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morganbelarus · 7 years ago

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From Chicago to Sydney, how New York ignited a global High Line craze

(CNN)The creators of the New York High Line are, in many ways, the Steve Jobs of the urban planning world.

Because just like the iMac G3 and the iPhone, the High Line when it opened in 2009 was not technically anything new. New York's success was in expertly refining an existing concept. And giving it a catchy name.

Paris, in fact, created the first elevated walkway on a disused rail line -- aka high line -- back in 1993. The Promenade Plante tracks the former Vincennes railway, which was constructed in 1859 and last saw a working train in 1969.

Verdant and visually stunning, it was groundbreaking. But tucked away in the city's 12th arrondissement, most tourists have never heard of it.

Now its New York successor has sparked a global craze for elevated rails-to-trails projects that seems unstoppable.

The High Line hype

The Seoullo 7017, which opened earlier this year in the Korean capital, is the world's newest High Line.

Designed by Rotterdam-based architects MVRDV, its name is a portmanteau of 2017 and 1970, the latter being the year the mile-long stretch of overpass on which it stands originally opened.

The walkway connects Seoul Station to Namdaemun Market, and beyond, and features almost 25,000 trees, shrubs and flowers in cylindrical planters which light up blue at night.

Critics, however, have said the "bleak" viaduct fails to shield visitors from the elements and contains too much concrete and too little greenery.

The Seoul creation arrives two years after 2015, a killer year which saw the opening of the Log Road Daikanyama in Tokyo, Japan; the Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago, United States; the Luchtsingel in Rotterdam, Netherlands; and the Goods Line in Sydney, Australia.

The Goods Line. Sydney's latest public space connecting central to Darling Harbour and beyond. #Shfa #thegoodsline #aspectstudios #chrofi

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Each city has its own take on the concept.

For the Log Road Daikanyama, the focus is as much on shops and cafes as oaks and shrubs, showcasing Japan's flourishing craft beer scene -- one of the reasons Vogue magazine dubbed the area "the Brooklyn of Tokyo".

Meanwhile, the Luchtsingel was the "world's first crowdfunded public infrastructure project," with individuals paying to customize planks along the trail for 25 ($28). A 4 million ($4.5 million) municipal grant also helped this blazing yellow path connect three areas that had been impassable by foot or bike.

'I wanna be a part of it'

So what exactly made New York's High Line so franchisable?

Firstly, it had a perfect location. Perched on Manhattan's Far West Side, it offered an elevated view of Midtown skyscrapers, the Hudson River, West Chelsea and the Meat Packing district. All in an area that had traditionally been industrial, relatively affordable (for Manhattan) and overlooked by tourists.

The New York Central Railroad spur known as the West Side Line. This 1.45-mile (2.33km) elevated section of the line was abandoned in 1980.

For charm, landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations kept the rusting freight rail tracks and plants were encouraged to grow among them. It was both fresh and urban.

Today, a catwalk for joggers, commuters and, increasingly, tourists, since 2014 it has attracted 20 million visitors.

Professor Ray Bromley, director of globalization studies at the University at Albany, New York, tells CNN he believes it was the "extreme contrast" between the horizontal path of the walkway and the striking verticals of the skyscrapers that made the High Line so successful.

That juxtaposition, of course, had worked once before in New York.

"When Central Park was developed in Manhattan in the late 19th century, people started to really appreciate this extraordinary contrast between the buildings and the green space," he explains.

Bromley notes that after Central Park "the buildings with the highest real estate value became those that overlooked the green space. And they still are."

High Line, high prices

The Manhattan High Line's effect on nearby real estate no doubt also caught city planners' attention.

While it cost $187 million and took three years to build, New York recouped construction costs within a year, according to a study by Michael Levere, a PhD candidate in economics at the University of California San Diego, thanks to an accompanying boost in property taxes triggered by the surge of real estate development in the area.

The value of real estate around its first section is now more than double that of properties just a block away.

Chelsea warehouses have been converted into upscale lofts, and new developments by "starchitects" abound, including the last apartment building by the late British designer Zaha Hadid, condos by Norman Foster (551W21 boasts a 61ft sky pool) and 505 West 19th Street, a block by Danish designer Thomas Juul-Hansen, which has slanted windows to protect against nosy passers-by.

