Interior Design
New York’s High Line Is on the Up and Up
Events will be held this month supporting the project.
by Staff
Interior Design · February 9, 2007
New York’s Diller, Scofidio + Renfro-designed High Line park project is steadily moving forward on schedule.
Currently, the 1.5 mile-long track, an abandoned railway that runs from the Meatpacking District through West Chelsea to the Hudson Yards, is still in its site preparation phase. Approximately half of the park’s Section 1 has been sandblasted and painted with a primer coat. A final coat has already been applied to the section of the trail between 17th and 18th Streets, providing a glimpse as to how the completed project will appear.
Additional prep work includes repairs such as removing concrete from the bases of columns and replacing rusted rivets.
Other ongoing work involves installing a new underside drainage system and sloped pieces of metal to deter birds from roosting. Site prep work is expected to be completed this summer; construction of the new park landscape and access points will follow.
The High Line was acquired by New York City in November 2005; groundbreaking on the project began last March.
The first section is expected to open to the public in 2008. Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s design for the High Line includes a series of gardens in the form of pits, plains, bridges, mounds, ramps, and flyovers.
One snafu in the plan: The advisory group Friends of the High Line (FHL) has not yet secured the portion of the rail at the West Side Rail Yards from demolition. This section of the High Line represents 31 percent of the total park and is a “critical link” in the open space network connecting Hudson River Park and the neighborhoods of the West Side, according to FHL.
Upcoming High Line Events
A new FHL project will create and publicly exhibit portraits of the park’s supporters. Using a backdrop, photographer Tom Kletecka will photograph supporters; a select number of portraits will then be displayed around the High Line neighborhoods, mounted to the construction fencing. Portraits will also be archived online. Photographs will be taken on February 9 from 12pm-6pm at the FHL office (430 West 14th Street, Suite 304), February 22 from 12pm-6pm at the Public corridor at Chelsea Market (75 Ninth Avenue), and March 31 from 12pm-3pm at the Hudson Guild's Dan Carpenter Room (441 West 26th Street, 2nd floor). Participants should RSVP by email to
rsvp@thehighline.org.
On February 25 at 1pm, supporters of FHL can join in a tour of The Armory Show, the International Fair of New Art devoted exclusively to contemporary pieces. The ninth annual exhibition, to be held at Pier 94, will feature 148 international galleries. Participants must pay a $10 entry fee to the show (a $10 savings) and should RSVP by email to
rsvp@thehighline.org.