high line at the rail yards design unveiled

‘high line at the rail yards’, the final installment of the park, designed by new york-based landscape architecture firm james corner field operations and practice diller scofidio + renfro has been unveiled by the city of new york and friends of the high line. wrapping the hudson yards, the segment of the historic freight line which spans from west 30th to west 34th streets has become overgrown with grasses and wildflowers which have naturally implanted since train operations were ceased in the 1980s.

all images © james corner field operations & diller scofidio + renfro,
courtesy of the city of new york and friends of the high line

running perpendicularly to the existing elevated park, the section’s east to west orientation offers unforeseen perspectives of the city’s skyline and adjacent river. the project is expected to attract over 12 million square feet of new office, residential, retail and cultural structures, creating a new urban context with access to the landscaped park on the historic railway to the east and new walkway positioned over the western area. once complete, there will be an uninterrupted link between the meatpacking district, west chelsea and clinton/hell’s kitchen neighborhoods. the project will be completed and open to the public in spring 2014.

10th avenue spur

11th avenue access

rail track walk

maintaining a consistent industrial vocabulary as found within the established park south of west 30th street, landscape elements are remnants of the freight line. dutch landscape architect piet oudolf‘s natural plantings will emerge to create an inviting path along the once heavily used rails.

children’s play beams

the concrete deck is removed to reveal the original beam and girder framework. the elements are covered with a thick rubber safety coating and transformed into a unique play feature for kids.

interim walkway at the western rail yards viewing towards the west

the eastern rail yards will be similar in design to the sections which are currently open to the public. the western rail yards will feature a simple path through the existing landscape allowing visitors to experience the self-sown grasses and wildflowers which have proliferated since the freight line ceased operation in the 1980s.

interim walkway at the western rail yards viewing towards the northwest

as the walkway curves along west 30th street and 12th avenue, views of the hudson river and original train tracks are revealed within the existing, self-seeded landscape.

interim walkway at the western rail yards viewing towards the south

this final installment will allow the public to access the entire length of the high line, terminating at west 34th street, offering new views of the city.

‘peel-up’ design elements