Inspired by historical and contemporary sacred spaces, this project addresses “cursed” or neglected sites in Manhattan through community-focused interventions under an Islamic waqf. The project identifies three primary sites: 65 W Broadway, 51 Park Place, and 21 Park Place, where stalled developments or abandoned lots are repurposed for communal benefit.
Scaffolding, used as a temporary architectural strategy, creates dynamic, modular structures serving local halal cart vendors and their customers. Each site is designed with a specific function. At 65 W Broadway, solar energy charges cart batteries and provides shaded dining spaces. At 51 Park Place, rainwater collection supports ablution facilities and prayer spaces. At 21 Park Place, scaffolding materials are stored, and resting spaces are provided for workers.
These interventions foster sacred and utilitarian uses while addressing community needs for water, energy, and storage. By representing a transitional state, the scaffolding adapts and evolves, moving to new sites as existing ones are “uncursed.”
