Back to the eastern DUMBO Buddhist Temple mentioned earlier. This might be my favorite example of adaptive re-use, particularly in New York. What used to be a gas station is now a festive - if meek - Buddhist worship center. The CMU - walled-in site encloses a space that triples in function, from entry courtyard to small parking lot, to basketball court and play area.
On the day I was there, a well respected Bodhisattva was visiting from Asia to perform ceremonies that afternoon. Our tour guide explained that what looks like tattered flags one might see at a used car lot are actually a part of the tradition. They are prayer flags, hung in strands newly for special occasions and buddhist tradition prohibits them from being taken down. Over time, the old flags wear, and new flags are added. As breezes blow through the flags, it is said that the prayers from the center are sent out into the world...
A truly poetic concept, particularly with such a vibrant cultural center being located in such a dreary post-industrial area of the city.
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