Urban Design Forum recently announced WIP Collaborative as the winner of a long-running design competition to construct an interactive public art piece in Hudson Square, Manhattan. Titled “Restorative Ground,” the work will take shape on King Street between Hudson and Greenwich Streets.
When complete, Restorative Ground will straddle the parking lane, aligning with King Street’s participation in New York City’s Open Streets Program. The goal of the project is to create a new interactive destination for residents, office tenants, and the general public to convene in Hudson Square.
The structure is comprised of durable materials found commonly in playgrounds including recycled rubber and synthetic turf and will feature modular sections for seating and climbing. As depicted in the rendering, the surfaces will be colored in shades of red and orange, creating a striking contrast with the complementary green of the trees.
“Restorative Ground is a multifaceted landscape of exploration, envisioned as an environment for both social interaction and sensory stimulation that allows for a full range of experiences, from adventurous and playful to quiet and restorative,” said WIP Collaborative. “The large footprint of the King Street site accommodates space for safe gathering, in a location within Hudson Square that offers the opportunity to act as a connector between existing community resources, cultural institutions, and nearby green spaces.”
The winning design by WIP Collaborative was selected after a two-round design competition focused on minority and women-owned design studios based in New York. Finalist proposals were selected and judged by an interdisciplinary jury from the Urban Design Forum’s network of fellows, which evaluated proposals based on physical presence, evolving public health guidance, and inclusive design.
Construction on Restorative Ground is expected to begin in the coming months.
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Sweet..we need more of this.
This is nice. Modern art flowing with the citizens and tourists of New York City.
Maybe another tree or two
Meaningless and inhospitable abstraction, with a scraggly tree thrown in in a last moment of self-doubt.
Patronizing and condescending to all the uncomfortable little figures that unconvincingly populate the rendering.
The winning design by WIP Collaborative was selected after a two-round design competition focused on minority and women-owned design studios
You get what you ask for.
Can’t wait to visit this once it’s open.