{"id":5706,"date":"2024-10-10T19:33:44","date_gmt":"2024-10-10T17:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woonlookbook.com\/?p=5706"},"modified":"2025-03-31T09:04:26","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T07:04:26","slug":"15-years-of-the-high-line-a-green-revolution-in-the-urban-landscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woonlookbook.com\/nl\/15-years-of-the-high-line-a-green-revolution-in-the-urban-landscape\/","title":{"rendered":"15 years of the High Line, a green revolution in the urban landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have read my \u201call shades of green\u201d blogs, you will know that I am a fan of Piet Oudolf gardens. The style: a natural garden emphasizing perennial plants and the structure of waves because of the repetition of perennials (including many grasses). Now that we can speak of 15 years of the High Line, a green revolution in the urban landscape, I would like to tell you more about this New York Highlight.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Birth of the High Line: From Abandoned Tracks to Urban Oasis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The High Line opened in 2009. Before 1924 the New York Railroad delivered food to lower Manhattan by trains on street level. But the trains were dangerous for pedestrians. Many were killed and 10th<\/sup> Avenue became known as \u201cDeath Avenue.\u201d In 1924 street level crossings became forbidden and in 1933 the first trains ran on the High Line.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View from the High Line<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

From about 1960 the transport by train decreased, trucks took over and in 1983 allowed people to transform old rail lines into recreational areas. In 2003 \u201cFriends of the High Line\u201d hosted an ideas competition. This resulted in a team transforming the High Line of Landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations; design studio Diller Scofidio and Renfro; and planting designer Piet Oudolf. So, in 2009 the former abandoned tracks were transformed into an urban oasis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Piet Oudolf\u2019s Vision <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Piet Oudolf\u2019s vision centers on the idea that plants should be appreciated for their entire lifecycle. Not only are the flowers in spring and summer attractive but also the decay in autumn and the form of the plants in winter. It is not a manicured garden but a celebration of nature. This does not mean that you let everything grow into a wilderness. No, you try to help the balance in the garden by removing aggressive plants and that you take care that the light can reach the soil. It must feel as if nature has done this itself. Spontaneity and unpredictability are valued but softly guided! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the High Line, Oudolf’s planting design mimics natural environments, using perennials, grasses, and shrubs that evoke prairies, meadows, and woodland edges. His approach is both aesthetic and ecological, aiming to create a resilient, self-sustaining ecosystem. The plantings are layered, mixing textures, colors, and heights to create a tapestry that changes constantly, giving visitors new experiences throughout the year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Piet Oudolf\u2019s seasonal planting <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As described the plants are attractive in all seasons. This makes it worth a visit every time of the year.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spring: The Awakening <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In spring, the High Line comes alive with fresh, tender shoots, early blooming perennials, and swathes of delicate bulbs like crocuses and daffodils.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Galanthus, (snowdrop)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Summer: The Tapestry of Color <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Summer is the most vibrant phase, where a diverse palette of perennials and grasses reaches its peak. Tall spires of plants like coneflowers, liatris, and astilbes add bold color, while grasses such as panicum and switchgrass provide structure and movement.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Fall: The Golden Glow <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    In fall, Oudolf\u2019s plantings take on rich, warm tones. Grasses turn shades of gold, russet, and bronze, and the fading flowers of late bloomers, such as asters and echinacea, create an autumnal tapestry. This phase is as much about texture as color, with seed heads, stems, and foliage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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