The High Line Museum
The new High Line Museum is located in New York City, just in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. The purpose was a pretext for two major interventions. On one hand, it connects with the existing High Line and creates a grand entrance from it. On the other, its roof establishes a new urban square that both denote the museum and enables the celebration of public space, with a sky roof that overlooks the Manhattan.
Through the use of glazed panels, the museum opens up to the vast landscape and initiates a dialogue between the works of art and the city, continued on the high line. The first level futures a cafe with an additional outdoor dining area is equipped to host a full-service restaurant as well as educational programs, providing a flexible meeting space across the plaza from the primary museum building. The second level includes two exhibition areas (permanent and temporary), complemented by public areas and an auditorium to support learning activities. Public spaces in the interior, which are visible from the exterior, allow natural light through large glass panels and creates warm luminous materiality.
Combined with the “hidden” volume and the special and unique characteristics of the surrounding landscape, the roof is designed as a viewing platform for the city, providing people with the opportunity to see the cultural relics and heritage sites from a distance. The museum includes a large, divisible exhibition hall with a daylight atmosphere and a smaller, more intimate graphics art gallery.
The industrial character of the interior is characterized by rough, exposed concrete walls and visible technical installations that emphasize the linear flow of space. The oak furnishings and panels, specially designed for space, form an exciting contrast to the cool feel of the concrete, referencing the material of old railway sleepers.
The organic-looking tower functions as a radiant signal and at the same time serves as a museum. It provides a view into the narrow high line, with a large opening, offering an open view onto the museum. The linear and seemingly infinite vista of railway tracks is set spatially in the scene here. In the tower, the horizontal axis is reflected in the vertical: the completely empty space, open at the top, direct the visitor’s gaze upwards.
Sustainability Narrative
The High Line Museum is in New York City, just in the heart of Midtown Manhattan. One of the pivotal futures of this construction is the carbon footprint and the sustainability of it. The positioning of the building axis east-west makes the daylight and shading strategy very effective and minimizes the excessive solar heat and glare. To accommodate the thermal comfort, the radiant system is used for both heating and cooling which is more efficient than a forced-air system. Radiant systems also eliminate drafts and improve air quality with a lower energy profile.
In addition, high-quality air filtration systems are used to eliminate airborne contaminants and provides dedicated outdoor air to keep indoor carbon dioxide to a minimum. The building has multiple operable windows and thermostats in order to perceive a sense of control and happiness.
The exterior envelope of the building speaks to the local community and best described as "authentic". Creating authenticity and referring to cultural meaningful ideas makes people value the experience. It also helps to root the project in the community celebrating a unique sense of place.
The building is connecting to nature from the existing high line and it adds a biophilic design that creates an authentic extension of it. Due to high traffic and high density, the Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) is a crucial aspect. The NRC rating of the finishes is determined by both: the amount of noise and the reverberation time. All regular spaces are treated with sound-absorbing finishes.
