Today, I am going to tell you all about the High Line! I have already told you a bit about it in my previous blog, but this time I am going to take the time to tell you more about one of my favorite New York projects. When someone asks me what my favorite place in New York is, without hesitation, I answer this one!
It’s a great place to walk in any season, although I prefer it in summer when it’s warm and the trees offer shade and a breath of fresh air. And let me tell you, it’s really appreciated when the heat is on!
But the High Line isn’t just a park, it’s also a number of architectural projects that have sprung up on either side, and revitalized neighborhoods that are a pleasure to stroll through.
A brief history :
The High Line, also known as High Line Park, is a park built on a disused section of the former West Side Line overhead railroads. It stretches from Gansevoort Street to the northern edge of the West Side Yard, on 34th Street, near the Javits Center. Its design by James Corner Field Operations, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf began in 2006 and was inaugurated in stages in 2009, 2011 and 2014.
Design :
The High Line skilfully combines mineral and plant elements. There is no real pathway. A system of paving, made up of individual planks of prefabricated concrete intertwined with vegetation inspired by the plants that used to grow on the disused tracks, gives strollers free rein to stroll to their heart’s content. The park is punctuated by spaces where visitors can rest, meet up and admire the views over the city and the Hudson, as well as attend temporary shows and admire artistic installations.
Architecture :
But as I said earlier, the High Line isn’t just a park, it’s also a multitude of architectural projects on both sides. It would be impossible to list them all, so I’ll just mention the ones that made the biggest impression on me. There’s 520 W 28th Street by Zaha Hadid Architects, The Shed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, The Standard Hotel of 13th Street by Ennead Architects, the renovated Chelsea Market building by Vandeberg Architects and Irwin Cohen, and many more that I invite you to discover if you get the chance!
As you’ll have gathered by now, I can’t recommend you enough to discover this highly interesting project if you ever get the chance to visit New York!
