1319: "The Vessel at Hudson Yards"
Interesting Things with JC #1319: "The Vessel at Hudson Yards" – It opened to awe, then closed after tragedy. Now it’s back...partially. What does the Vessel say about how we build, and who gets protected?
Curriculum - Episode Anchor
Episode Title
The Vessel at Hudson Yards
Episode Number
#1319
Host:
JC
Audience:
Grades 9–12, college intro, homeschool, lifelong learners
Subject Area:
Civics, Urban Studies, Architecture, Mental Health & Public Policy
Lesson Overview
Learning Objectives
Students will:
Define the architectural and civic purpose behind the Vessel and its public-private management structure.
Compare the Vessel to ancient Indian stepwells and analyze the architectural reversal.
Analyze the legal, zoning, and safety decisions contributing to its public controversy.
Explain the relationship between urban design, mental health, and civic responsibility.
Key Vocabulary
Structure (/ˈstrək.tʃər/) — A physical construct, like the Vessel, designed to be climbed yet criticized for its accessibility and safety.
Zoning Loophole (/ˈzoʊ.nɪŋ ˈluːp.hoʊl/) — A legal gap allowing the Vessel’s construction without traditional public input or oversight.
Public-Private Space (/ˈpʌb.lɪk ˈpraɪ.vət speɪs/) — Technically public areas managed by private entities, like Hudson Yards.
Stepwell (/ˈstɛpˌwɛl/) — Ancient Indian structures designed to access groundwater, inverted in concept by the Vessel.
Memorialization (/məˌmɔːr.i.ə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən/) — The act of preserving memory through design, as seen in the post-closure redesign of the Vessel.
Narrative Core
Open – Introduces the paradox of a structure built for ascent that evokes grief and concern.
Info – Provides architectural and historical background, linking to Indian stepwells.
Details – Reveals cost, zoning legalities, and tragic events leading to the structure’s closure.
Reflection – Explores civic implications, mental health impact, and shifts in public access.
Closing – "These are interesting things, with JC."
Transcript
Interesting Things with JC #1319: "The Vessel at Hudson Yards"
It was built to be climbed. But not everything built for ascent brings people upward.
In 2019, a copper-clad sculpture rose from Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, 150 feet tall (45.7 meters), nearly 2,500 steps, no rooms, no roof. Just staircases. Interlocking, looping, spiraling into the sky. They called it the Vessel.
Designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick (HEH-thur-wick), it drew inspiration from ancient Indian stepwells, like Chand Baori (CHAHND BOW-ree), but reversed. Those descended to water. This one climbed to air.
It cost $200 million, part of a $25 billion redevelopment over a railyard. The space was technically public, but privately run, ticketed, policed, and built under zoning loopholes dating back to 1961.
Then came the deaths. Between 2020 and 2021, four people died by suicide from its upper tiers. Railings were only 3.5 feet (1.07 meters) high. Mental health advocates raised alarms. Barriers weren’t added.
The structure closed. And now, it’s back. As of late 2024, the Vessel reopened with floor to ceiling steel mesh barriers, limiting access to lower and mid levels. The upper tier remains permanently closed.
It was meant to symbolize movement. Today, it remains open, but only behind mesh and memory. A structure once built to lift now stands fenced not in failure, but in remembrance.
These are interesting things, with JC.
Student Worksheet
What inspired the architectural design of the Vessel?
How do ancient stepwells differ functionally and symbolically from the Vessel?
What zoning rule allowed Hudson Yards to control access to the Vessel?
How did public perception change after the structure's closure?
In your view, what civic responsibility do architects have in public spaces?
Teacher Guide
Estimated Time
60–75 minutes
Pre-Teaching Vocabulary Strategy
Use photo comparisons (Vessel vs. Chand Baori) and zoning maps to visualize terms.
Anticipated Misconceptions
Confusing private ownership with public access rights
Underestimating the impact of design on mental health outcomes
Discussion Prompts
Should private entities be allowed to control access to civic spaces?
How can design acknowledge mental health risks?
Differentiation Strategies
ESL: Use visuals and sentence starters for vocabulary
IEP: Provide scaffolded comparison charts
Gifted: Assign research on urban design responses to tragedy (e.g., suicide barriers)
Extension Activities
Research another public art installation with civic impact
Design a proposal for a safer, inclusive public space
Cross-Curricular Connections
Psychology: Mental health and environmental design
Government: Zoning laws and civic accountability
Art/Architecture: Public symbolism through structure
Quiz
Q1. What year did the Vessel open to the public?
A. 2017
B. 2019
C. 2020
D. 2022
Answer: B
Q2. Who designed the Vessel?
A. Zaha Hadid
B. Frank Gehry
C. Thomas Heatherwick
D. Renzo Piano
Answer: C
Q3. What inspired the design of the Vessel?
A. Egyptian pyramids
B. Ancient Indian stepwells
C. Roman aqueducts
D. Japanese pagodas
Answer: B
Q4. What structural safety concern was linked to multiple tragedies?
A. Fire exits
B. Elevator failure
C. Low railings
D. Cracks in supports
Answer: C
Q5. What change was made when the Vessel reopened in 2024?
A. It was painted white
B. Roof access was added
C. Steel mesh barriers were installed
D. It was converted into a museum
Answer: C
Assessment
How does the Vessel reflect the intersection of art, urban design, and public responsibility?
What lessons can be learned from the Vessel’s history regarding mental health in civic planning?
3–2–1 Rubric
3 = Accurate, complete, thoughtful
2 = Partial or missing detail
1 = Inaccurate or vague
Standards Alignment
U.S. Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.9-10.3 — Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas.
C3.D2.CIV.2.9-12 — Evaluate the role of public policies in society and the economy.
ISTE 3c — Evaluate the accuracy, perspective, credibility and relevance of information, media, data or other resources.
CTE.AE.4.4 (Architecture & Engineering Pathway) — Evaluate the impact of urban design on human behavior.
International Equivalents
UK National Curriculum (Citizenship KS4) — Understanding legal rights and responsibilities in public spaces.
IB DP Visual Arts 1.1 — Analyze how art reflects cultural and historical context.
Cambridge IGCSE Global Perspectives 0457/11 — Consider the impact of design on global issues like mental health.
Show Notes
This episode explores the controversial history of the Vessel, an artistic architectural installation in New York City's Hudson Yards. Students examine how design intersects with civic space, zoning laws, and mental health advocacy. It provides an opportunity to analyze real-world implications of architectural choices and public-private governance in a modern urban setting.
