Competition Entry
The Highline
While the conventional lot is bound on all sides, the site of the Highline extends as a line through space. This dynamic ground calls for an architecture of flow encouraging a program of movement.Inspired by a children’s game in which colored beads are pushed along curved wires, we developed a new method of design that retains the Highline’s flowing character while infusing it with a new spirit of play. With beads representing various program elements and wires indicating structure, we began organizing program. By twisting and bending the sequences, adjacencies are defined and points of merging are established.This approach reinforces the implied motion of the railroad, enhances views of the Elevated Park and the City, and
offers a distinct reading of the Urban Landscape on the banks of the Hudson. Gardens, fountains, and reflecting pools are interspersed with spaces for walking, jogging, and biking. New structures for reading and relaxing are arranged to complement zones for sport and meditation.Conceived as a continuous circuit of energy, the structure orchestrates the flow of space in plan and section. The structure is bound to the Highline like a vine on a tree, self-reinforced, and adaptable to its changing context.