Name: Little Island Hudson River Park
Client: New York City
Address: 13th Street West Side Highway, NY NY
Architect: Thomas Heatherwick
Style: Sustainable Architecture
Description: One of those magic places in New York City that seems somewhat implausible and maybe at first unnecessary. Little Island is exactly what the name suggests, a little island on the Hudson River. Replacing the almost completely deteriorated Pier 55 between roughly 12th and 14th streets off the West Side Highway. Restoring the old piers and giving them adaptive re-uses had / has been an on going project for many years. Mostly parks and green spaces, but also playground, tennis courts, restaurants, skate parks. The island is entirely artificial, created by tulip shaped concrete pillars sunk into the riverbed. Its primary use is an amphitheater / general performance space, but more than that it’s also a natural haven for all sorts of floral, and fauna, at least birds. Beyond its functional aspect it can also be seen as an architectural laboratory for sustainable design, the park is set above the 500 year flood plain, the open access to nature and the blending of nature with the functionality of the park.
Related Buildings:
Azabudai Hills Tokyo
1,000 Trees Shanghai
More Reading:
Little Island Website
New York City Has a Brand-New “Floating Park” on Its Hudson River