Pop Down

We visited the New York 'High Line' again this summer and it remains to be a favourite must-do element of any NY visit for us. The High Line is a public park built on an historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. It is owned by the City of New York, and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line. Founded in 1999 by community residents, Friends of the High Line fought for the High Line’s preservation and transformation at a time when the historic structure was under the threat of demolition. It is a tranquil haven up above the meatpacking district and easy on the eye from above, or by foot. 

Architects were recently challenged to the same scheme in London and we are happy to hear our friend was part of the trio who proposed the winning design 'Pop Down'. Congratulations.  

     

"Pop Down seeks to capitalise on a forgotten network of tunnels under London, an urban experience where visitors can embark on an expedition underground, entering and exiting the tunnels from street level. The tunnels provide the ideal environment for an urban mushroom farm with the introduction of daylight through a series of sculptural glass-fibre ‘mushrooms’ at street level. These will highlight the route of the tunnel above ground and will convey daylight to the tunnels below through punctures along their length. The produce will serve new pop-up concept ‘Funghi’ restaurants and cafés at each entrance. This will be an underground oasis for mosses, lichen and funghi, where the mycelium and basidiomycete are king." Read here.