Located in the Fort Tryon Park in the Upper Manhattan, SHADE TEMPLE is a meditational space that sits quietly in a glade. The temple sparks a discussion on the relationship between human and nature, where architecture intervenes minimally to harness the spirits and energies of the site. A linear screen made from charred wood gently meanders along the boundaries of the site creating a threshold between the open lawn and the peripheral wooded area. The lawn is then marked as a protected space for congregation. On the outer side, three carefully designed platforms arise slightly above ground and become meditative spots highlighting the three spiritual characters of the site: a bounder, a view to the Hudson River and the cliffside edge.
In the spirit of Land Art, the temple diminishes its architectural presence in order to enable a heightened experience of the nature.