Urban dwellers lead a two-point-one-line life, shuttling between home and the office, transitioning from involution to "lying flat." In the dense, concrete jungle of the city, where can people find a moment to catch their breath? A personal sanctuary for relaxation?
During the renovation gap of its Tokyo headquarters, Sony Group transformed the original building into Sony Park, akin to creating a small oasis for the bustling metropolis. New York's Central Park is even hailed as the “city's backyard garden,” but that is far from enough—this time, the boundaries of urban public space are being expanded once again, taking you beyond the continental confines of the city.
British architect Thomas Heatherwick(Thomas Heatherwick)and his studio have constructed an artificial island park covering approximately 9,712 square meters(2.4 acres)on the Hudson River in New York using 132 concrete columns: Little Island(Little Island), embracing everyone seeking to “escape” urban life.
This “Shangri-La” away from New York City was created by Heatherwick Studio in collaboration with engineering firm Arup(Arup)and New York landscape design team MNLA, aiming to provide more park space for citizens within the city. Little Island is located near the Chelsea community(Chelsea)in Manhattan's West Side, New York, with two bridge pathways leading to the island. The island features over 540 meters of winding paths, passing through various areas such as theaters and plazas.
The Little Island project is part of the Hudson River Park renovation initiative, originally referred to as the Pier 55 project. Initially, the plan was to construct a pavilion on the pier, but Heatherwick Studio conceived a more novel idea: an island detached from the mainland, elevated above the river surface.
The design inspiration for Little Island came from Heatherwick's observation of Pier 54, which was once the disembarkation point for survivors of the Titanic in 1912. Now long abandoned and disused, only a cluster of pilings remains visible above the water*. The pier's structure enabled the realization of Heatherwick's vision, with concrete columns weighing up to 350 tons driven 61 meters into the rocky riverbed, supporting a haven over the Hudson River.
*The structure of a high-pile wharf includes pilings embedded in the riverbed and a deck portion above the water. The latter typically features structural types such as beam-slab, flat slab without beams, frame, and bearing platform.
Insights from wharf structures and civil engineering knowledge provided essential information for Little Island's construction and its future operation under extreme river conditions. After experiencing Hurricane Sandy, the design team decided to shorten the distance between the island and the mainland while reinforcing the island's initial structural design. They also maintained the water level at a height away from the island to reduce the risk of flooding.
What makes Little Island even more distinctive is that while typical piers are flat, the island exhibits undulating terrain due to the varying heights of its concrete columns. Heatherwick aimed to create a sense of escape from Manhattan through the island's elevated topography. Although termed an “escape from Manhattan,” when people find themselves observing the city from this perspective, their emotional connection to New York often becomes stronger. It is akin to how one may deeply miss their hometown life only when studying or working in a foreign land.
The tops of the concrete columns are specially shaped into flower-like forms with a 6-meter-wide opening, not only to support the park's soil but also to symbolize openness and gathering for the community. Due to the island's undulating terrain, different planting landscapes can be planned accordingly. Currently, nearly 400 species of plants and close to 100 species of evergreen trees are planted, creating shaded groves and lush green carpets. Strolling through the park to appreciate the diverse flora across the seasons is indeed a delightful experience. These plants also provide some windbreak for people walking in Hudson River Park.
The island features three open spaces, ranked by capacity: a small stage accommodating 200 people, a circular amphitheater for 700 spectators, and a central plaza that can hold 3,500 people. It is worth noting that the backstage facilities and equipment required for performances are located off the island and can be transported via the bridge pathways when needed, thus preserving the island's ecological environment and landscape.
BY TOPYS