James Howard Kunstler, an American social critic and author of "The Geography of Nowhere," tells CNN he believes the High Line has become the most potent form of downtown regeneration "because the despotic presence of cars and trucks degraded the quality of the most ubiquitous form of urban public space, the street".

Indeed, the gentrifying effect has not been limited to New York.

In Chicago, around The Bloomingdale Trail, an elevated railroad that brings greenery to a neighborhood which previously had the smallest amount of open space per capita in that city, property prices climbed more than 7% in three months -- before it had even opened.

Low points of the High Line?

Adapting New York's model, however, is not a guarantee for success, according to urban theorist Christoph Lindner.

"In many cities -- from London to Bangkok -- there are attempts to replicate the High Line. The majority of them tend to stall and turn out not to be economically viable. Most don't get off the ground," the editor of "Deconstructing the High Line: Postindustrial Urbanism and the Rise of the Elevated Park" tells CNN.

Among the non-starters are the Chapultepec Cultural Corridor in Mexico City and London's Garden Bridge. The Hofbogen in Rotterdam has been mired in financial woes for years, while the PetiteCeinture in Paris appears to have been put on ice, in favor of building houses.

And even when it comes to those that do succeed, not everyone is happy.

"The Manhattan High Line unlocked an explosion of gentrification," says Lindner, "or even hyper-gentrification -- where the rich have been replaced by the super-rich."

There are concerns that the proposed QueensWay in Queens, New York, which plans to up-cycle a stretch of abandoned Long Island railway, will have a similar effect.

"What's very interesting is the level of pushback from the local community," adds Lindner, referring to protests about the loss of privacy in the area if tourists stream in and potential gentrification.

The local Woodhaven Residents' Block Association has said: "We believe that leaving the abandoned rail line alone is the best way to satisfy the needs and desires of as many residents as possible."

From high to low

Lindner predicts that "we're going to see a saturation of this concept quite soon".

But for now that doesn't seem to be the case. New projects in the pipeline include the Camden High Line in north London, Singapore's Green Corridor and Philadelphia's Reading Viaduct.

Sharon Zukin, a professor of sociology at Brooklyn College and author of "Naked City," says the concept has become so popular because it satisfies two important criteria for modern cities: the desire to rejuvenate "the industrial detritus of the 19th century" and the need to cater to the growing "experience economy."

The rails-to-trails concept offers "a rare way of experiencing being in the city."

On New York's Lower East Side that concept is being taken one step further by the LowLine -- if built, it will be the world's first underground park.

Located in a one-acre former tram terminal abandoned since 1948, when the service was discontinued, it would rely on "solar collection dishes" above ground to channel light beneath.

"The novelty value is going to wear off," asserts Lindner. But, he insists, "the general trend of adaptive reuse will continue."

"The pressure on cities, particularly when it comes to creating green space, is so intense that we have to continue to adapt what we've got. We can't just keep expanding."

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519magazine · 6 years ago

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Miracle on 34th Street is a Message Conveyed with Warmth - Theatre Sarnia Review

