One of the latest contributions to New York City’s Public parks truly carries within it the democratic spirit. Designed by Deconstructivist architects Diller +Scofidio, the High Line is akin to the humor and joy of the Park de LaVilette.
And much like Mitterand’s City of Light program for Paris, the High Line exemplifies a Utopian ideal; evident in the re-purposing of dead infrastructure for use as a public park that winds through a dense urbane backdrop.
A great deal of the strength and success of the park is the use of anti-conservative architectural programming. Through its modern sensibility and integration with the existing landscape, the highline distinguishes itself from typical styles of architecture commonplace throughout the city.
A major influence in the genesis of the Highline Park is its location in the famed Meat Packing district, notorious for its plethora of the flesh in more ways than one. One might presume that the High Line’s roots in a less than savory environment played into the development of an extraordinary and playful concept as opposed to a traditional one.
Posted in architecture, essays, photography | leave a comment | trackback
sign up for e-newsletter
rss feed
facebook
twitter
youtube