INGENIEUR
The middle section of the High Line that crosses
10th Avenue is being turned into a viewing
gallery with steps of seats for tourists to watch
the busy traffic below. It is also used for stage
performances or other cultural activities.
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allow the plants to bleed through," said landscape
architect James Corner, "almost as if the plants
were colonising the paved areas. There's a sort
of blending or bleeding or suturing between the
hard paving, the surface for people to stroll on,
and the plants." Stretches of track and ties hint at
the High Line's former use, and portions of track
are re-used for rolling lounges positioned for river
views. The 120-species plant palette, curated by
Dutch landscape architect Piet Oudolf, includes
sturdy meadow plants (such as clump-forming
grasses, liatris, and coneflowers), scattered
stands of sumac and smokebush, and other non-
native plants.
The West side of Manhattan has been
transformed from an industrial district into
residential and commercial neighbourhoods with
new parks and cultural activities. The High Line
is a physical reminder of the important role of the
railroad in New York City’s industrial past.
It is hailed as an urban renewal triumph and has
since spawned a series of copycats such as The
606 in Chicago and The Goods Line in Sydney.