CASE STUDY ON THE HIGH LINE- reclaiming abandoned railway structures in an attempt to revitalize neighborhood

1. The High Line transforms the concept of urban wilderness from one of abandonment to one of environmental, social and economic impact.
2. Example of an urban landscape
3. It brings wildlife and plant life to an otherwise industrial area mostly covered in cement and asphalt.
4. The High Line will be lifted 29 feet above the street, linking 22 blocks, connecting three neighborhoods, even passing through the interiors of
buildings.”1 The park stretches more than a mile up Manhattan’s West Side from the Meatpacking District through the Hudson Yards and Hell’s
Kitchen neighborhoods.
5. convergence of nature and industry
6. preservation and restoration of the art deco railings and the preservation of the historic railroad tracks and steel beams
7. the park is an oasis for recreation and interaction between community members.
8. Access points are durational experiences designed to prolong the transition from the frenetic pace of the city streets to the slow, otherworldly
landscape of the High Line.
9. oasis for recreation and interaction
10. They introduced public squares, observations spaces, seating areas, paths, sunbathing decks, botanical gardens
Construction
1. Spanning 1.45 miles( 21km) along the Lower West Side of Manhattan.
2. The high line was originally constructed in the 1930 s as part of the new york central railroad.
3. Conversion of industrial trestle of steel and concrete into a green roof that twists and turns its way through the city.
4. The transformation of the park only allowed for a few feet of soil above the concrete and waterproofing layer installed over the existing deck.
Platipus Tree Anchoring Systems, including concrete deadman sleepers and engineered soil, were used to stabilize the trees over the green roof.
Rendering of the sundeck, which features a wading pool. The Southern-most entrance to the High Line at
Located between 14th and 15th streets. Gansevoort Street.
 User experience
Access points
User friendly design
Mobility
Pedestrian/ vehicular design

Mcguire, K.L., Payne, S.G., Palmer, M.I., Gillikin, C.M., Keefe, D., Kim, S.J., Gedallovich, S.M., Discenza, J., Rangamannar, R., Koshner, J.A. And
massmann, A.L., 2013. Digging the new york city skyline: soil fungal communities in green roofs and city parks. Plos one, 8(3), p.E58020.

https://www.platipus-anchors.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Case-Study-High-Line-NY-031017.pdf

https://www.catalystreview.net/the-highline/

https://ipekakin.wordpress.com/portfolio/
TOWER HAMLETS INCLUSIVE DESIGN APPROACH - PUBLIC REALM

Area : 19.76 sqkm

Population : 3.2 lakhs
Tower Hamlets includes one of the highest ethnic minority populations in the capital and has an established British Bangladeshis
business and residential community.

Aim for an inclusive design

Inclusive Design means designing in a way that aims to remove the barriers that create undue effort and separation. It enables
everyone to participate equally, confidently and independently in everyday activities. As pedestrians our streets we use as the
public space. Design to be inclusive, future potential users as well there needs should be taken into consideration.

Existing scenario
Statically the population here is majorly young. And the needs are often overlooked.
The Department of Health estimates that the numbers of older people registered blind or partially-sighted will rise from 798,000
to 1,178,000 between 2008 to 2025, an increase of 50%. 14% of the population have mobility issues

Poorly located dropped kerbs and disabled parking provision are common problems that prevent people accessing public space

Planning for London

Planning for Tower Hamlets

Analysis
1.Promoting sustainable transport
 Should have access to high quality transport facilities and primarily should focus upon pedestrian and cycle movements.
 Creation of safe and secure layouts which minimize conflicts between traffic and cyclists or pedestrians.
 consider the needs of people with disabilities by all modes of transport.
2.Promoting healthy communities
The planning system can play an important role in facilitating social interaction and creating healthy, inclusive communities.
Safe and accessible developments, containing clear and legible pedestrian routes, and high quality public space, encourage the
active and continual use of public areas.
KEY Inclusive Design Considerations- to enhance user experience
Way finding
• Planting can assist way finding through sound and scent and colour.
• Appropriate signage located at key decision making points.

Barriers
• Municipal waste and A boards are a hazard for the visually impaired people who are unable to predict the obstruction and may walk into them.
They should be removed or located out of walking routes.
• Bollards are considered as barriers and should be used circumspectly, similar to the case of pavement parking.

Street furniture
• Seating requirements vary for different users , 50m is the max distance for someone with mobility Impairment can travel without rest.
• Street lighting, security cameras and signage should possibly be mounted on buildings, effectively removing street clutter and
removing a potential barrier for the visually impaired.
• Street planting are important for wellbeing
• Water and art features should be placed out of the main walking route.

Surface design/Footway design

• Inconsistency of materials should be avoided. Joints are more likely to fail
• Paths for pedistrians should be smooth( while crossing vehicle path ) and small sets or cobbled paving should be avoided.
• Kerb stone: steep gradients are not safe for elderly and mobility impaired. New footways with excessive gradient, camber or crossfall are a barrier
for many including elderly who may have gait problems.
• Raised tables (crossing at at same level as pavement) can assist in reducing vehicle speeds and are preferable to dropped kerbs were site
constraints would result in excessive gradients.
• Use bevelled kerbs instead of crossovers. Never create a crossover where it narrows the level portion of the footway below minimum
recommended widths.
• Junction radii should be tight around development, sweeping kerbs allow vehicles to negotiate junctions at speed.

Historic surfaces
• The retention of historic surfaces may be required for conservation reason. Substantial improvements can be made by analyzing,
how people navigate the site introducing smooth materials were people want to walk and placing heritage material elsewhere.
Pointing and surface maintenance can also improve matters.

Shared Space
• Ideally suited to low volume traffic areas
• Difficult for people with sensory impairments to navigate and small children who are unable to judge traffic speed.
Facilities
Parking
• Taxi drop off should be provided and the amount reflect expected need to prevent pavement parking.
• Provision of public toilets at a close and accessible proximity.

Play areas
• Enclosure is important
• logical, safe and easy to access for all.
• Designed such a way that improves visibility into and across the sites.
• Consideration for a mix of ground-level opportunities should be integrated with elevated opportunities accessible by a ramp or transfer platform.
• planting kerb edges, is this always necessary

Cycling track
• Cycling and walking are not always compatible, people with sensory impairments and small children and the elderly may not be aware of cyclists
who can be travelling silently at speed.
• Cycling should be accommodated on the carriageway
• Cycle parking should be located such that it is out of pedestrian walking route – including when it has bikes parked.
• Bonded gravel surfaces give some audible warning, were as completely smooth materials do not.

Applicability in Indian context- community centre

 space for entrepreneurship.
 Accessibility with little bit of mobility
 Parking areas close to the interesting points and properly indicated.
 Public transport must be at a very close proximity to decrease distance in foot
 Public transport and public building must be accessible to all
 Things must be at a close proximity, otherwise it creates lots and lots of traffic
 To make more pedestrian friendly so that people use less own vehicles to travel and more public vehicles or the utilities should
be at a close proximity.
 More traffic impedes social interactions and street activities. People tend to walk and cycle less when traffic is high.
 Raised “Table-top” Crossing- proposal at intersection