When you hear “New York City,” Rockaway is probably not the first place that comes to mind. However, if you take the A train all the way to the end of Queens, you will find a community where the environment holds deep significance for its residents.
The first time I visited Rockaway, it felt like a place that shouldn’t be part of NYC but rather its enclave. Though it is only a few stops away from Manhattan, it exists in its own timeline, with a different rhythm and unique social dynamics. People from diverse backgrounds call this place home. Living in close proximity, individuals of different religions, nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities create a neighborhood where the cultural landscape shifts from one house to the next. As people go about their daily lives, how they shape their surroundings reflects their personal identities and their understanding of the people around them.
With this project, my objective is to capture how the environment plays a crucial role in shaping the way people live and adapt. Walking from one end of the peninsula to the other, you can see how residents navigate their differences and find ways to coexist in a place where nature and human life intersect in a constant push and pull. This delicate balance is what makes Rockaway special. The community chooses to live here, embracing both the challenges posed by nature and the richness of its cultural diversity. It is a neighborhood where people accept the struggles of living by the water while cherishing the unique character that emerges from the coexistence of different backgrounds.
