pollution fighting architecture by HWKN for MoMa PS1 courtyard

‘wendy’, designed by new york-based architecture firm HWKN, has been selected as the winning proposal in a competition to redesign the courtyard of the MoMA PS1 art exhibition space. adopting the form of a three-dimensional, multipronged star set within metal scaffolding, the structure is composed of nylon fabric, treated with a titania nanoparticle spray that neutralizes airborne pollutants. over the course of this summer alone, ‘wendy’ is expected to clean the air to an extent equivalent to the removal of 260 cars from the road. the spikes of the star each feature different built-in technologies to offers blasts of cool air, music, water, or mist, encouraging interactivity across a range of uses.

aerial view

the arms of the star broadcast blasts of cool air, music, mist, or water sprays, as seen here

the multiuse courtyard is home to a range of public events

pool

visitors can experience differing levels of shade by entering into the structure

view from approach

night view

project info:

location: new york, new york, USA
client: MoMA PS1
size: 5,000 sqf
status: to be constructed summer 2012
HWKN design team: matthias hollwich, marc kushner, robert may, adam hostetler, matthew hoffman, tim aarsen, david lee, ryan donaghy, clare reidy, dwight engel, dongil kim, jamie abrego, eunsun park, brett wiemann, andreas kostopoulos, andreas tjeldflaat, evan litvin, gregory knobloch