Envision a New High Line
Data-driven Design of The Elevated Promenade

Fall 2018   
GSAPP Elective, Columbia University
Instructor: Luc Wilson, Jason Danforth
Group Work



As the course is framed as two parts in which the first is the precedent analysis at a micro-level and the second focuses on urban scale analysis, this project specifically focuses on the design of elevated promenade, using the High Line as the precedent. In the discovery of what made the project successful, we develop series of analysis and data-driven tool (mainly using Grasshopper and ArcGIS ) to inform us where the next High Line could be, and what should it be. The primary challenge is to propose a performance-driven elevated promenade typology, aiming to enhance street safety as well as public space quality, in a neighborhood of high density.


Two Approaches:
Analysis-based Distribution of Program vs.Multi-Criteria Site Selection

This diagram shows how the distribution of program is generated based on the hour of sunlight received along streets (using Grasshopper). The first step is to divide the street surface into several points, then evaluate at what height the analysis points meet required hour of sunlight. The lower the height means higher feasibility for plantation, vice versa the higher the height indicates programs such as hardscape or seating.


Aside from massing generation through analysis, a series of GIS analysis was conducted to determine the site location with data from NYC Vision Zero and PlutoData. Starting with the areas with high concentration of fatality incident, the study further filter out the neighborhoods with high residential FAR and low accessibility to parks. The results are several blocks with some having potentials to be connected as a continuous promenade. With the multi-criteria selection and analysis-based design tool, the next step is to zoom into the site and propose how a new ‘High Line’ would be like.



The final part of the project combines the two analysis to produce a performance-driven design space.  The width of the promenade is dependent on the location of fatality accidents. On the other hand, the programs, such as the plantation and hardscape, are distributed according to sunhour analysis