Design in focus. The high line, New York City

We recently visited New York City and like most garden lovers who do, we fell in love with the High Line. It is arguably one of New York’s most iconic attractions. The High Line is a public landscaped space built on top of old train tracks, and stretches for just over two kilometres on Manhattan’s West Side.

Its design was a collaboration between James Corner Field Operations (Project Lead), Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and Piet Oudolf. The construction of the park began in 2006, and it opened in stages from 2009 after years of planning and involvement from the community.

What draws in visitors the most is the impressive collection of horticulture it displays. The landscape design was largely inspired by the plants that grew in the 25 year period when the trains stopped running. All of these plants were found to be drought tolerant, low maintenance and sustainable, which gave the planners a rough idea of what suited the environment.

With over 200 species of plants, including meadow planting, ornamental grasses, shrubs, and many American Native plants, a walk down the walkway offers plenty of variety to those who frequent the site. If you ever find yourself in New York, a visit to the High Line is a must. The urban park is truly inspiring and a great example of seamless integration between nature and the city.