DesignApplause » Public space

The highline new york city. An aerial greenway.

PRand — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:05:29 +0000

The High Line is a 1-mile (1.6 km) New York City linear park built on a 1.45-mile (2.33 km) section of the former elevated freight railroad spur called the West Side Line, which runs along the lower west side of Manhattan; it has been redesigned and planted as an aerial greenway. Phase 1 was opened in 2009, phase 2 in 2011, phase 3 most likely 2013.

Visiting the new phase 2 on Friday following Thanksgiving and with 64-degree weather it was wall-to-wall on the Highline and not many were thinking about holiday shopping just yet.

Above photo taken prior to development. Much of the naturalized plantings are inspired by the self-seeded landscape that grew on the disused tracks.

Pebble-dash concrete walkways unify the trail, which swells and constricts, swinging from side to side, and divides into concrete tines that meld the hardscape with the planting embedded in railroad gravel mulch.

The project was designed by [ James Corner Field Operations ] and [ Diller Scofidio + Renfro ] and construction on phase 1 of the park cost around $172 million public dollars to build. This investment into the community has resulted in more than 30 different projects being proposed or constructed.
[ the highline ] [ the highline wiki ]

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Marilyn monroe and her new tattoo.

PRand — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:38:09 +0000

[left] photo by brent lewis chicago tribune

Several weeks ago our post on pop artist seward johnson’s unveiling of “forever marilyn” prompted a comment “i give it a month before some vandals with brown paint give her a skid mark.” Well…

Everyone will react differently of course. Having just come from Portland where everyone sports a tattoo the tag brought a smile and I really like this sculpture.

[left] leo burnett world headquarters – architect kevin roche

When construction barricades were big in the early 90s I had two that prompted both developers to comment about the unique qualities of their skyscraper street art – no one vandalized the barricades. I am very surprised Marilyn got tagged.

[left] 181 west madison – the boys – architect cesar pelli

Chicago might be the most graffiti-free urban setting in the world. Past mayor Richard M. Daley created not only a graffiti task force but also makes it nearly impossible to get spray paint in the city. Unless you have a relevant business card the only paint store that has spray paint won’t unlock the glass-case-enclosed product. BTW – like a henna tat marilyn’s tag is now nowheresville.

[ forever marilyn unveiling ] [ marilyn tattooed ] [ sizing up public art ]

The stuhlhockerbank.

Perrin Drumm — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 02:00:44 +0000

it may take you just as long to pronounce its name as it does to choose a seat on the long amalgam of chairs, stools and benches that make up the stuhlhocker- bank.

Acting more like a narrative structure than a traditional piece of furniture, the various positions of the chairs and chair backs and the way they’re integrated may force you to sit face to face with another person instead of side by side, prompting unexpected encounters with strangers.

While that may not appeal to everyone, the Stuhlhockerbank is at least universally pleasing in that, coming up on it in a public space, you can’t help but smile at the whimsical seating arrangement. Imagine chancing upon it Central Park. Even if you chose not to straddle the bench or knock knees with your seat mate, it’s obviously got a lot on the everyday park bench.

designer: yvonne fehling & jennie peiz

about perrin drumm

Cool public furniture.

PRand — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 21:35:05 +0000

tasteful solutions for your sorry feet.

designer: pablo reinoso —huge sudeley bench

designer: pablo reinoso —spaghetti bale

designer: remyveenhuizen —the reef bench

designer: jangir maddadi —the union bench

designer: jangir maddadi —yacht bench

designer: alexandre moronnoz—muscle bench

designer: diamond teak —diamond teak bench

designer: rocker lange architects

designer: jeppe hein —loop bench

Modern water fountains.

PRand — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:57:29 +0000

Some water fountains are really people magnets. Observing human interaction, the kinetic creativity of the Jaume Plensas fountain in Chicago the past three years has inspired this post.

( above ) designer, jaume plensas, chicago, USA. water and digital video.

( above ) designer, armand vallancourt, san francisco USA. concrete tubing.

( above ) fountain clock, kanazawa JP. fountain clock.

( above ) designer, unknown, location unknown. the waterboard, not exactly a fountain.

( above ) designer, lotta hannerz, paris, FR. water mobile venus.

( above ) designer, unknown, seattle US. variable pressure fountain.

( above ) designer, unknown, zacatecas MX. a fountain inside a silver mine.

( above ) designer, william pye, sunderland UK. water vortex.

Is there a difference between an older, more traditional fountain vs modern? Do you have a favorite you frequent or fond memories of one?

Splashy trash.

PRand — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:57:26 +0000

Whether or not you must throw your trash on the street, what about pink and white polka dot designer trash bags? Or Anycoloryoulike?
Each bag is biodegradable and treated with repellent for even rodents of unusual size. Though this is a New York City art intervention initiative, you can splashy trash in your town too.

via momeld