“Beyond the Gate” questions and reimagines the stereotypical and exoticized portrayal of Chinatown gates, aiming to create a new gateway symbolizing community resilience and productivity. The project delves into the historical and contemporary challenges faced by Manhattan’s Chinatown, including xenophobia and economic hardships stemming from the Exclusion Act, to the “Double Pandemic” from 9/11 and COVID. This is illustrated through the displacement of street vendors and the resulting resilience of the community’s decentralized produce distribution system. The political tensions within Chinatown, such as gentrification and structural racism, are also examined.
The architectural proposition reflects the identity of Chinatown by bridging the two underutilized spaces at the end of the Manhattan Bridge, reclaiming the site and existing arch and colonnade built from the “City Beautiful” movement as a new gateway to Chinatown. This community gateway becomes a system for a space of community productivity, with the raised landscape facilitating informal markets and educational landscapes for sustainable farming practices while also creating a public forum and entwined markets. Inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, the design incorporates elements from the Tulou and moon gates to foster community gathering and dialogue. Ultimately, the project reimagines the Chinatown gate as a space of cultural preservation, activism, and economic revitalization.