The first look at the set piece used for the opening scene of Miracle on 34th Street by Theatre Sarnia at the Imperial Theatre last Friday (Nov. 23) established clearly that the piece was set in the 1940’s or possibly, the late 1930’s. If that wasn’t enough, the wardrobe, hair styles, and props (signs and other decor) have unmistakeable stylings that define the era. That’s a nod to the work of many people. Brian Austin Jr., Andrea Matthews and Bryanne Wood designed the sets while Cindy Dubois and Linda McLeish added the props. Drew Caldwell, with assistance from Lynn and Mary Cogswell, added finishing touches with the decor. Wardrobe head Anthony Fracalanza and his team crafted the characters’ costumes while Makeup artists Zoe Little and Sydney Matthews dressed up their features. Barb St. Pierre headed a large group whose job it was to supply hair styles (or wigs) that fit the period. Andrea Matthews and her stage management team kept the changes flowing smoothly and the work by the ensembles was strong. The lighting, designed by Jennifer Caddock, was always slightly on the dark side, creating a sense of the production being done in black and white even though everything the audience saw was in full colour. It was like looking at an old film. Hats should be off to everyone who was involved in creating that accomplishment. Two people whose work really shone in this production were newcomers. Erin Thomas seemed completely at ease in the part of ‘Dr. Pierce’. Her dialogue flowed effortlessly and her timing was excellent. Dallas Babb, who was just cutting her teeth on the stage as well, stole every scene she was part of. As the venomous (and pathologically disturbed booby) ‘Dr. Sawyer’ she was called on to be over the top and she did it with panache. It’s not often scenery gets chewed like that (and even less frequently that it works out so well) but she was a delight. Hopefully this is just the beginning of things to come from this pair. Shauna Nelles depicted ‘Doris Walker’ as a woman whose submerged warmth flowered beautifully. The same was true of the passionate conviction within Craig Matthews portrayal of ‘Fred Gayley’. Watching that character come into his own was pure pleasure. Carly Allen allowed ’Shellhammer’ to serve as a foil for other characters to play off of. Ralph D’Allesandro and Jay Peckham balanced each other nicely as the flamboyant ‘Halloran’ and the more conservative ‘Judge Harper’. Brittany Jenkins was in great form as ‘Mara’, the prosecutor stuck in the unenviable position of trying to throw Santa in the booby hatch. She came through fabulously well when her mic shorted out. There was no panic, just one line that was inaudible before she raised her voice to project without seeming to yell. Much of the warmth of the characters was generated by the children and from the players in the smaller roles. Joe Agocs showed a ‘Macy’ who was astute in business but not blind to the message of the season. He and Ron Pask had fun together when ‘Macy’ and ‘Bloomingdale’ (sort of) worked together. Olivia Moscone and Ava Droulliard provided genuinely touching moments as ’Susan Walker’ and ‘Janet Mara’, the children caught up in the events. David Engleson was nicely understated as ‘Kris Kringle’. Initially, almost too benevolent to be true, his frustration at the lack of willingness in others to believe who he was crafted the persona of a very real man who demonstrates that living by kindness and seeing hope where little seems to exist is a choice. That’s the message of this story and it’s one that Director Jane Janes and her team conveyed well. She got strong performances from her people and used them to tell the story with the background serving as a frame for the events. There were a few blips in the sound, but those happen at times and will undoubtedly be corrected. It was the first night of what’s going to be a good run. The standing ovation at the finish attests to that. The production runs through to Dec. 1. Read the full article

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mariacedano-blog-blog · 7 years ago

