"Constructive Deconstruction by architect Siyu Zhu examines how processes of construction and dismantling can shape new forms of public space on Manhattan's waterfront. The project positions architecture as a transitory system rather than a fixed object, drawing from utilitarian structures such as scaffolding and fencing. These elements are reinterpreted as mediators between body, structure, and landscape. Focusing on the Lower West Side, the proposal introduces two temporal interventions across distinct urban sites:"
"Constructed in 1962 as a terminal for the Holland America Line, Pier 40 has undergone multiple transformations, from cargo infrastructure to parking deck and sports ground. Decades of neglect have left the structure in a state of uncertainty between demolition and reuse. Constructive Deconstruction by architect Siyu Zhu engages this transitional condition by transforming partial demolition into a design strategy. The intervention removes selected slabs, girders, and columns along the pier's original expansion joints, exposing daylight to its deep interior."
Constructive Deconstruction positions architecture as a transitory system that draws from scaffolding and fencing to mediate body, structure, and landscape. The proposal targets Manhattan's Lower West Side with two temporal interventions at Pier 40 and James J. Walker Park. Pier 40 undergoes selective disassembly of slabs, girders, and columns along original expansion joints to create daylight-filled double-height courts and porous edges defined by netting and fencing. James J. Walker Park receives a self-assembling seasonal shelter that activates civic interaction and supports play and movement. Together the interventions prioritize adaptability, temporality, and reuse within New York City's waterfront urban fabric.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
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