




Architecture - Projects By Professionals
New Yorks High Line Sky Park

The High Line Sky Park in New York
The new stretch of green space which was the once-abandoned High Line railway is renovated to become a lush public park. Designed to capture the majesty of both nature and NYC’s industrial ruins, the first section of the elevated garden promenade. the High Line has come, from being a neglected “industrial relic” to a much-anticipated “park in the sky.” New Yorkers have been taking full advantage of the project and loving every second spent strolling, relaxing and gazing at the West Side’s newest addition. The project has truly piqued locals and tourists’ interests as the elevated promenade is enjoyed as much today as it was on opening day.
Rendering
Images courtesy Inhabitat
The High Line’s success has restored confidence in urban renewal projects. In almost every urban context, there’s an under-used section just waiting to be restored to its original luster or re-conceived as something entirely new. The High Line was originally constructed in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District in the 1930s to lift dangerous freight trains off of city streets. Abandoned in the 1980′s the High Line went into decay and disrepair and was rediscovered in popular consciousness in 2000, after acclaimed photographer Joel Sternfeld captured the beauty of the industrial relic in photos: overgrown with wildflowers — an abandoned human structure essentially reclaimed by nature in a matter of 20 years.
The City of New York was originally planning to tear down the High Line, but a group formed, called ‘Friends of the High Line’, to protect, preserve, and renovate the High Line. This eventually lead to a design competition, and the commissioning of landscape architects James Corner Field Operations and architects Diller Scodifio + Renfro to rehabilitate this abandoned space into a lush, green, elevated paradise for Manhattanites.
About the Park
The High Line was originally constructed in the 1930s, to lift dangerous freight trains off Manhattan's streets. Section 1 of the High Line is open as a public park, owned by the City of New York and operated under the jurisdiction of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Friends of the High Line is the conservancy charged with raising private funds for the park and overseeing its maintenance and operations, pursuant to an agreement with the Parks Department.
When all sections are complete, the High Line will be a mile-and-a-half-long elevated park, running through the West Side neighborhoods of the Meatpacking District, West Chelsea and Clinton/Hell's Kitchen. It features an integrated landscape, designed by landscape architects James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro, combining meandering concrete pathways with naturalistic plantings. Fixed and movable seating, lighting, and special features are also included in the park. Access points from street level will be located every two to three blocks. Many of these access points will include elevators, and all will include stairs.
Links:
High Line
Friends of the High Line
James Corner Field Operations
Diller Scodifio + Renfro
Via: Inhabitat
Architect Information
Name: Diller Scofidio + RenfroWebsite URL: http://www.dsrny.com/
Email:
Contact Name:
Country Name: USA
Project Information
Name Of Project: New Yorks High Line Sky ParkLocation: USA
Design Team: James Corner Field Operations, with architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Project Type: Urban Design
Client: Friends of the High Line
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Cost of Construction: 0
Date of Completion: 0000-00-00
Construction and Consultant Information
Structural Consultant:Mechanical Consultant:
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Landscape Consultant: James Corner Field Operations
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Concepts Section
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