The New York High Line opened 15 years ago – what lessons has it taught us?
This month marks the 15th anniversary of The High Line – New York’s 1.5-mile-long park built on a historical freight line on Manhattan’s west side. The High Line has become an iconic New York place, with planting design by Piet Oudolf.
Marking its 15th Anniversary, New York Times writer Margaret Roach explores lessons the The High Line has taught us “With its unique man-made garden beds 30 feet above street level, filled with only an 18-inch layer of soil”.
Roach writes, “There are ten horticulturists up there trying to foresee the plants’ every move. They work to respect Mr. Oudolf’s artistic and ecological intentions without being unrealistic about how insistent the forces of natural succession can be — even within the confines of a 30-foot-wide planting bed.”
The High Line may look like it has been created naturally by nature, however Richard Hayden, The High Line’s Senior Director of Horticulture stresses that these are “not set it and forget it gardens”.
Senior Horticultural Supervisor, John Gunderson, said the challenge is “To make something look like it’s happened over years, when in fact it’s just constantly being manipulated a little bit, always keeping that vision of patterns you would find in nature.” There is constant editing — cutbacks, thinning, weeding — which continues to create the illusion of The High Line.
Not only human New Yorkers enjoy the The High Line, with many migratory birds, bees and other wildlife finding sanctuary there.
Read the full article and lessons learnt from The High Line here.
Reclaiming our vanishing third places
Coined in 1989 by Ray Oldenburg, ‘third places’ are social surroundings that are separate from the two main social environments of home (first place) and workplace (second place). Third places create connections, support the local economy, build communities and encourage civic engagement.
A recent webinar for On The Park Bench, A Public Square Conversation examines the disappearance of our ‘third places’. The webinar, titled ‘Vanishing third places and what can be done’ was presented by Jaime Izurieta of Storefront Mastery and Rik Adamski of ASH+LIME, and has been summarised in the CNU Journal Public Square by Editor Robert Steuteville.
Exploring Adamski’s third place case studies, Steuteville notes that these places work when they are vibrant, have multi sources of monetisation with strong programming and inside and outside space.
To easily create a Third Place, Izurieta says, “provide a bench in any area – this forces people to connect. Have a sign that says ‘Stay A While’.
Adamski says “opportunities are everywhere, if you think creatively”.
Successful products are often followed by copycats. Over the past year we have become aware of an increase in reproductions of the Linea range attempting to create a similar aesthetic at a lower price. This can compromise the overall durability and environmental credentials of projects being delivered, affect ongoing maintenance requirements, and in some instances pose a risk of injury to the public. The design of Linea is deceptively simple while delivering exceptional attention to detail. Details matter not only for beauty, but also for providing durability, and safety, that will last decades. Linea strictly uses the highest quality and sustainable materials, has passed rigorous strength tests, and is designed for longevity, with easily replaceable parts. The product range is the result of hundreds of hours of research and development …
Street Furniture Australia’s entire product range and manufacturing operation has received carbon neutral certification through Climate Active™. Achieving carbon neutral certification marks a significant milestone in our operation and the culmination of a four year long process of detailed measurement and analysis. Climate Active™ is the only Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification programme for businesses to measure, reduce, and offsets their carbon emissions. It is one of the most rigorous carbon-neutral programs in the world. An approved Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS) is central to achieving certification through Climate Active. Street Furniture Australia has elected to use SBTi validated science-based targets to ensure their ERS is meaningful and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. For those emissions that can’t be …
Our Presentation Specialists bring a fun, interactive and informative workshop about our carbon neutral journey and latest products to your office. In 30 minutes (plus Q&A) you will explore materials and finishes, touch and feel samples, and bond with your colleagues over delicious treats in the comfort of your office. There will also be a mystery prize for a lucky winner (optional). ‘The presentation content was informative, engaging, interactive and relevant. Genuinely one of the better supplier workshops! It was efficient yet insightful. The interactive nature of it enhanced engagement with the team,’ Sam Westlake, Senior Associate, Hassell, Sydney. ‘Possibly our favourite product presentation to date! Engaging, great content and appreciated the physical samples and prototypes,’ Alexa Ongoco, Senior Landscape Architect, TCL, Brisbane. ‘Thorough presentation with actual product to see and …
Street Furniture Australia’s entire product range and manufacturing operation has received carbon neutral certification through Climate Active™. Achieving carbon neutral certification marks a significant milestone in our operation and the culmination of a four year long process of detailed measurement and analysis. Climate Active™ is the only Australian government-backed carbon neutral certification programme for businesses to measure, reduce, and offsets their carbon emissions. It is one of the most rigorous carbon-neutral programs in the world. An approved Emissions Reduction Strategy (ERS) is central to achieving certification through Climate Active. Street Furniture Australia has elected to use SBTi validated science-based targets to ensure their ERS is meaningful and aligns with the 2015 Paris Agreement – to limit global temperature rises to 1.5℃ above pre-industrial levels. For those emissions that can’t be …
Ten principles for designing play spaces for neurodiverse children The growing body of research around inclusive design has deepened our understanding of this important area, paving the way for projects like Hassell’s new Mildred Creak Playground. Before the revitalisation of Edward Millen Park on Whadjuk Country in Perth, Western Australia, Hassell’s Senior Associate, Hannah Galloway and her team at Hassell met with teachers at Carson Street School and the Autism Association of Western Australia. They created ten key principles for designing play spaces for all children. Galloway said their goal was to design a unique space for all children to enjoy, regardless of their neurodiverse traits. “By incorporating sensory elements, promoting social interaction and providing spaces for regrouping and control, we can create environments where every child can thrive.” Hassell’s ten …
Successful products are often followed by copycats. Over the past year we have become aware of an increase in reproductions of the Linea range attempting to create a similar aesthetic at a lower price. This can compromise the overall durability and environmental credentials of projects being delivered, affect ongoing maintenance requirements, and in some instances pose a risk of injury to the public. The design of Linea is deceptively simple while delivering exceptional attention to detail. Details matter not only for beauty, but also for providing durability, and safety, that will last decades. Linea strictly uses the highest quality and sustainable materials, has passed rigorous strength tests, and is designed for longevity, with easily replaceable parts. The product range is the result of hundreds of hours of research and development …
