[NYguy]

World Architecture News
http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com...pload_id=17184

SHoP's esplanade opened in New York

Friday 22 Jul 2011

Designed by SHoP Architects with Ken Smith Landscape Architect, the new esplanade - open to the public from 6:00am to midnight - provides much-needed outdoor public space for residents, office workers and visitors. Along with new plantings and trees comprised of native coastal species, the park incorporates seating elements evocative of the area’s maritime past and elevated bar stool seating that offers visitors an opportunity to sit next to the railing and look out over the water toward Brooklyn. The railing also doubles as a tabletop on which users can eat, use a laptop or read.

The esplanade also features chaise lounges, game tables, planter walls and waterside benches.

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Tribeca Trib

http://tribecatrib.com/news/2011/jul...esplanade.html

Lounging and Lunching: First Part of East River Esplanade Now Open


Carlos Rodriguez relaxes by the water on his lunch break at the newly-completed stretch of the East River Esplanade.



Julia Gind enjoys lunch at one of many newly-installed waterfront seats along the East River Esplanade.


By Jessica Terrell

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and other officials on Thursday declared the $165 million first phase of the project open. But the stretch of shore between Wall Street and Maiden Lane was already being enjoyed by area residents and workers for the past few weeks.

“On such a sunny day, we can truly appreciate how lucky we are to live in a city surrounded by water,” Bloomberg said, adding that the park was one step in an ongoing plan to make the waterfront accessible to New Yorkers.

“We must return the river to the people of this city, to whom it belongs,”