In the heart of Manhattan, the High Line is an example of how visionary design can transform urban spaces into dynamic public environments. Initially constructed in the 1930s as an elevated freight rail line, the High Line once carried goods through the bustling Meatpacking District and into the city’s heart. By the 1980s, however, the rail line had fallen into disuse, leaving behind an industrial relic consumed by nature. This transformation was led by the architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with landscape architect James Corner Field Operations and planting designer Piet Oudolf, who together reimagined the abandoned structure as a 1.5-mile-long public park, blending architecture, urban design, and natural biodiversity.
The High Line Technical Information
- Architects1-9: Diller Scofidio + Renfro
- Landscape Design: James Corner Field Operations & Piet Oudolf
- Location: New York, United States
- Topics: Public Space
- Area: 28,800 m2 | 310,000 Sq. Ft.
- Project Year: 2000 – 2019
- Photographs: Courtesy of Diller Scofidio + Renfro © Iwan Baan, © Matthew Monteith, © Steven Severinghaus, © Julien Lanoo
Through a strategy of agri–tecture —part agriculture, part architecture— the High Line surface is digitized into discrete units of paving and planting which are assembled along the 1.5 miles into a variety of gradients from 100% paving to 100% soft, richly vegetated biotopes.
– Diller Scofidio + Renfro Architects
The High Line Photographs
Design Strategy: Agri-Tecture and Microclimates
The High Line’s design is a groundbreaking strategy that fuses nature with the built environment, creating an uninterrupted flow between hardscaping and softscaping. This is achieved through a concept the designers call “agri-tecture”—part architecture, part agriculture. The park’s surface is divided into discrete paving and planting units, assembled into various gradients, ranging from 100% concrete paving to 100% densely vegetated biotopes.
The paving system, composed of precast concrete planks with open joints, encourages the emergence of wild grasses and other plants that poke through the cracks, reminiscent of the self-seeding growth that once overtook the abandoned rail line. The paving units are designed with tapered ends that seem to blend seamlessly into planting beds, creating a “pathless” landscape. This design encourages visitors to meander through the park in unscripted ways, fostering an organic interaction with the space.
Equally important is the recreation of urban microclimates throughout the park, where visitors encounter distinct environments that range from sunny and exposed areas to shaded, sheltered corners. Piet Oudolf’s planting design plays a critical role here, featuring species that flourish in these varied conditions. The design seamlessly integrates these microclimates, offering a nuanced experience that mirrors the natural succession of plant life in postindustrial landscapes. This blending of natural and architectural elements results in a park that feels as though it has always belonged to the urban fabric, rather than being imposed upon it.
Civic Impact: A Catalyst for Urban Development
From its inception, the High Line was more than just a park—it was envisioned as a driver of economic and social revitalization. The city of New York’s $115 million investment in the park has paid off many times over, with the High Line stimulating over $5 billion in urban development. The project has created 12,000 new jobs and revitalized an entire section of Manhattan, from the Meatpacking District to the Hudson Rail Yards.
Once imagined as a hyper-local project, the High Line has since become a global phenomenon, attracting over 8 million visitors a year. Its success has inspired similar projects in cities around the world, from Paris to Sydney, where outdated or unused infrastructure has been reimagined as public green spaces. The High Line’s viral influence demonstrates that even in the densest urban environments, nature can reclaim a place, and obsolete infrastructure can be transformed into a space for community and interaction.
The economic and social impact of the High Line cannot be overstated. It has drawn high-end residential and commercial developments along its edges, catalyzing urban regeneration in the West Chelsea area. At the same time, it has provided a green refuge in the city, creating a balance between development and nature, and offering a model for how cities can rethink their public spaces.
Post-Occupancy Reflection: From Public Park to Iconic Space
Since its opening in phases from 2009 to 2019, the High Line has quickly cemented itself as a cultural and architectural icon. Each section, from Gansevoort Street to the Spur at 30th Street, offers distinct experiences, allowing visitors to engage with the city in new and unexpected ways. The park’s design encourages unscripted movement—visitors are free to explore, pause, and take in the views, often discovering public art installations or intimate seating areas nestled within the wild, cultivated landscapes.
The park’s phased development has allowed the project to evolve with the surrounding urban environment. With each new segment, the park has expanded its role in the city, becoming a tourist destination and a beloved local space. Public art and cultural programming are integral to its identity, transforming the park into a vibrant cultural corridor that fosters community and creativity.
More than just a park, the High Line has become a symbol of adaptive reuse and sustainability. Its design preserves the memory of its industrial past while embracing the future, offering a blueprint for other cities seeking to breathe new life into their obsolete infrastructure. The park’s success lies in its ability to accommodate both the wild and the cultivated, the intimate and the social—creating a unique space that resonates locally and globally.
The High Line Plans
The High Line Image Gallery
About Diller Scofidio + Renfro
Diller Scofidio + Renfro (DS+R) is an interdisciplinary design studio founded in 1981, known for its work at the intersection of architecture, urban design, installation art, and multimedia performance. Led by partners Elizabeth Diller, Ricardo Scofidio, Charles Renfro, and Benjamin Gilmartin, the firm has completed iconic cultural and civic projects, including the MOMA Renovation in New York and The Broad in Los Angeles. DS+R’s innovative approach has earned them recognition for rethinking the role of institutions and cities, blending technology, performance, and design in transformative ways.
Notes & Additional Credits
- Partners: Elizabeth Diller, Ricardo Scofidio, Charles Renfro, and Benjamin Gilmartin
- Project Director: Matthew Johnson
- Project Leaders: Tobias Hegemann, Miles Nelligan, Ben Smoot
- Designers: Trevor Lamphier, Benjamin Gilmartin, Chiara Baccarini, Robert Condon, Hayley Eber, Gaspar Libedinsky, Jeremy Linzee, David Newton, Daniel Sakai, Don Shillingburg, Flavio Stigliano, Brian Tabolt, Dustin Tobias, Anthony Saby, Ayat Fadaifard, Alex Knezo, Andrew Cornelis
- Landscape Architecture and Urban Design: James Corner Field Operations
- Structural and MEP Engineering: BuroHappold
- Structural Engineering and Historic Preservation: Robert Silman Associates
- Lighting Design: L’Observatoire International
- Signage: Pentagram
