Delancey Underground. Building the Lowline. Phase I: 2011-2012.
24/11/2011.
Delancey. [NYC] USA
metalocus, PEDRO NAVARRO
metalocus, PEDRO NAVARRO
The High Line, ever since it opened in 2009, has drawn out-of-town visitors who hope to replicate its success. Architects, designers and politicians around the world have traveled to see the project and transfer it to their hometowns, the elevated park on the West Side of Manhattan.
A showcase for tech innovation The Lower East Side has always been a dynamo of entrepreneurs and innovative thinking. This park and adoption of this technology in this location could create a new energy and enthusiasm around technology and design.
Introducing the LowLine Channeling sunlight underground in a sizable underground space could create New York City's first underground park: a year-round oasis of trees, grass, and beautiful, inviting design features.
The Vision Our vision: use solar technology to channel sunlight underground, to facilitate an underground park on the Lower East Side.
LES Needs Green Space Our inspiration? The Lower East is one of the least green parts of New York City.
Delancey Underground Site. There exists a massive underground space-- formerly used as the Williamsburg Trolley Terminal-- that lies beneath Delancey Street, right where it hits the Williamsburg bridge on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The green area above overlays the original architectural drawings for the former Trolley Terminal site-- all below ground.
How the technology works The Remote Skylight collects sunlight via a Sky Collector, filter that light through a fiber cable, the Sky Riser, and distributes that light underground via the Sky Distributor. It reflects non-harmful rays that carry the wavelengths necessary to support photosynthesis, enabling plants and trees to grow underground.
Today. Until 1948, Williamsburg Bridge trolleys used the site.
The space is enormous in size. A rare jewel of undeveloped space in Manhattan.
James Ramsey, left + Dan Barasch, the designers.
Lately, the ideas and projects (like competition: REIMAGINING THE WATERFRONT: Design-Ideas Competition)have been coming from across town, with projects for another green space. But this project is diferent and comes with a twist — the proposed park would be underground, in a dank former trolley terminal under Delancey Street that is controlled by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority:
The Delancey Underground project seeks to transform an abandoned trolley terminal into New York City's first underground community green space. Beneath one of the least green areas of the city, the Lower East Side, lies a massive, unused space nearly the size of Gramercy Park. This project envisions using an advanced solar technology to channel sunlight underground, enabling plants and trees to grow.
Trolley Terminal in 1930s.
Built in 1903 and abandoned in 1948, the Williamsburg Trolley Terminal was the destination for streetcars that carried passengers from Brooklyn to Manhattan over the Williamsburg bridge. It is 1.5 acres in size-- nearly 60,000 square feet-- roughly 2/3 the size of Gramercy Park.
Delancey Streetscape in 1930s.
Above ground, Delancey Street has always been a bustling immigrant thoroughfare and key artery for generations of merchants. In the 1930s Delancey Street was a vibrant space, before auto traffic dominated the neighborhood.
Current Delancey Street.
We are based on the Lower East Side-- an area that desperately needs more green space. This shot is of Delancey Street, right above an incredibly large unused underground space...
The SPURA site: above Delancey.
The location, known by the community as the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area (SPURA), is the largest amount of land currently under review for massive revitalization in lower Manhattan. An amazing opportunity for new design thinking!
