Many people are familiar with New York City’s Highline, which has become a really popular spot with tourists and residents. It it is really cool, and beautiful all year round, in the dead of winter and in bloom. Because of the Highline’s success, some people came up with the idea of the Lowline. The Lowline would make use of of the abandoned Williamsburg Bridge trolley terminal under Delancey Street, which is right next to the Essex Street subway station. However, the somewhat radical idea for the Lowline is that it would make use of sunlight to light the space, which is completely underground. To help design and work out issues with this idea, the Lowline Lab was created. It is now closed, but luckily about a month ago I got to tour it.
I encourage your to click the hyperlink to my photos of the Williamsburg Bridge trolley terminal under Delancey Street because in order to comprehend the challenge of this project, you really need to see the space as it is now.
Delancey Street with Williamsburg Bridge in background. Essex Street subway station entrance can be seen on left. Abandoned trolley terminal is right below street.
Sunlight collectors on roof
Sunlight brought in from smaller vertical tube and reflected into sideways tube
Sunlight brought in vertically from roof collector and then reflected in sideways tube
Ceiling with tubes outputting sunlight and reflectors below
Display of plants and ceiling reflecting sunlight
Display of plants, including vertical plant elements, and ceiling reflecting sunlight
Display of plants and ceiling reflecting sunlight
Plants that may be used