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Beautiful Homes of Instagram Our “Beautiful Homes of Instagram” is going all the way to Australia today! I can’t tell you enough how much I love that country! I have many amazing readers from there and have even had some clients from Australia and because of that, this new “BHI” feels extra special for me. Sharing Ali’s, from @urban_farmhouse_build, stunning newly built home will be a treat for all of us! Ali and I have been talking about this feature for some time now. You guys have no idea how hard she worked to have her house ready. She really wanted the pictures to be good and she did all she could to make the home look amazing. I honestly can’t thank her enough. The feature couldn’t get any better, Ali! As you will see, the soothing color palette makes Ali’s entire home feel calm, serene and stress-free and who wouldn’t love to live in a place that has this kind of feeling? Read on to know more about this talented homeowner and her inspiring home. “My name is Ali and I was so delighted when Luciane invited me to share our home with you on Home Bunch. I have always loved interior design and architecture, and have so enjoyed the creative process of designing and building our family home. We live in a small town in the Southern Highlands (1.5 hour drive south of Sydney, Australia) with our 3 children. We had been lucky enough to have the opportunity to build our last house, which we loved, but it was a large country block further out of town, and we found that the long trek from home to school was wearing thin. We dreamed of finding land closer to town, but that still had a rural feel and open vistas that we had so enjoyed in our last home. We finally found what we were looking for, but there were a couple of hurdles to overcome – it was more land than we wanted to look after, and it was prone to flooding. Two years later, after a subdivision and endless earthworks, we could finally start building our home. I often think what on earth we did for inspiration before the internet. Sites like Pinterest, Houzz and Home Bunch where a great source for ideas, and my husband John and I luckily shared the same vision and kept saving the same pictures – white board and batten modern farmhouses. Whilst a common feature in the American and New Zealand houses we loved, board and batten is not often used as a building material in Australia and we were keen to use something a little different. Standing seam roofs were also a regular feature in our “dream home” pictures, and an overall aesthetic that was a clean, contemporary interpretation of classic farmhouse style. Luckily we found an architect who was great at translating our dreams into affordable reality and we finally started building about 2 years ago. The build, although slower than we hoped, went very smoothly and we moved in a little over a year ago. The process of decorating has been a slow one, and is still not finished! We had some favourite pieces of furniture from our old house, but much of it didn’t fit in size or style, or had not survived the young children stage. Finding the time to source the finishing touches remains a challenge, but I’m trying to be patient! It’s such a lovely house to live in, bright, cozy and comfortable, and we are so enjoying just being here. The garden is also very much a work in progress. We planted a “stage one” garden when we moved in so as to have some instant grass for the kids (and pets!), but plan to expand on it with more beds and trees in the coming months. A small guest/pool house is also in the pipeline for the beginning of next year. John and I have so enjoyed the process of building our home that since finishing it last year, we have joined forces in a commercial venture, subdividing another block of land and building 3 spec homes. They are in a similar “modern country” style and have been a wonderful opportunity to use many of the ideas and finishes that we didn’t get a chance to use in our house. They were well received and sold quickly, so being the gluttons for punishment that we clearly are, we have recently purchased a new block of land in town and look forward to next year’s project of building two more cottages (past project photos are on Instagram @copelanddevelopments). I find that my style is constantly evolving, so it’s very rewarding having the opportunity to start from scratch and design something new each time. When I’m not designing houses I love to paint, and I’m also involved in local theatre – acting, directing and set designing. It’s taken me until my 40s to realise that as long as I’m doing something creative, I’m happy!” Beautiful Homes of Instagram White Modern Farmhouse Black Front Door Paint Color: Dulux Domino. Paving is flamed granite. Front door lanterns from Beacon Lighting – Southhampton Large Wall Bracket. Farmhouse Garage Paint colour is Dulux “White Verdict” Half Strength. Barn lighting from Barnlight Electric. Kitchen Having had a white kitchen in our last 2 houses, I was keen to do something different. I had always loved Martha Stewart’s Bedford Grey kitchen, but as it is unavailable in Australia, went through endless paint samples trying to find a similar shade of “greige”. We used Dulux “Narrow Neck” in Double strength. Countertop The countertops are 40mm honed Carrara marble. Breakfast Nook This stunning grey kitchen opens to a bright breakfast nook with banquette. Isn’t it dreamy? Faucet & Backsplash Tapware is Perrin & Rowe “Io” in satin nickel from The English Tapware Company. Similar backsplash tile can be found here. Lighting Lights are the Eldridge Pendant from Ballard Designs. Flooring & Hardware The flooring is engineered oak in the colour “Cannes” from Preferences Flooring – similar can be found here. Handles and pull are the “Duluth” range in satin nickel from Restoration Hardware. Open Feel The kitchen opens to family room with board and batten fireplace and vaulted tongue and groove ceiling. This is just stunning! Layout A peninsula divides the kitchen from the dining area. Dining Room Dining room light is the Large Rectangular Linen Shade Pendant from Restoration Hardware in “Sand”. Living Room We love the