magic carpet of 36 shipping containers hang at pier 57

magic carpet of 36 shipping containers hang at pier 57
all images by benjamin potter

a historic wharf situated at 15th street within hudson river park in manhattan, pier 57 was once a former shipping terminal; a commercial point of import and export. young woo & associates (YWA) is breathing new life into the industrial space, acknowledging its bygone days and transforming it into a cultural destination. as the designated developer of the intensive restoration project, with the refurbished site to open in 2015, YWA asked churtichaga + quadra-salcedo to develop an installation to occupy the lot in the meantime, with the purpose of using shipping containers to activate the space, and express the objectives of its restoration.

the containers hang 10 feet above the ground

the spanish firm’s ‘magic carpet’ takes over the south end of pier 57 with 36 shipping containers, suspended from the ceiling, with each volume hanging at 10 feet above the ground. the units can be easily re-configured to accommodate a host of exhibitions and events throughout the 18-month tenure.

head architect jose maria de churtichaga of churtichaga + quadra-salcedo describes the work poetically:

the magic carpet is a floating ceiling of desires,
a waiting answer to your questions,
a never ending scenes scenery,
a million stories container contained,
a gravity less exciting room,
a place and a frame,
a kind foreground,
a ceiling or a wall,
a corridor or a landscape,
a start or the end,
the magic carpet is always ready,
raw and kindly ready for you,
it needs you,
is waiting for you to activate the magic…the magic from you.

upon its reconstruction by YWA, marina @ pier 57 will be a market place composed from shipping containers. spanning 425,000 square feet, with more than 100,000 square feet of public space, it will host a cultural program, large rooftop public park, several restaurants, flexible retail and entertainment opportunities. the cultural hub and creative center will be one with ‘incuboxes’ in which the re-purposed shipping containers will serve as pop-up shops and concept stores.

general view of the 36 shipping containers suspended from the ceiling

1/8