New York studio DFA has envisioned a prefabricated timber tower for New York's Central Park that would both filter a contaminated reservoir and provide views over the city.

The temporary 712-foot-tall (220-metre) Central Park Tower would sit in the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, a 106-acre man-made lake that encompasses one-eighth of the park's area and contains one billion gallons of contaminated water.
"Aside from supplying water to the pool and Harlem Meer, the Reservoir sits stagnant and fenced off due to its current state as a health threat to millions of New Yorkers, tourists and animals," said DFA.

The firm's concept imagines the structure would contain a filtration system in its base, which would turn the hazardous reservoir into a useable pond. It would also provide a series of ring-shaped viewing platforms on its upper levels, creating a tourist attraction to be used during the clean-up process.

"DFA envisions a temporary landmark that is remarkably of its time to creatively transform the reservoir into one of New York's boldest urban amenities," said studio founder Laith Sayigh.
"This conceptual project pushes the boundaries of what we perceive is possible in a city as dense, historic and environmentally vulnerable as ours."

The tower would be constructed from a lattice of curved glue-laminated timber beams, which would be manufactured off site and assembled in less than six months.
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