SUKKAH PAVILION
NEW YORK, USA
INSTITUTIONAL
190 sq ft (130 sq m)
Sukkot is a week-long holiday stemming from two origins, religiously historical and “agriculturally cultural”. First, as the literal meaning of Sukkot is “huts”, “booths” or “tabernacles,” it references the temporary dwellings
the Jews lived in during the forty year period of wandering in the desert after escaping slavery in Egypt. Second, Sukkot gives thanks for the harvest, which is about community, celebration, and the gift of life. Additionally,
before worldwide trade, it served as a sign that winter would soon be upon us and to prepare.
Today, it is easy to see the plight of both refugees and the homeless. Each can be said to be wandering as the ancient Jewish ancestors did. By combining these two foundations of the holiday, we developed the design for a Sukkah
to send a message to wanderers and to the community that these forms of wandering must come to an end. Our design reflects these messages in the structure and the program. The walls themselves are defined by the fruit and vegetables
purchased from the local farms and provided to the passers-by free. As these are removed throughout the celebratory week, the Sukkah walls disappear. Inside, a stand holds various forms of conserves (pickles, jams, etc.), also
free to take. Thus the states of the fruit and vegetables reflect the summer and winter seasons.
