British designer Thomas Heatherwick has created Little Island Park, a unique performance venue supported by 132 concrete columns along the Hudson River. This innovative project has officially opened in New York City.
Heatherwick Studio collaborated with global engineering firm Arup and New York-based landscape designer MNLA to build this 2.4-acre (9712 square meter) park. Two bridges connect the island park to the mainland, enhancing accessibility.
Located in Chelsea on Manhattan’s west side, near the southern end of the High Line Park, the island features a winding path over 540 meters long. This trail surrounds various scenic spots and performance spaces, including a circular theater with a stage enveloped by river water.
The island’s foundation consists of mushroom-shaped concrete columns that create undulating platforms at varying heights. Heatherwick explained that the design was inspired by the piles protruding from the water at Pier 54, which also serve as a habitat for fish.
Heatherwick stated, “Typically, piers are built with structural piles inserted directly into the riverbed and topped with flat plates to create a flat surface. However, we drew inspiration from these piles and civil engineering structures that endure extreme river conditions.”
△ Geological profile map
△ Flower bed sectional diagram
Each concrete pile can support 350 tons and is anchored 61 meters deep into underwater rock. The island’s prefabricated concrete components were produced using 39 different molds in the northern state and then transported to the site by barge.
A cast-in-place concrete slab connects all prefabricated components. The top of each pile is capped with prefabricated “petals,” creating six-meter-wide containers filled with soil.
MNLA selected 400 plants and 100 trees for the park, strategically planting evergreens to shield pedestrians from strong winds. The park also features a lawn where visitors can sunbathe during summer months.
The park features steps crafted from Robinia pseudoacacia, a hardwood native to New York, that rise and fall like a miniature mountain landscape. Strategically placed rock piles provide climbing opportunities, offering visitors a more adventurous experience than traditional trails.
Little Island Park includes three performance venues: a circular theater with wooden benches seating 700 spectators, a central space accommodating up to 3,500 people, and a smaller, more intimate stage for 200 attendees.
To preserve the park’s landscape, all backstage facilities necessary for the performance venues are built underneath the pier and are accessible via one of the connecting bridges.
The island is now open to the public with free timed tickets available. Heatherwick dedicated eight years to bringing this vision to life. Originally named Pier 55, the project was proposed in 2014 and supported by media mogul Barry Diller and fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. Construction began in 2016 but was paused in 2017 due to legal challenges from local groups. The project resumed in 2019 under the new name, Island Park.
Technical Drawings
△ Spring plan
△ Summer plan
△ Autumn plan
△ Winter plan
Project Information
Architectural Design: Heatherwick Studio
Landscape Design: MNLA
Structural, Civil Engineering, Machinery: Arup
Circular Theater, Backstage, and Lounge Design: Standard Architects
Lighting Design: FMS
Wayfinding System Design: C&G Partners
Irrigation Design: ICI
Photography: Timothy Schenck, Adrian Gaut
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