Comments on: High Times http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2009/06/22/high-times/ Exploring urban life through word and photography Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:47:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christopher Szabla http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2009/06/22/high-times/comment-page-1/#comment-291846 Christopher Szabla Sat, 27 Jun 2009 07:11:55 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/?p=4638#comment-291846 There are multiple access points (theoretically), but the "Friends of the High Line" have posted guards to control them (they wear black t-shirts, like bouncers). When the park "reaches capacity," they will "ask" you to only enter from the Gansevoort side (where the NYPD have thoughtfully set up barriers to corral the inevitable lines). Presumably there will be at least one other main entrance when the park is extended to its full length, up to near 30th St. As for the Viaduc des Arts - the High Line is much wider - and wide open to the city. When I walked the Viaduc, I felt like there was a strange amount of effort made to cancel out the surrounding neighborhoods with tall shrubs. And despite the fact that the Viaduc shelters select stores in its arches (and the High Line is ostensibly closed to commerce), most of the blocks around the entrance and exits to the High Line are teeming with shops, cafes, and galleries (or slated to be). The streets around the Viaduc, meanwhile, are dead quiet, despite its proximity to the busy Place de la Bastille. I ought to say, though, that the mature Viaduc conveyed an elegance that the High Line lacks; all the effort that went into its design (and the design of its neighbors) has come off a bit gimmicky. There are multiple access points (theoretically), but the “Friends of the High Line” have posted guards to control them (they wear black t-shirts, like bouncers). When the park “reaches capacity,” they will “ask” you to only enter from the Gansevoort side (where the NYPD have thoughtfully set up barriers to corral the inevitable lines).

Presumably there will be at least one other main entrance when the park is extended to its full length, up to near 30th St.

As for the Viaduc des Arts – the High Line is much wider – and wide open to the city. When I walked the Viaduc, I felt like there was a strange amount of effort made to cancel out the surrounding neighborhoods with tall shrubs.

And despite the fact that the Viaduc shelters select stores in its arches (and the High Line is ostensibly closed to commerce), most of the blocks around the entrance and exits to the High Line are teeming with shops, cafes, and galleries (or slated to be). The streets around the Viaduc, meanwhile, are dead quiet, despite its proximity to the busy Place de la Bastille.

I ought to say, though, that the mature Viaduc conveyed an elegance that the High Line lacks; all the effort that went into its design (and the design of its neighbors) has come off a bit gimmicky.

]]> By: Christopher DeWolf http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/2009/06/22/high-times/comment-page-1/#comment-291832 Christopher DeWolf Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:16:20 +0000 http://www.urbanphoto.net/blog/?p=4638#comment-291832 Only one entrance? Really? That alone seems to lend credence to what you're saying. How would you compare it to the Viaduc des Arts in Paris? Only one entrance? Really? That alone seems to lend credence to what you’re saying.

How would you compare it to the Viaduc des Arts in Paris?

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