For urbanites living a life between two points—from home to office, from involution to lying flat—where can people find a moment of respite in the dense concrete jungle of the city? A private haven for relaxation?
During the renovation gap period, Sony Group's Tokyo headquarters transformed its original building into Sony Park, creating a small oasis for the bustling city; New York's Central Park is renowned as the “city's backyard,” but that is far from enough—this time, the boundaries of urban public space are being pushed further, taking you beyond the continental limits of the city.
British architect Thomas Heatherwick(Thomas Heatherwick)and his studio used 132 concrete pillars to build an artificial island park covering approximately 9,712 square meters(2.4 acres)on New York's Hudson River: Little Island(Little Island), embracing everyone seeking to “escape” urban life.
This “paradise” away from New York City was created by Heatherwick Studio, engineering firm Arup(Arup), and New York landscape design team MNLA, aiming to provide more park spaces for citizens within the city. Little Island is located near the Chelsea neighborhood(Chelsea)on Manhattan's West Side, accessible via two bridge paths. The island features over 540 meters of winding trails, passing through different areas such as a theater and a plaza.
The Little Island project is part of the Hudson River Park renewal initiative, originally known as Pier 55. Initially, the plan was simply to build a pavilion on the pier, but Heatherwick Studio conceived a more innovative idea: an island detached from the mainland and elevated above the river.
The design of Little Island was inspired by Heatherwick's observation of Pier 54, where survivors of the 1912 Titanic disaster disembarked. Now abandoned and unused, only a cluster of piles* remains above the water. The pier's structure enabled Heatherwick's vision, with 350-ton concrete pillars driven 61 meters into the riverbed's rock layer, supporting a haven on the Hudson River.
*The structure of a high-pile pier includes piles driven into the riverbed and a planar section above water, the latter typically featuring types such as beam-slab, flat-slab without beams, frame, and bearing-platform configurations.
Insights from pier structures and civil engineering were crucial for Little Island's construction and future operation under extreme river conditions. After Hurricane Sandy, the design team shortened the island's distance from the mainland and reinforced its initial structural design, controlling water levels to stay well below the island and reducing the risk of flooding.
What sets Little Island apart is that typical piers are flat, while Little Island's concrete pillars vary in height, creating an undulating terrain. Heatherwick aimed to evoke a sense of escape from Manhattan through the island's elevated topography. Although it is an “escape from Manhattan,” being in a position to observe the city from afar actually strengthens people's emotional connection to New York. Similarly, some people only deeply miss their hometown when studying or working abroad.
The tops of the concrete pillars are specially shaped like flowers with openings 6 meters wide, designed not only to hold the park's soil but also to symbolize openness and gathering for citizens. Due to Little Island's undulating terrain, diverse planting landscapes can be tailored to the conditions. Currently, nearly 400 plant species and about 100 evergreen trees are planted, creating lush greenery and verdant ground cover. Strolling through the park to enjoy different flowers and trees across the seasons—what a delight. These plants also help shield pedestrians walking in Hudson River Park from the wind.
The island features three open spaces, ranked by capacity: a small stage accommodating 200 people, a circular amphitheater seating 700 spectators, and a central plaza holding 3,500 people. Notably, all backstage facilities required for performances are located off the island and can be transported via bridge paths when needed, thus preserving the island's ecological environment and landscape.
BY TOPYS
