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The Highline Competition
Over the years, the Highline has seen its surroundings undergo constant change. From industrial to commercial to residential, the urban context of the Highline is one of fluctuation and temporality. Our proposal takes advantage of the constant change that surrounds the Highline and seeks to reinforce the connection between the immediate neighborhood and the Highline.
The Highline is an extension of the space of the sidewalk below that simultaneously connects the individual neighborhoods to the larger context of the Highline and its role as connector of urban programs and neighborhoods. Possible programs include cafe, gallery for local artists, picnic area, after-school studying rooms, retail for local businesses, and farmer's or street market.
The programmatic nodes are placed at each cross-street along the entire length of the Highline. Each node is a generic box inspired by the bus stops of the city. The node is an infinitely reprogrammable space designed with the utmost flexibility in mind. A main utility wall houses electricity, water, and data/voice connections. The secondary wall has the ability to move in order to partition the interior into varying proportions of indoor vs. outdoor space. The side panels rotate to allow varying degrees of light and air into the interior. Access to the Highline is gained through a stairwell that compliments the node's aesthetic, giving the Highline a presence on the level of the street.