highline intervention
DESCRIPTION
Because the highline exists within the fabric of the strict New York City grid, there are opportunities for adjacent buidings to connect to the Highline, negotiating between the ground level and the Highline level, and also to connect to each other in a new way. There are also opportunities for the Highline itself to connect to a larger network of transportation routes in the city at large. This project is two fold - the first phase is is an overall site strategy that deals with the highline in the context of the city, and considers the sustainability of the Highline as a tourist attraction. The second phase zooms in and makes an intervention along the Highline at a smaller scale, considering how the building should connect both to the Highline and the ground while forming a mutually beneficial relationship between the two public spaces.TRANSCRIPT
HIGHLINE INTERVENTION
Map showing the Highline, adjacent buildings, and entry/exit points.
HIGHLINE INTERVENTIONNEW YORK, NEW YORK
FALL 2012
CONTEXT VISITING PROFESSORS: VINCENT JAMES AND JENNIFER YOOS, VJAA
The highline in New York City is just one example of the new typology of an elevated walkway. Because the highline exists within the fabric of the strict New York City grid, there are opportunities for adjacent buidings to connect to the Highline, negotiating between the ground level and the Highline level, and also to connect to each other in a new way. There are also opportunities for the Highline itself to connect to a larger network of transportation routes in the city at large.
This project is two fold - the first phase is is an overall site strategy that deals with the highline in the context of the city, and considers the sustainability of the Highline as a tourist attraction. The second phase zooms in and makes an intervention along the Highline at a smaller scale, considering how the building should connect both to the Highline and the ground while forming a mutually beneficial relationship between the two public spaces.
Highline Elevated Walkway
Hudson River Greenway
View of Hudson River from the Highline
N
MANHATTAN - MEAT PACKING DISTRICT
Connection to the city fabric
Connection to the ground
Connection to adjacent buildings
RESPONSE
PROJECT INTERVENTION
MAJOR NODES CONNECTION POINTS RESULTING “LOOP”
HUDSON YARDS SITE
CHELSEA PIERS
CONNECTION POINT / PARK
FUTURE WHITNEY MUSEUM
The site strategy strategically connects the Highline and the Hudson River Greenway in two locations, creating a contiuous loop. This “Green Loop” both connects the Highline to a much larger system of greenways in the city, and also makes it more useful as a walking trail by eliminating awkward dead ends. Secondly, the strategy locates existing and proposed cultural hubs along this loop, to give the Highline a more sustainable way to funciton.
EXISTING CONDITION
PROPOSED EXPANSION
INTERVENTION
The second phase of this project is a further development of one node along the loop. The strategy at the highline level is a “flooding” stragegy(see diagram), in which the space of the Highline level spills out and overlaps with the buiding intevention. The location for this intervention is at a significant bend in the Highline between Section 2 and 3. This intervention houses a sculpture instution, and will include spaces for classrooms, large and small scale studios and warehouses, commercial space, and office space. By giving a large portion of the site at the Highline level back to the public space of the Highline, a node is created that is a place to stop and rest for those people walking by. The building also provides a major point of entry and exit that connects the Highline and the ground level.
THE SPACE OF THE HIGLINE EXTENDS INTO THE SITE
VIEW DOWN THE HIGHLINE FROM AN UPPER LEVEL OF THE TOWER
HUDSON RIVER
HIGHLINE
10th AVENUE
PROJECT INTERVENTION
ACCESS TO HUDSON RIVER GREENWAY
ACCESS TO HUDSON RIVER GREENWAY
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APPLICATION:
The “flooding” concept can be applied to other empty sites along the highline.
Extending the space of the Highline into the privately owned sites is mutually beneficial for the Highline and the private institution.
Consequently, the intervention designed in this project is just one part of a larger system of connected public space in the city.