7 Days in New York City: Exploring Contemporary Urban Landscapes was a course which exposed me to landscape architecture, urban architecture, as well as parts of New York City I had never seen! We saw so much throughout the course of the week, it is hard to document it all in a few blogposts, so below I have included images from each day (basically based on the sites and scenes I found most striking!)
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
DAY 4
DAY 5
DAY 6
DAY 7
Compiling every thing we had seen in through the course of the week into a ninety second video was a challenging exercise. However, choosing a common theme helped narrow down the scope of my video. Because we spent so much time on islands during our time in New York City (Manhattan, Long Island, Governor's Island, Roosevelt Island...), documenting water seemed like an obvious choice in subject matter for the final video. More specifically, the relationship between water and landscape and the multitude of atmospheres it can create is what I attempted to convey in my video. Sometimes the presence of water acted as a border, determining park boundaries; sometimes it was built on top of to create a new coastal boundary like with Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island; and at other times is served as a means of ornament like in Bryant Park and at the Lincoln Center.
The assignment specified that there be “no more than 5 different shots that are "cut" together” but also that we had more leeway, so instead of just using five clips, I used five different locations we visited throughout the trip to create a combined “shot” for each location. Although I found limiting the video to just five locations challenging, I tried to use the sites with the most contrasting incorporation of water to create a landscape.
The assignment specified that there be “no more than 5 different shots that are "cut" together” but also that we had more leeway, so instead of just using five clips, I used five different locations we visited throughout the trip to create a combined “shot” for each location. Although I found limiting the video to just five locations challenging, I tried to use the sites with the most contrasting incorporation of water to create a landscape.
The first site shown in the video is Payley Park, in which the use of water is in the form of a waterfall wall. The constant buzz of the water flowing is imitated by the crowds of people conversing. The water here does not create an atmosphere of reflection or relaxation, but rather aids in creating a social space. The incorporation of water in this way— when combined with the intimate setting created by the intersection of three orthogonal walls and the inclusion of tables and chairs— results in a park which provides a place for socialization and meeting with close friends.
The following site was the 9-11 Memorial Park, which uses sharp lines to relay a very powerful and emotional message. The size of the fountain and the way in which the water flows from every side down into a square-shaped abyss left me with an uncomfortable feeling in my gut, while at the same time resonated the memorial's importance.
Brooklyn Heights Promenade, on the other hand, is lined by the East River and instead produces an atmosphere that is harsh, when taking into consideration the highway and the industrial nature of the area, but also energizing and busy. Park visitors are often running along the waterfront; the river is filled with ships and ferries; and the nearby highway and bridge are filled with automobiles. The water aids in creating an active atmosphere.
Brooklyn Botanic Gardens incorporated fountains and lakes into its landscape. In contrast to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, the bodies of water here produce an aura of relaxation and calmness. The fact that we viewed the gardens on a rainy day added to this feeling, in my opinion. The ripples in the lake resulting from the rain made time seem slower and created a peaceful scene.
Finally, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, not traditionally considered a landscape, used water in a way which emphasized the intentions of the space. The reflection pool in the Ancient Egypt exhibition reflected the outdoor conditions and landscapes, bringing the outside, in. Water here became something which encouraged reflection (literally and mentally), and contemplation. I found this very fitting due to the intellectual and educational nature of the museum.
In all five instances, water is combined with various other elements to compose a certain kind of feeling, emotion, or atmosphere. I never really realized the power that the inclusion of water can have in dictating a landscape, but having seen so many different parks this past week (some situated on the waterfront, and others not), this relationship has become clearer, showing me the potential of including water in various ways in my own studio projects.
The following site was the 9-11 Memorial Park, which uses sharp lines to relay a very powerful and emotional message. The size of the fountain and the way in which the water flows from every side down into a square-shaped abyss left me with an uncomfortable feeling in my gut, while at the same time resonated the memorial's importance.
Brooklyn Heights Promenade, on the other hand, is lined by the East River and instead produces an atmosphere that is harsh, when taking into consideration the highway and the industrial nature of the area, but also energizing and busy. Park visitors are often running along the waterfront; the river is filled with ships and ferries; and the nearby highway and bridge are filled with automobiles. The water aids in creating an active atmosphere.
Brooklyn Botanic Gardens incorporated fountains and lakes into its landscape. In contrast to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, the bodies of water here produce an aura of relaxation and calmness. The fact that we viewed the gardens on a rainy day added to this feeling, in my opinion. The ripples in the lake resulting from the rain made time seem slower and created a peaceful scene.
Finally, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, not traditionally considered a landscape, used water in a way which emphasized the intentions of the space. The reflection pool in the Ancient Egypt exhibition reflected the outdoor conditions and landscapes, bringing the outside, in. Water here became something which encouraged reflection (literally and mentally), and contemplation. I found this very fitting due to the intellectual and educational nature of the museum.
In all five instances, water is combined with various other elements to compose a certain kind of feeling, emotion, or atmosphere. I never really realized the power that the inclusion of water can have in dictating a landscape, but having seen so many different parks this past week (some situated on the waterfront, and others not), this relationship has become clearer, showing me the potential of including water in various ways in my own studio projects.
