What a perfect first day, the weather cooperated with our plans and we saw most of the major sites I was looking forward to today!
It was quite a treat to get a guided tour of the East River Waterfront Esplanade. Ken Smith could not have been nicer to take time out of his day to show us around. I was especially taken with the waterfront and the way it plays with prospect and refuge, peeking in and out from underneath the highway. The viewing platforms where we began our journey held a much different experience than the shadier underpass sections where the old footings from piers were visible and the cool mist of the splashing tide play with the senses. The integration of bicycle and pedestrian traffic through this section is a plus to encourage use of the space in a safe way, apart from the vehicular traffic. My favorite part of this entire site is the playful use of several different types of outdoor seating. Some are tall, some are low, some have backs and some don’t, but mostly I like that some face the water to encourage the view in three directions, and others face the space to encourage social interaction, and both of these options are incorporated in the same area. It’s the next best thing to having moveable seating, it’s up to the user which direction they would like to face.
One other feature of the waterfront I found extremely innovative was the use of the lavender color on the underpass beams to reflect the bright LED lighting so they would not need to install any light posts. What a creative use of existing infrastructure to accent a new development! Inspired!
I don’t know what I can say about the High Line that has not already been observed, but I am mostly intrigued by the surprises that one encounters along the way. If you were to view it before Corner’s design, it would have been a long, flat expanse that you could view for long distances. Now, with the plantings and split-level walks that obscure what is coming up ahead, it becomes an adventure to explore each section. Dense plantings in some areas also aid in concealing what lies ahead, as well as creating “walls” and “ceilings” through which the occasional glimpse of the city outside is observed. Then, in other places, the city below is revealed through plexi observation decks and exposed skeletal beams of the infrastructure, revealing passing cars and people on the street beneath. In my photo-grid, I especially wanted to include the prospect and refuge effect of the passages through the buildings. Most of this site is exposed to the sun, with trees creating nice shady pockets throughout, but the tunnels through the buildings really creates a shady refuge, a perfect spot for the vendors and tables, away from the scorching sun and bustling pathways. This was a dream of mine for four years to come and walk the High Line, the highlight of my day!
It was quite a treat to get a guided tour of the East River Waterfront Esplanade. Ken Smith could not have been nicer to take time out of his day to show us around. I was especially taken with the waterfront and the way it plays with prospect and refuge, peeking in and out from underneath the highway. The viewing platforms where we began our journey held a much different experience than the shadier underpass sections where the old footings from piers were visible and the cool mist of the splashing tide play with the senses. The integration of bicycle and pedestrian traffic through this section is a plus to encourage use of the space in a safe way, apart from the vehicular traffic. My favorite part of this entire site is the playful use of several different types of outdoor seating. Some are tall, some are low, some have backs and some don’t, but mostly I like that some face the water to encourage the view in three directions, and others face the space to encourage social interaction, and both of these options are incorporated in the same area. It’s the next best thing to having moveable seating, it’s up to the user which direction they would like to face.
One other feature of the waterfront I found extremely innovative was the use of the lavender color on the underpass beams to reflect the bright LED lighting so they would not need to install any light posts. What a creative use of existing infrastructure to accent a new development! Inspired!
I don’t know what I can say about the High Line that has not already been observed, but I am mostly intrigued by the surprises that one encounters along the way. If you were to view it before Corner’s design, it would have been a long, flat expanse that you could view for long distances. Now, with the plantings and split-level walks that obscure what is coming up ahead, it becomes an adventure to explore each section. Dense plantings in some areas also aid in concealing what lies ahead, as well as creating “walls” and “ceilings” through which the occasional glimpse of the city outside is observed. Then, in other places, the city below is revealed through plexi observation decks and exposed skeletal beams of the infrastructure, revealing passing cars and people on the street beneath. In my photo-grid, I especially wanted to include the prospect and refuge effect of the passages through the buildings. Most of this site is exposed to the sun, with trees creating nice shady pockets throughout, but the tunnels through the buildings really creates a shady refuge, a perfect spot for the vendors and tables, away from the scorching sun and bustling pathways. This was a dream of mine for four years to come and walk the High Line, the highlight of my day!
