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AMBIGUO-US

Columbia GSAPP / Core 1 Studio / Fall 2023

Instructor: Kevin Hai Pham

Design Process

This intervention aims to merge and bring back different publics onto the pier by reappropriating the once appropriated objects. Christopher pier has constantly re-shaped itself to host different publics. In the past, the pier was recognized as a haven for queer groups and artists. However, since the pier was not intended for such usage, the marginalized public had to appropriate the surroundings to accommodate their needs. For instance, people would put speakers on top of the jersey barrier and dance in front of it. Nowadays, the pier being one of the biggest commercial assets of the city has been tidied up and ready for mostly the general public to consume. To overthrow the current situation and merge different publics on the pier, this intervention intends to re-contextualize the appropriated objects by utilizing several methods such as scaling, changing textures, joining, rotating, and leaving only its shell.

The final objects that went through the process of re-appropriation are consequently juxtaposed with each other furthermore creating unexpected moments of different activities clashing with one another and pushing the threshold of temporary aspects and the given environment of activities that will happen on the pier.

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History of Christopher Pier

Design Process

Talent shows were a key part of Harlem’s cultural life, fostering self-expression and community connection, especially among local residents. Jazz, central to the Harlem Renaissance, was more than music—it was a form of expression that transcended racial boundaries, giving African Americans a voice in a marginalized society. 

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Recontextualization of Appropriated Objects

Taxonomy of the Recontextualized Objects

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Sections

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Plaza Figures As Both a Stage And Connection

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Sequences

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