high raked ceiling in this space and the open floor plan, which helps the room feel bright and spacious. The barn doors are a favourite feature and were custom made for us by the builder. Wall lights above oak shelving are Boston Library lights in antique nickel from Circa Lighting. Fireplace is faced with Buxeuil Limestone. Paint Color Paint colour is Dulux “Snowy Mountains” Half Strength. Linen sofas are from Molmic Sofas. Pillows Pillows from Boho Pillow and Walter G. Lounge Room We call this our “night room” as it is were John and I retreat to after the kids are in bed. I wanted to make it more intimate and cozy than the living room by using timber paneling and textured wallpaper. The furniture is all from our old house which we have had some time. I’m hoping to eventually update some of the pieces, but in the meantime, it’s a very comfortable place to curl up and watch TV. Similar coffee table can be found here. Decor Wallpaper is Thibaut Coastal Sisal in “Aqua”. Paintwork is Dulux “Snowy Mountains” Half Strength. Wood weave blinds are the “le Blinde” range from Peter Meyer. Linen curtains from Raffles Textiles. Sisal carpet from Natural Floor Coverings. Coffee Table Decor I love how Ali decorated her tray. Powder Room I wanted to do something whimsical and fun in the powder room and so took the opportunity to use one of my favourite wallpapers, the “Woods” design by Cole & Son. Similar round mirror can be found here. Flooring In keeping with the monochrome palate, I used a small gloss white penny round tiles on the floor and a black and nickel “Bistro” wall sconce from Restoration Hardware. Snug This is what we call the kids hang out space. I recently purchased these gorgeous pillows from Boho Pillow, which has really made the space. I’m really hoping they look after them! Coffee table from Pottery Barn – no longer available. Concrete top coffee tables can be found here & here. Grey Sectional Sofa from Sofa Studio. Paint colour is Dulux “Pukaki” half strength. Rug from Temple and Webster. Tray Tray from West Elm. Kids Bathroom This stunning bathroom features a large curbless walk-in shower with freestanding bath. This is perfect to bathe the kids and not have to worry with the splashes! Feature wall is Carrara Marble subway tiles. Vanity Cabinetry is painted Dulux “Snowy Mountains” Half Strength, bench top is Caesarstone “Fresh Concrete”. Cabinet pulls are the “Aubrey Pull” from Restoration Hardware. Barn light from Barnlight Electric. Similar round mirror can be found here. Similar wall mount bathroom faucet can be found here. Master Bedroom My favourite colours are all blue/green greys and I knew I wanted to paint our bedroom these tones as I find them so restful. The bedroom gets lots of sunshine and with it’s wood paneling and garden views it is a wonderful sanctuary. Paint is Dulux “Pukaki” half strength. Quilt Linen quilt from Pottery Barn. Nightstand Decor Bedside lamps from Bloomingdales Lighting. Beads from McGee & Co. Bedside tables are from Coco Republic. Pillows Pillows from Walter-G Textiles. Dresser Chest of drawers is from Coco Republic. Similar mirror can be found here. Ensuite The blue/green of the bedroom is carried through in the ensuite with the subway tiles in the shower and custom cabinetry in the ensuite. Details The floor tiles are Carrara marble hex. Joinery paint colour is Dulux “Narrow Neck”. Polished nickel tapware from Astra Walker. Wall lights from Emac & Lawton. Polished nickel cabinet Pulls from Mother of Pearl & Sons. Countertop Countertop is Caesarstone “Sleek Concrete”. Roof & Windows Roofing is Lysaght “Trimdek” in “Basalt”. Windows are cedar painted same colour as exterior – Dulux “White Verdict” Half Strength. Interiors & Photos: Ali from “@urban_farmhouse_build“. Make sure to follow Ali from @urban_farmhouse_build on Instagram to see more photos of her beautiful home! See more “Beautiful Homes of Instagram”: @SweetShadyLane: Beautiful Homes of Instagram. @MyGeorgiaHouse: Beautiful Homes of Instagram. @my100yearoldhome: Beautiful Homes of Instagram. Click here to see all “Beautiful Homes of Instagram”. Posts of the Week New Southern Living Showcase Home. New Construction Modern Farmhouse Design Ideas. Interior Design Ideas: New Interior Design Ideas. Trending on Pinterest: Hamptons-Inspired Home with Coastal Colors. Trending on Home Bunch: Open-Concept Family Home Design Ideas. You can follow my pins here: Pinterest/HomeBunch See more Inspiring Interior Design Ideas in my Archives. Popular Paint Color Posts: The Best Benjamin Moore Paint Colors 2016 Paint Color Ideas for your Home Interior Paint Color and Color Palette Pictures Interior Paint Color and Color Palette Ideas Inspiring Interior Paint Color Ideas Interior Paint Color and Color Palette New 2015 Paint Color Ideas Interior Paint Color Ideas Interior Design Ideas: Paint Color Interior Ideas: Paint Color More Paint Color Ideas What a great gift it is to start a brand new week, isn’t it? I feel so Blessed because I could finally rest a little during this weekend. I had a very bad cold last week and this forced me to take a break from everything, which made me realize how necessary it is to slow down a little and enjoy the small things – such as staying in bed and see the clouds moving from your window. When was the last time you let the time go by without rushing? And at the end, why are we rushing so much? What is this race all about? I am learning that I need to stop accepting external demands. I will do more of what’s important to myself. There’s nothing wrong on reinforcing on some boundaries from time-to-time, you know? I am starting this week worrying less and living more and I hope you all can come along with me… Have a Blessed week, my friends! with Love, Luciane from HomeBunch.com Interior Design Services within Your Budget Come Follow me on Come Follow me on Get Home Bunch Posts Via Email Contact Luciane “For your shopping convenience, this post might contain links to retailers where you can purchase the products (or similar) featured. I make a small commission if you use these links to make your purchase so thank you for your support!”

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