Pier 76 Urban Nest: a Youth Garden Community on the Hudson (Redevelopment Plan)

I. Project Background:

Pier 76 is located on Manhattan’s West Side, adjacent to the Hudson River and the High Line Park. It is a unique but underutilized urban waterfront site. Originally a police impound lot for towed vehicles, it was later transformed into an open plaza.

However, the overall usage efficiency remains low, lacking vertical spatial integration and sustainable elements.

II. Design Vision:

Inspired by the "Hanging Gardens of Babylon," this project reimagines Pier 76 as a vertical mixed-use community integrating ecological greenery, youth housing, public activities, and green energy.

The architectural language uses " container modules" as basic units. Through stacking, interlocking, and offsetting, these modules form layered oasis-like terraces, creating a future-forward structure deeply intertwined with nature, the city, and the community.

In the Pier 76 redevelopment design, I used software such as AutoCAD, Fusion 360, SketchUp, and Photoshop to explore the form and appearance of the design from multiple angles. To further study the massing and spatial composition, I also built a physical model using miniature bricks and school glue. I used thick cardboard for the base and roof structures, and colored the base with colored pencils and markers.

---Pier 76 Youth Community Complex: ---

Project Focus Compatibility Analysis

Strategic Location

Situated at the edge of Hudson Yards, Pier 76 serves as a transition zone between luxury residential areas and public waterfronts, ideal for inserting missing urban functions.

Functional Complement

The area lacks affordable youth-focused spaces. A youth complex offering hostels, co-living, and parks meets the needs of young professionals, artists, and tourists.

Urban Vitality

Compared to corporate or luxury residential uses, a youth-oriented program brings energy and openness, enhancing connectivity with the High Line and Bella Abzug Park.

Social Inclusion

Supports mixed-income housing and inclusive urbanism, addressing socio-economic segmentation in city housing.

Differentiated Market

Container-based design lowers costs and avoids direct competition with Hudson Yards’ high-end developments, filling the gap for youth housing.

In the design process, I began by using Google Maps to measure the approximate dimensions of Pier 76 and explored the site in detail through Street View. I also conducted an on-site visit to observe the surrounding environment and took photographs for documentation.

Using AutoCAD, I traced the existing steel structure of the site to serve as the foundation for my design. I kept most of this original framework intact and used it as the base level for the project. On top of it, I stacked modular volumes composed of shipping containers, creating a multi-functional, layered community.

The program is broadly divided into three categories:

1. Youth hostels and tourist hotels
2. Co-living apartments and work-from-home spaces for young professionals
3. Affordable housing units

These functional blocks surround a large rooftop urban park on the second level. Many of the units feature terraced rooftops and platforms, forming a cascading aerial garden landscape.

At the very top, I incorporated solar panels and vertical wind turbines to generate green energy for the community.

The second level — the urban park layer — is equipped with a variety of shared community facilities, including a gym, an outdoor amphitheater, meeting rooms, a reading room, and cafés.

I used Cadmapper to download a 3D massing model of the area surrounding Pier 76, which provided a realistic urban context for my design. I then imported my SketchUp model of the redesigned Pier 76 and placed it within this larger city-scale model to study its spatial relationship with the surrounding buildings and waterfront.

To further explore the visual and experiential quality of the project, I used Fusion 360 and SketchUp to create renderings and animations. These tools helped me simulate different perspectives, lighting conditions, and pedestrian views, enhancing my understanding of how the structure interacts with its environment both aesthetically and functionally.

I printed the base plan of my Pier 76 design using CAD software and carefully glued it onto a thick white cardstock board. After trimming the base to shape with scissors, I used multiple layers of cardboard to build up the height of the existing ground-level steel structure, creating a solid foundation for the model.

On the second-floor platform—representing the rooftop urban park—I added colored pencil and marker shading to indicate landscape features, walkways, and activity zones. I used miniature bricks to represent each individual residential or hospitality unit, highlighting the modular nature of the container-based architecture. To construct the building blocks, I used school glue to attach the units securely to the base.

Finally, I added the upper roof structures and the distinctive red public buildings, which feature sculptural forms and serve as community landmarks within the development. The result is a vibrant, multi-layered physical model that brings the design concept to life.

Pier76 Construction Process and Advantages

Construction Steps:

1. Prefabrication Design: Standardized modules are designed and manufactured in factories to ensure precision and quality control.
2. Module Transportation: Prefabricated modules are transported to the site, minimizing on-site processing and material storage.
3. Rapid Assembly: Modules are efficiently assembled on-site via bolting or welding, significantly reducing construction time.
4. System Integration: Utilities (water, electricity, HVAC) are installed and tested simultaneously to ensure full functionality.
5. Final Inspection: Quality checks and approvals are conducted to meet safety and operational standards.

Key Advantages:

1. Speed: Completed in just several months, far exceeding traditional construction timelines.
2. Simplicity: Modular assembly reduces on-site complexity and human error.
3. Cost-Effective: Standardized production cuts material waste, while economies of scale lower costs.
4. Eco-Friendly: Factory production reduces noise and dust pollution, ideal for urban renewal.
5. Adaptability: Modular design allows for future modifications or expansions.

Example:

1. The Stack (NYC) – A 9-story modular apartment building was erected in 4 days (after 18 months of off-site work).It is a pilot project for developing a quality and economically viable housing solution to strategically rebuilding and filling gaps in outmoded housing infrastructure in the city.

I hope that through thoughtful redevelopment, Pier 76 will unlock its tremendous potential and become a vibrant hub of energy and opportunity for the youth in the surrounding community.

By integrating affordable housing, co-living apartments, youth hostels, and flexible workspaces, the redesigned Pier 76 aims to meet the diverse needs of young people. The central rooftop urban park, layered green terraces, and renewable energy infrastructure not only promote sustainability but also foster social connection, creativity, and well-being.

I envision Pier 76 transforming into a dynamic landmark—where innovation meets community, and where a once-underused industrial site evolves into a beacon of urban regeneration and youthful vitality.