Future Green Studio

Chelsea_Highland crowd

Chelsea Sculpture Garden

Manhattan, NY

Design

Floating alongside the High Line in the heart of the Chelsea Arts district, Future Green created a unique sculpture garden to top Paul Kasmin’s new gallery.

Viewed from the High Line, the garden serves as a verdant extension to the elevated park and showcases outdoor art works in a rich seasonal tapestry. The design presents a rolling topography with 28 skylights sculpted into a lush meadow surface. The undulating form at the surface provides soil depth for trees and shrubs, while the skylights provide natural daylight into the art space below as well as evening illumination.

Working closely with DeSimone Consulting Engineers and Studio MDA, a unique waffle slab design was created to accommodate deep soil profiles while also perforating the roof with sunlight. An integrated green roof drainage system was also designed to retain storm water and provide a moisture layer plant roots can tap into.

The planting design is organized to frame views into the garden and highlight artworks beyond. Native aspen tree and pine shrub clusters punctuate a field of lowbush blueberry and meadow flowers providing a dynamic seasonal setting, year-round.


© K. Taro Hashimura