From the trip today, the most impressed us is how can the various kinds of landscape survive in such a crowded city. When people mention the City, they always talk about the skyscrapers, the busy streets and the crowded people. The reason for all of this is that the land resource is limited. The landscape in this city context become really different with the others. And it has inspired us a lot. “Expanding”, “elevation change” and “hommization” are the methods we have learned from today’s projects.
The East River Esplanade which is designed by Ken Smith Workshop in downtown Manhattan is the first landscape project we have visited. It seems like addition for the city. The space under the bridge should not be a good choice for landscape in many person’s regular opinions. But the view is pretty good resource. How to make the precious land to be most valuable is the biggest problem the designer should solve I think. And he has got it. The workshop designed a “balcony” to expand the space. By this way, the original street is influenced less. However, person have a larger park which is based on the “limited” site. On the wooden floor, I have already seen the person are doing sports, lying on the chair and chatting, even this project has not finished. It gives the citizen more opportunities. It is also an exciting additional part for the crowded Manhattan which makes the city more colorful.
In order to make a pretty useful space for the city in the narrow site between the blocks, not only a symbol, the High Line displays a change in the elevation. It is not only means thirty feet from the ground level, but also means a continued landscape which is escaped from the traffic. It allows people to have a walk without worrying about the cars. It helps to combine pieces of useless space into a whole park. Lifting is really a good way to solve the problem that the site is limited in a narrow scale. On the other hand, the Highline use the original material, the rail. It seems to be a rebirth of the culture environment. Respecting the city is always the most important when we do the design. The High Line is like a narrow belt connected that area, and give more options for the citizen, having lunch, enjoying the sunshine, watching the busy street. It is what a successful landscape should bring to people.
Exactly, the “pocket park”, Paley Park is our favourite one. It is really simple and also very small between the skyscrapers. There are only trees, chairs and a litter waterfall in this landscape, but it attracts a large amount of person to have a rest here. The reason is that it has considered the person’s feeling always. The trees not only separate the space into several part, but also make different layers for the park. People could feel comfortable and safe at the same time. On the other hand, the tree is in a vertical way. It make makes the narrow space a little more cosy. The waterfall is also a great installation to provide view and cool wind at the same time.
It’s just the first day yet. We think we will must get more in the following days.
The East River Esplanade which is designed by Ken Smith Workshop in downtown Manhattan is the first landscape project we have visited. It seems like addition for the city. The space under the bridge should not be a good choice for landscape in many person’s regular opinions. But the view is pretty good resource. How to make the precious land to be most valuable is the biggest problem the designer should solve I think. And he has got it. The workshop designed a “balcony” to expand the space. By this way, the original street is influenced less. However, person have a larger park which is based on the “limited” site. On the wooden floor, I have already seen the person are doing sports, lying on the chair and chatting, even this project has not finished. It gives the citizen more opportunities. It is also an exciting additional part for the crowded Manhattan which makes the city more colorful.
In order to make a pretty useful space for the city in the narrow site between the blocks, not only a symbol, the High Line displays a change in the elevation. It is not only means thirty feet from the ground level, but also means a continued landscape which is escaped from the traffic. It allows people to have a walk without worrying about the cars. It helps to combine pieces of useless space into a whole park. Lifting is really a good way to solve the problem that the site is limited in a narrow scale. On the other hand, the Highline use the original material, the rail. It seems to be a rebirth of the culture environment. Respecting the city is always the most important when we do the design. The High Line is like a narrow belt connected that area, and give more options for the citizen, having lunch, enjoying the sunshine, watching the busy street. It is what a successful landscape should bring to people.
Exactly, the “pocket park”, Paley Park is our favourite one. It is really simple and also very small between the skyscrapers. There are only trees, chairs and a litter waterfall in this landscape, but it attracts a large amount of person to have a rest here. The reason is that it has considered the person’s feeling always. The trees not only separate the space into several part, but also make different layers for the park. People could feel comfortable and safe at the same time. On the other hand, the tree is in a vertical way. It make makes the narrow space a little more cosy. The waterfall is also a great installation to provide view and cool wind at the same time.
It’s just the first day yet. We think we will must get more in the following days.
