High line

The High Line (Section 2) is my selection for a contemporary landscape in this report. The High Line has created a wonderful public space by reusing an elevated railroad. This open space connects the neighborhoods and brings the new combination for greening nature and urban environment. The High Line has changed the way people used to see the city, which is becoming an icon for innovative design and sustainability and an inspiration to other cities.   For me, the High Line could be a very good example to encourage me incorporating the new idea to my future design and provide more quality life for people.

Background

The High Line is located on Manhattan's West Side, connecting and interacting with 3 distinctive neighborhoods. The railroad was built in the 1930's to remove dangerous trains from the streets below and then abandoned since 1980. With the development of opportunistic landscape at that time, the imagination of a few New Yorkers is changing the railroad to a park. The High Line Park is built from 1999, owned by the City of New York. Section 1 opened in June of 2009. Section 2 opened in June of 2011, doubling the length of the park to 1 mile in length. 

The first section of the High Line has celebrated more praise than everyone's expectations, so for Section 2, it is a challenge to build something new and exciting. The site itself provided the inspiration. The railroad in section 2 is narrower and straighter and around by an eclectic mix of historic warehouses, residential buildings and new development, these characteristics make the site more unique. This intimate and intense scale is creating a feeling of being nature and more immersed in the neighborhood. 

Design Description

Preservation and recycling is the core idea for the High Line. In terms of politically, ecologically, historically, socially, and economically sustainable, the High Line becomes a significant and meaningful project. Half a mile of infrastructure has transformed into parkland in section 2, reducing the heat island effect and creating significant habitat. Over 300 species were carefully selected to create a native landscape working with specific environmental conditions. Using the combination of plants makes the site more dynamic, and most importantly, it provides more enjoyable environment for visitors. Recycled materials are promoted including reclaimed wood, recycled steel and local aggregate for precast concrete.