BRIDGE OF HOUSES

The site and structural foundation of the Bridge of Houses is the High Line, an abandoned elevated rail link in the Chelsea area of New York City. This steel structure is utilized in its straight leg from West 19th Street to West 29th Street parallel to the Hudson River.

In 1977, West Chelsea began to change from a warehouse district to an art district. The Bridge of Houses reflects the new character of the area as a place of habitation. Re-use, rather than demolition of the existing bridge, would be a permanent contribution to the character of the city.

This project offers a variety of housing types for the Chelsea area, as well as an elevated public promenade connecting to the convention center on the north end. The structural capacity and width of the existing bridge determine the height and width of the houses. The houses have different uses, including housing for the aging population, economy studios, luxury flats, and student housing. Shops line the public promenade level below the houses.

The new houses are built in an alternating pattern with a series of 2,000-square-foot courtyards (fifty percent open space). All new houses align with the existing block front at the street walls, reinforcing the street pattern. The ornamental portions of the rail bridge that pass over the streets remain open.