As I reflect on everything that we did today, it is easy to see why I am exhausted. I wish that I had a pedometer to see how far we walked, because we really did cover quite an area. Despite the fact that my feet want to fall off, I am glad that we were able to walk around and experience the city this way. Walking through a place allows you to see a lot more detail than you would using other forms of transportation; if we took the subway, we wouldn’t get to see anything at all!
In a big city like New York, there’s a lot to take in. There’s the big things that jump out at you right away and call for attention, but there are also many little details to notice. As a landscape architect, I think it’s important to pay attention to the small details because they can have a big impact. We have been told many times already in our education to design to the last detail. During the tour today, I tried to pay attention to some of the things that other pedestrians may not notice. I found as I was constructing the image grid below, that I had collected an assortment of seating, barriers, and paving patterns. Although these features are obvious and not really hidden in any way, most people do not pause to contemplate such things as the pavement or fence.
The image grid below is arranged in rows according to the feature that they represent, and move chronologically from left to right. The spaces referenced in the grid include some of the sites visited today, such as the High Line, Bryant Park, Paley Park, and the FDR Four Freedoms Park. The columns themselves do not match up exactly with the different parks, but generally the matrix gives a snapshot of the day’s journey.
The bottom row speaks to the ground plane. I have to say that my favorite paving is from the East River Esplanade (the first image in the bottom row), simply because of the larger context. Ken Smith explained that the paving pattern was derived from a photo of the water, and each pixel was translated into a unit. Even though the pavers are a standard shape and size, the pattern gives it a custom feel. The next row up from the bottom is seating. It was interesting to see the variety that these landscapes had to offer. Not every space had your typical ‘park bench.’ Above the seating, there are the different barriers that divided up the space into separate parts. Some of these barriers were more transparent than others, and each had a unique pattern or style. Finally, for reference, the top row includes some of the major focal points or defining features of the sites.
Overall, it was a busy day, and I am excited to see what new experiences tomorrow will bring.
In a big city like New York, there’s a lot to take in. There’s the big things that jump out at you right away and call for attention, but there are also many little details to notice. As a landscape architect, I think it’s important to pay attention to the small details because they can have a big impact. We have been told many times already in our education to design to the last detail. During the tour today, I tried to pay attention to some of the things that other pedestrians may not notice. I found as I was constructing the image grid below, that I had collected an assortment of seating, barriers, and paving patterns. Although these features are obvious and not really hidden in any way, most people do not pause to contemplate such things as the pavement or fence.
The image grid below is arranged in rows according to the feature that they represent, and move chronologically from left to right. The spaces referenced in the grid include some of the sites visited today, such as the High Line, Bryant Park, Paley Park, and the FDR Four Freedoms Park. The columns themselves do not match up exactly with the different parks, but generally the matrix gives a snapshot of the day’s journey.
The bottom row speaks to the ground plane. I have to say that my favorite paving is from the East River Esplanade (the first image in the bottom row), simply because of the larger context. Ken Smith explained that the paving pattern was derived from a photo of the water, and each pixel was translated into a unit. Even though the pavers are a standard shape and size, the pattern gives it a custom feel. The next row up from the bottom is seating. It was interesting to see the variety that these landscapes had to offer. Not every space had your typical ‘park bench.’ Above the seating, there are the different barriers that divided up the space into separate parts. Some of these barriers were more transparent than others, and each had a unique pattern or style. Finally, for reference, the top row includes some of the major focal points or defining features of the sites.
Overall, it was a busy day, and I am excited to see what new experiences tomorrow will bring.
Pamella Selby.