Home / DIY

Teen Spends 3 Months Building Scale Model of Manhattan From Recycled Computer Parts

Zayd Menk Scale Model of New York Electronics

At just 17-years-old, Zayd Menk is going viral with an incredible project he submitted in his art class. Taking a little over 3 months to complete, the young artist from Zimbabwe meticulously constructed a .0635:100 scale model of midtown Manhattan using recycled electronics.

It took a total of 263 hot glue sticks, 11 CPUs, 27 motherboards, 10 CRT monitor motherboards, 15 batteries, 13 floppy disk readers, 4 watches, 4 audio cards, 3 hard drives, 3 graphics cards, and 2 clocks to bring the city to life. Just what inspired the ambitious project? “Under my topic ‘Man-made' I was already studying cities,” Menk tells My Modern Met. “I was also studying electronic waste. I've always thought that the tiny components on a PCBs [printed circuit boards] look like small cities, so I think It was some sort of subconscious thing that just clicked in my head.”

Menk spent hours searching Google and Wikipedia to get the heights of the buildings correct. In fact, part of the reason he selected midtown Manhattan was due to the wealth of information about its architecture readily available online. From there, he gathered parts he had laying around and began asking friends, family, and his school for parts they could spare.

Zayd Menk Scale Model of New York Electronics

The most challenging part of the project?  “Cutting the motherboards into the various different pieces, I only had a hacksaw so it was quite tedious.” All that cutting paid off, with architectural icons like the Empire State Building easily recognizable in the skyline. So far, the teen has been pleasantly surprised by the attention his school project has received. “I'm absolutely ecstatic that my artwork has gained some attention. Hopefully, it will inspire other artists to come up with some creative ideas.” He hopes to continue with another iconic city in the near future, so be on the lookout.

Zayd Menk, a 17-year-old student from Zimbabwe, spent over 3 months constructing a scale model of Manhattan from recycled computer parts.

Zayd Menk - New York Scale Model from Computer Parts

Zayd Menk - New York Scale Model from Computer Parts

Zayd Menk Scale Model of New York Electronics

Zayd Menk Scale Model of New York Electronics

Zayd Menk - New York Scale Model from Computer Parts

Zayd Menk - New York Scale Model from Computer Parts

Zayd Menk Scale Model of New York Electronics

Zayd Menk - New York Scale Model from Computer Parts

Zayd Menk Scale Model of New York Electronics

Watch the making of this incredibly innovative architectural model.

Zayd Menk: Facebook | Instagram | Flickr 

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Zayd Menk.

Related Articles:

Designers Use Aerial Scans to Turn Any Street in Chicago into Detailed 3D Models

Artist Uses 20,000 LEGO Bricks to Create Incredible Replica of Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie

Incredibly Detailed Miniature Sculpture of San Francisco’s Historic Record Store

Syrian Refugee Builds Mini ‘Blue Mosque’ with 15,000 Popsicle Sticks to Celebrate His New Home

Man Builds Giant Sphere With 42,000 Matches and Sets It On Fire

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content