REFLECTIVE URBANISMS: Mapping New York Chinatown is an interactive, multimedia web project that maps Manhattan Chinatown through its architectural changes. Here, transformations that have occurred in its buildings, since Chinatown was established in the 1860s, are visualized and explored alongside community stories about these spaces. Explore the 3D map, check out transformations of Manhattan Chinatown’s buildings throughout the century and read community stories about these spaces. This project is part of a continuing series researching Chinatown architecture across North America.
The project has been over 3.5 years in the making – listening, seeing, visualizing, connecting. While it may never truly be “finished” -- as Chinatown’s boundaries continue to shift and buildings continue to change -- it is a start to creating an architectural archive that honors these stories. These buildings are not just structures; they are sites of resilience for generations of Chinatown community members.
Initiated in 2022 duringThe Laundromat Project’s Create Change artist residency, the project has been also supported by Columbia GSAPP Incubator Prize and Asian Women Giving Circle.
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Explore the project here: nyc.reflective-urbanisms.com
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This project could not have come to life without these amazing collaborators:
Website programming: Tommy Gonzalez
Translation: Roxanne Chang of Gongming Collective for Language Justice
3D modeling coordination and web conversion: Anagha Patil, Devan Harlan
3D modeling led by: Nicha (Toon) Vareekasem
3D modeling also completed with: Thanapat Limpanaset, Hunter McKenzie, Tianyu Yang
Videography: Arrielle Knight
Video Editing: Eloise Sherrid
SPECIAL THANKS to:
+ Chinatown community members, including Robert Gee, Bayer Lee, Karlin Chan, Joe Chan, Vic Lee, Robert Lee, Mrs. Chin, Lee Association – Ho Kew Lee, Sandy Lee, Regina Chan, Chloe Chan, Roger Chan, Tomie Arai, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association / Eng Suey Sun Association / Hip Sing Association / Hoy Sun Ning Yung Association / Tak Ming Alumni Association – Eric Ng, Jack Tchen, Lamgen Leon, Eleanor & Lilian Ting, Donald Moy, Mr. Mark, Gee How Oak Tin Association – Jianping Chen, Mrs. Tang, Hon Wai Yuen, Fay Loo, Keith Leung, Anita Chan, On Leong / Chinese Merchants Association – Harvey Tang, Kerri Culhane, Tony Chang, Wong Association – Fang A. Wong, Wellington Chen, Alan Chin, Leon Moy, Moy Shee Family Association, Tony Moy, William Lok S. Mui, Yin Kong, Alice Lam from Friends of Chinatown YYC, Jan Lee, Norman Chin, Kenneth Wong, Gabe Mui and the American Legion Post 1291.
+ The Laundromat Project team past and present, including Kemi Ilesanmi, Ladi’Sasha Jones, Ayesha Williams, Tiara Austin…
+ Nicha (Toon) Vareekasem – for all of her digital modeling work throughout the past several years of this process
The project has been over 3.5 years in the making – listening, seeing, visualizing, connecting. While it may never truly be “finished” -- as Chinatown’s boundaries continue to shift and buildings continue to change -- it is a start to creating an architectural archive that honors these stories. These buildings are not just structures; they are sites of resilience for generations of Chinatown community members.
Initiated in 2022 duringThe Laundromat Project’s Create Change artist residency, the project has been also supported by Columbia GSAPP Incubator Prize and Asian Women Giving Circle.
+ + +
Explore the project here: nyc.reflective-urbanisms.com
+ + +
This project could not have come to life without these amazing collaborators:
Website programming: Tommy Gonzalez
Translation: Roxanne Chang of Gongming Collective for Language Justice
3D modeling coordination and web conversion: Anagha Patil, Devan Harlan
3D modeling led by: Nicha (Toon) Vareekasem
3D modeling also completed with: Thanapat Limpanaset, Hunter McKenzie, Tianyu Yang
Videography: Arrielle Knight
Video Editing: Eloise Sherrid
SPECIAL THANKS to:
+ Chinatown community members, including Robert Gee, Bayer Lee, Karlin Chan, Joe Chan, Vic Lee, Robert Lee, Mrs. Chin, Lee Association – Ho Kew Lee, Sandy Lee, Regina Chan, Chloe Chan, Roger Chan, Tomie Arai, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association / Eng Suey Sun Association / Hip Sing Association / Hoy Sun Ning Yung Association / Tak Ming Alumni Association – Eric Ng, Jack Tchen, Lamgen Leon, Eleanor & Lilian Ting, Donald Moy, Mr. Mark, Gee How Oak Tin Association – Jianping Chen, Mrs. Tang, Hon Wai Yuen, Fay Loo, Keith Leung, Anita Chan, On Leong / Chinese Merchants Association – Harvey Tang, Kerri Culhane, Tony Chang, Wong Association – Fang A. Wong, Wellington Chen, Alan Chin, Leon Moy, Moy Shee Family Association, Tony Moy, William Lok S. Mui, Yin Kong, Alice Lam from Friends of Chinatown YYC, Jan Lee, Norman Chin, Kenneth Wong, Gabe Mui and the American Legion Post 1291.
+ The Laundromat Project team past and present, including Kemi Ilesanmi, Ladi’Sasha Jones, Ayesha Williams, Tiara Austin…
+ Nicha (Toon) Vareekasem – for all of her digital modeling work throughout the past several years of this process
