hudson yards: new york's newest neighborhood celebrates grand opening

new york city’s hudson yards celebrates its grand opening, welcoming new yorkers and visitors for the first time. surrounded by an ongoing master plan of gleaming residential and office towers, the neighborhood introduces 14 acres of new public space including an outdoor plaza of gardens and groves, over a mile of shopping and dining experiences, and ‘vessel’ — the new climbable sculpture designed by heatherwick studio. hudson yards is the largest private real estate development in the history of the united states, and the largest development in new york city since rockefeller center.

the project is the largest development in new york city since rockefeller center
image courtesy of related-oxford | main image by michael moran for related-oxford

visitors can now reserve their free tickets to climb the city’s newest sculptural monument — temporarily known as ‘vessel.’ designed by heatherwick studio, the landmark structure opens on friday march 15th when hudson yards — developed by related companies and oxford properties group — welcomes the public for the first time. the attraction will be open daily between 10am and 9pm, weather permitting. while those interested in scheduling a time to visit will be able to reserve their spot fourteen days in advance, more spontaneous visitors can reserve free, same-day tickets each morning at 9am online or on site. the timed-tickets specify the one-hour arrival window with no time-limit upon entry.

designed by heatherwick studio, the structure is the centerpiece of the hudson yards public square and gardens
image by michael moran for related-oxford

designed as the centerpiece to hudson yards’ public square and gardens, the structure is a spiraling, escher-esque maze of 154 flights of stairs comprising 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings. the staircase reaches a height of 150 feet with a one-mile vertical ascent. although the climb offers unique perspectives outward to the new neighborhood, the real experience lies in the views inward overlooking the complex, interconnecting geometries. the circling ascent recalls that of new york’s uptown guggenheim museum wherein one might overlook the spiraling levels, observing other visitors opposite.

the structural steel frame is covered by a polished copper-colored steel cladding
image by michael moran for related-oxford

‘vessel’ was fabricated by italian company cimolai and arrived on manhattan’s west side in six separate shipments. the structure is built from a structural steel frame and clad in distinctive polished copper-colored steel. this cladding will retain its reflective quality as, unlike true copper, the polished steel will never develop a patina through oxidation. the structure is situated at the center of the public square and gardens, designed by nelson byrd woltz landscape architects in collaboration with heatherwick studio. by this summer the outdoor space, with more than five acres of gardens and groves, will house more than 28,000 plants, 200 mature trees, woodland plants, and perennial gardens. it will connect with the high line, punctuated by the shed, which is set to open april 5th, 2019.

vessel will offer the public a one-mile vertical climb
image by michael moran for related-oxford

surrounding the climbable attraction is the city’s newest shopping and dining destination, the shops & restaurants at hudson yards. the space comprises a one-million-square-foot collection of shopping and dining experiences from luxury brands to fast fashion. designed by elkus manfredi architects, the scheme pays homage to the industrial past of the west side. inside, steel and dark wood evoke the rail yards that once dominated the area, while the natural stone floors and exposed support structures contribute to the rough-hewn, urban elegance of the vertical neighborhood. opening among these leading retailers is snark park — the new permanent exhibition space by new york-based studio snarkitecture. other elements of hudson yards — including ‘the shed’ and the development’s tallest building — are set to open at a later date. read designboom’s ongoing coverage here.

the structure is comprised of 154 intricately-interconnecting flights of stairs, 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings
image by michael moran for related-oxford

the structure is a spiraling, escher-esque maze of 154 flights of stairs
image courtesy of related-oxford

the project features a number of vantage points for photographs
image courtesy of related-oxford

looking towards the hudson river
image courtesy of related-oxford

the structure opened to the public in april 2019
image courtesy of related-oxford

‘vessel’ with the retail complex in the background
image by francis dzikowski for related-oxford

steel and dark wood interiors evoke the rail yards that once dominated the area
image by francis dzikowski for related-oxford

the shops and restaurants bring more than a mile of shopping and dining experiences to manhattan’s west side
image by francis dzikowski for related-oxford

hand-selected culinary experiences provide food and beverage offerings on every level of the retail center
image by francis dzikowski for related-oxford

the retail center brings together an unparalleled collection of shopping from luxury brands to fast fashion
image by francis dzikowski for related-oxford