heatherwick's 'little island' opens to public, kicking off summertime in NYC

the heatherwick studio-designed ‘little island’ opens to the public as a new icon in new york. the free public park extends outward into the hudson river from 13th street, introducing a sculptural and monumental green space. while the $260 million project had a tumultuous and controversial start, it now marks one of the first parks to open in the city since the COVID-19 pandemic heatherwick teamed with new york-based landscape architecture firm MNLA to curate serene spaces to explore, new venues for live performances and cultural events, and fantastic views of the city.

images by michael grimm

open daily from 6am until 1am, heatherwick studio‘s ‘little island’ is unveiled as new yorkers emerge into summertime from more than a year of restrictions and closures. heatherwick studio designs the expressive structure with 280 concrete piles, which emerge from in between the leftover wood piles of pier 54 that were largely preserved to maintain habitats for aquatic life. on top of the piles, 132 concrete ‘tulips’ make up the structure of the park. each tulip’s shape is unique and has a different weight load capacity to hold the soil, lawns, overlooks, and trees. arup’s new york city team served as the engineering firm, leading the structural development of the park’s unique pot structures, along with the design of the park’s subsurface and theatrical infrastructure.

heatherwick studio works with signe nielsen of MNLA whose landscape design integrates more than 350 species of flowers, trees and shrubs across the little island. the island is occupied by alongside a 687-seat amphitheater, a central plaza with seating, food, and beverages, an intimate stage, and lawn space dubbed the ‘glade.’ the plantings are varied to provide an environment that changes with the seasons, with flowing trees and shrubs, fall foliage and evergreens. more than 66,000 bulbs and 114 trees have been planted, some of which will grow to 60 feet tall. previously known as pier 55, the heatherwick studio-designed little island is primarily funded by the diller – von furstenberg family foundation.