dws-west8-hill-govenors-island-public-770px-1Rising up to 21 meters above Governors Island, The Hills, were officially opened to the public on 19 July.

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, New Yorkers and other visitors eagerly explored the Hills and their new landscapes, public art, play areas, slides, and extraordinary 360 degree views of the New York Harbor, Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey skylines, and the Statue of Liberty.

The Hills have been designed by West 8 urban design & landscape architecture.

dws-west8-hill-govenors-island-design-350px  West 8's design of the Hills and park on Governors Island.

Newest New York landmark
The opening of the Hills marks a transformation of Governors Island from an abandoned military base into an iconic destination for New Yorkers and other visitors.

“The Hills are the culmination of an eight-year collaboration with West 8 and the many New Yorkers and visitors who contributed ideas to this ambitious project,” said Leslie Koch, President of the Trust for Governors Island.

“They are a triumph of imagination, state-of-the-art engineering and smart design"", Koch continued, "that will ensure access to beautiful green space, the waterfront and incomparable views of the Harbor for years to come.”

dws-west8-hill-govenors-island-koch-geuze-350pxTrust president Leslie Koch (left) and designer Adriaan Geuze previsiting the Hills.

Special park experience
West 8's design director Adriaan Geuze mentioned the special park experience.

“Sculpted topography works in concert with winding pathways and trees to create ‘conceal and reveal’ vistas, choreographing the park experience,” he said.

“It maximizes the sense of anticipation, pulling a visitor through the park or signalling a place to sit and stay just a bit longer. The topography defines the very character of the area", according to Geuze.

Reuse of demolition debris
The Hills are constructed of recycled demolition debris, general fill and lightweight pumice, stabilized with geotechnical reinforcement and covered with shrubs, trees and grassy lawns.

dws-west8-hill-govenors-island-construction-350px  Construction of The Hills using demolition debris.

The four Hills embody all that makes Governors Island unique: art, play, nature, relaxation, and views.

The Hills are home to more than 860 new trees and 41,000 new shrubs planted in new high-quality topsoil and protected from brackish groundwater by the new topography.

The planting of each of the four hills is designed according to the micro-climates: varying degrees of slopes, exposure to sun, salty-spray, and prevailing wind and to accentuate key view corridors.

The new lawns, plantings and permeable paving also reduce erosion and storm run-off, while allowing for water collection and irrigation.

The Hills are open for the summer season daily from July 19 – September 25, 2016, Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday-Sunday 10am-7pm.

This news item was originally published on the website of West 8.

(Photos: Timothy Schenck)


dws-west8-hill-govenors-island-liberty-650px

Read also on this website
West 8 one of five finalists for proposal Santander waterfront, Spain, 1 July 2016
● Large Dutch participation in 10 selected teams for post-Sandy's rebuild by design competition, 11 August 2013
● West 8 wins design competition for river side community Veddel North in Hamburg, Germany
● Landscape architecture West 8 designs master plan with ecological water system for Guangzhou, China, 25 February 2013
Country: USA

More information
West 8 Urban Design & Landscape Architecture 
Rotterdam, the Netherlands 
+31 10 485 5801 
www.west8.nl

Impression of New York's newest landmark: The Hills at Governors Island.