Good design is contingent upon complete attention to detail, regardless of the type of project. The photos shown exhibit some such categories designers have to take into account in order to complete a successful design and activate a public space. It is clear that the common thread between the spaces we visited are tied together by the common motif of complete layering.
Layering in Bryant Park, Paley Park, the Highline, TKTS, and the Esponade on the East River is illustrated in the photo montage, specifically paving, water, monument, lawn, undersides, canopy, rooftop, public art, people, underground art, and understory lawns within the sites. While each of these sites did not capitalize on all of the categories listed above, the layering aspect of design is evident in each space. New York City is essentially a series of vertical elements disrupted by small empty spaces in between. The rooftop elements surrounding the sites lay down for the place a tone that can be embraced (as in the case of TKTS), or manipulated (in the case of Payley Park) in order to achieve a certain language. Canopies in spaces act as a means of providing separation, or comfort to the user. Payley Park has a closed canopy feel provided for the viewer by a soft high green foliage layer of Honey Locust trees. In contrast, the stark openness of the Highline empowers the viewer with a sense of visual power overlooking the greatness of the surrounding city and clear sky plane. Other spaces on our Monday tour similarly impacted space. Undersides of parks do not do the “driving” in making a space powerful and functional, but act as a means of granting the viewer extra visual comfort and an added sense of feeling. The depictions of park “undersides” allow for a continuation of the sites general feeling and add interest to users. Understory elements are shown in the image grid, and react to the underside pieces of the park. Monuments in a space set a mental tone by provoking thought from its users in specific ways. It is clear that monuments, as seen in Bryant park, are utilized as spark plugs for projects. Both the fountain and statue in Bryant park aided in helping the park “take off” and become a popular destination. (Now it may seem that the monuments are quite secondary in their role as opposed to their original niches on site). Ground layers, lawn or paving patterns, enact a space by dictating walkable areas from the unwalkable, using texture as a means of inviting, discouraging, leading on, or ending. All designers are forced to utilize this tool to shape a site. Art can activate a space, whether or not it is provided for by the public (ie graffiti), which is why is has been included in the image grid.
Layering in Bryant Park, Paley Park, the Highline, TKTS, and the Esponade on the East River is illustrated in the photo montage, specifically paving, water, monument, lawn, undersides, canopy, rooftop, public art, people, underground art, and understory lawns within the sites. While each of these sites did not capitalize on all of the categories listed above, the layering aspect of design is evident in each space. New York City is essentially a series of vertical elements disrupted by small empty spaces in between. The rooftop elements surrounding the sites lay down for the place a tone that can be embraced (as in the case of TKTS), or manipulated (in the case of Payley Park) in order to achieve a certain language. Canopies in spaces act as a means of providing separation, or comfort to the user. Payley Park has a closed canopy feel provided for the viewer by a soft high green foliage layer of Honey Locust trees. In contrast, the stark openness of the Highline empowers the viewer with a sense of visual power overlooking the greatness of the surrounding city and clear sky plane. Other spaces on our Monday tour similarly impacted space. Undersides of parks do not do the “driving” in making a space powerful and functional, but act as a means of granting the viewer extra visual comfort and an added sense of feeling. The depictions of park “undersides” allow for a continuation of the sites general feeling and add interest to users. Understory elements are shown in the image grid, and react to the underside pieces of the park. Monuments in a space set a mental tone by provoking thought from its users in specific ways. It is clear that monuments, as seen in Bryant park, are utilized as spark plugs for projects. Both the fountain and statue in Bryant park aided in helping the park “take off” and become a popular destination. (Now it may seem that the monuments are quite secondary in their role as opposed to their original niches on site). Ground layers, lawn or paving patterns, enact a space by dictating walkable areas from the unwalkable, using texture as a means of inviting, discouraging, leading on, or ending. All designers are forced to utilize this tool to shape a site. Art can activate a space, whether or not it is provided for by the public (ie graffiti), which is why is has been included in the image grid.
