Concrete Jungle

“If you don’t get out of the box you’ve been raised in, you won’t understand how much bigger the world is.”

Ever since I bought my own flight for the first time during college, traveling has sparked in me a natural curiosity about the world. I love to observe and learn how other people live.

My vacations never involve lounging on a beach. For me, time off means taking a break from my everyday to experience something new. You can find me hopping around to new destinations around the world, ready to absorb the energy each place offers. However, one city I find myself consistently returning to is New York. Being one of the few truly walkable cities in America, the city that never sleeps is always bursting with life, culture, and an ever-changing landscape.

Kind of like how Target Lady drives to Florida every month just to get a quick look at Florida, I love returning to New York to see what’s new. There is always something new to discover, something to admire, something to watch, and so many things to taste.

New York City’s architecture is something else. Because Manhattan has so much history, but also needs to modernize and reinvent to fit the needs of its growing population, the architectural landscape is a lively mix of structures that exemplify the styles of their eras.

As much as I love the old (picturesque Central Park, exquisite cathedrals, quaint brownstones, SoHo cast-iron facades), I’m incredibly intrigued by the new, some of which include The Shed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Calatrava’s Oculus, Bjarke Ingels’ VIA 57 West, the High Line, Heatherwick’s Vessel, and my new favorite public space, Little Island at Pier 55.

These copper handrails are beautiful but like 100-degrees on a hot summer day.

Little Island is a new island park located at Pier 55 right off the Chelsea neighborhood. Designed by Heatherwick Studio and Arup, the artificial island is supported by 132 unique structures (called “tulips”) suspended above the water which sit on concrete pilings that extend into the riverbed. The structure pays homage to the exposed piles of the old pier, on which survivors of the Titanic disembarked over a century ago. Even though it’s manmade, Little Island mimics the hilly undulating topography of a natural park, landscaped with trees, benches, and meandering paths.

A huge fan of public parks, I was impressed by this whimsical urban oasis that completely removes you from your urban surroundings. Similar to the High Line (my favorite New York destination), Little Island allows you to escape the bustle of the concrete jungle and escape into nature almost instantly. The raised park exaggerates the separation from the mainland, with skyline views that make you feel like you’re watching New York from afar. Best of all, the structure itself is also a sight to behold. Hardly a fan of concrete structures, I actually really loved the organic-inspired curvature of these concrete piles, and the elevated height that showcases the feat of engineering and construction. A little Neo-futurist, a little Googie, and a lot of fun.

What an amazing little discovery to end my short visit to New York. Can’t wait to come back on a day where the sun doesn’t want to literally melt me…

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