fourth year urban design research

1. THE HIGHLINE , NEW YORK
URBAN DESIGN
-SHRUTI CHARHATE
- NIKITA PATIL
-HARIKANT V.
- AJINKYA SHIRODKAR
-5th Yr , SEM -IX

2. • The highline is an urban renewal scheme for the unused railway trail going through the city of Manhattan ,
New York.
• A linear 1.45-mile (2.33 km) stretch
• Built it in 1930 as part of the west side improvement plan by Robert Moses , it was used heavily till the 1960’s.
• By the 1980’s the plan to revive the rail system started and was strongly advocated by friends of highline(NGO).
• It became a very successful project as an urban renewal scheme as the ripples of the landscape project caused
an increase in the real estate values.
• Thus it caused a land use change in the area.
INTRODUCTION
Four options considered are :-
•Demolition and Development
•Transit Oriented reuse
•Commercial reuse
•Open space reuse

5. DURING DAY TIME

6. DURING NIGHT TIME

7. PARK ENTRANCES:
Access to the High Line is possible via
any of the access points listed below:
•Gansevoort Street and Washington
Street (elevator access / Differentially
abled)
•14th Street (elevator access /
Differentially abled)
•16th Street (elevator access /
Differentially abled)
•18th Street (only staircase access )
•20th Street (only staircase access )
•23rd Street (elevator access /
Differentially abled)
•26th Street (only staircase access )
•28th Street (only staircase access )
•29th Street (elevator access)
•30th Street (elevator access /
Differentially abled)
•34th Street (ramp access) - open 7 a.m.
to sunset
•The High Line is wheelchair accessible.
•The park is open daily from 7
a.m. to 7 p.m. in the winter, 10
p.m. in the spring and fall, and
11 p.m. in the summer, except
for the Interim Walkway west of
11th Avenue, which is open until
dusk.
• It can be reached through 11
entrances, 5 of which are
accessible to people with
disabilities.

8. ROUTE

9. NEW EXTENSION PROPOSED FOR THE HIGHLINE

10. EXISTING LAND USE
PROPOSED LAND USE

12. STEPS OF PARK CONSTRUCTION
• Removal of Previous Materials
• Preparation of Site
• Construction of Landscape
ELIMINATION OF PREVIOUS
MATERIALS
• Removal of Steel rails, gravel ballast, soil, debris and a layer of concrete
• Minor repairs must be made to concrete and steel.
• Each section of railroad is marked, mapped, and stored for later use.
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13. PREPARING THE SITE
• Steel elements of High Line structure are
sandblasted.
• Repairs are made to the High Line’s Art-
Deco railings.
• Pigeon-proofing installed in beams on the
underside of the structure.
• Drainage system and layer of waterproofing
instituted.
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARK LANDSCAPE
• High Line’s pathways are made of smooth, tapered concrete planks.
• High Line’s railroad tracks returned.
• Seating – peel-up benches, alcove seats, sundeck lounge chairs
• Construction of stairs and elevators
• LED lighting
• Soil is delivered and distributed.

14. PLANKING • Each concrete plank is 12 feet long
and tapered at the ends.
• The layers of the walking surface
are built on a underlying layer of
concrete.
• The system of planks allows for the
free flow of water, which is
collected for irrigation and directs
water into planting beds.REINSTALLATION OF TRACKS
• The tracks that were marked, mapped and stored are re-installed.
• The regions underneath the tracks are filled with soil, so that plants can
grow up and between the tracks.

15. SOIL PLACEMENT
• A filter fabric membrane is attached to
the planks.
• Then, soil can be brought to the site.
• After the plants are in place, an irrigation
system is installed and water distributed
once all the plants are in place.
• Until the irrigation system is in place,
plants are hand-watered.

16. AGRI-TECTURE

17. PLANTING

18. THE CUTTING OF ENTRANCES
• 14 tons of steel were removed for the 30th Street entrance
• The 30th Street stairs cut through the structure.
• Steel beams were cut in half to make way for the stairs and elevator.
• One of the High Line’s I-beams had to be cut for the 14th Street
entrance.
THE VIEWING SPUR
• The Viewing Spur consists of 11-by-22-foot steel at the High Line at West
26th Street.
• The Viewing Spur is meant to recall the billboards that were once attached
to the High Line.
• Frame serves as contrast to billboards.
• Frame is surrounded by trees, with a platform with benches.

19. THE VIEWING PLATFORM
• The platform’s foundation is a 15-by-35-foot
steel frame.
• The platform, lit from below, has a
transparent floor so visitors can see traffic
below.
• The platform appears as a “floating stage.
THE 10TH AVENUE SQUARE
• Four massive steel panels were cut from the north side of the 10th Avenue
Square.
• Glass windows will be installed where the steel panels were.
• A stepped wooden ramp allows people to come down to the windows.
• Careful regulation of traffic was necessary.

20. SEATING

21. NEW ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS ALONG
THE HIGH LINE

23. A refreshing change from the hustle and bustle
of the city. Lots of great views. Beautiful plants.
Cool apartment complexes. There's a view of
the Chelsea Pier that is beautiful. What a great
asset this is to the city.
If you ever visit NY, this place is a MUST SEE! Very serene and beautiful. A stark contrast of what NY
is perceived to be and everything that you would expect from NY. A one of a kind park.
Not only the design and the atmosphere of the park
unique and innovative, it has transformed a neighborhood
which was formally known as the "Death Avenue" into a
trendy, upscale, and more importantly, family friendly
area.
An urban oasis. “So if you are a tourist like me,
definitely make time for the High
Line. This was one of the first things
I did on my trip when I got to NYC
and I'm so glad I did.”
MEET THE TOURISTS
This park is very well kept,
clean, and free of weirdos
and panhandlers (at least
when I was there).
Rise D. Ewa Beach, HI
Seth J. Denver,
CO
James C. Uniondale, NY
Holly G. San Francisco, CA
Saya V. Los Angeles, CA
Jane R. Little
Rock, AR

24. MEET THE NEW YORKERS
The High Line is not a park in the traditional concept, certainly
not to relax. It's a piece of modern art, a cool urban
construction, a show stage for fashionistas to have more fun,
while adding exotic glamour to mix materialism and nature…
That's why High Line is SO crowded with European tourists.
All the tourist books are touting this as
the "new thing to see in NYC." And it
really is. But go on a weekday.
Deanne R. Manhattan, NY
Wendy G. New York, NY
Irm M. Manhattan, NY
Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, NY

25. HURDLES
• Community opposition
• Political opposition
• Lack of expertise
• Funding
STRENGTHS
• Resource management
• The ability to inspire people.
CONCLUSION
•The High line alters the city park paradigm by engaging the visitor in a densely urban
experience of an elevated post-industrial re-use space while utilizing a naturalistic planting
aesthetic.
•By attempting to replicate a “wild” nature, it alters the idea of nature that visitors have in
their own imaginations.
•Such an attempt to simulate wilderness feeds a new virtual reality of the garden; it fuels the
mind to both remember past and anticipate future imaginings and challenge the present
understandings and expectations of nature.
•The High Line disguises the Picturesque with the smoke and mirrors of a “naturalized
landscape,” making it more difficult for people to understand what ecological quality looks
like.

26. THANKYOU