of the building that is above ground stretches out like the wings of a bird...and it is a nightmare to sketch. The building continues below ground for several floors. The sketch above shows the interior of this part of the building.