…The Lowline Lab, Lower East Side, New York City - 16/07/2016

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I got off the subway and had to walk a few blocks towards the Low Line Lab. As I was walking, it started to rain - enough that I had to stop and find cover as I didn’t have an umbrella - it was back at the hostel. I was a little annoyed that it started raining cause the weather app kept pushing back this storm that was supposed to happen. And also concerned that my seat at the concert wouldn’t be covered and I wanted to be able to take photos with my camera/ or even if the concert would happen if it were raining. 

I continued on as I didn’t have time to just stand around waiting for the rain to stop. I got the the Low Line Lab and it was a little smaller than what I thought, but thats ok. I read a bit of the information they had about the future proposed space and how they are planning on achieving the goal of an underground park. The last 3 pictures are concepts to help illustrate what the final result of the park will look like. A bit of information about the LowLine from their website: 

 Concept The Lowline is a plan to use innovative solar technology to illuminate an historic trolley terminal on the Lower East Side of New York City. Our vision is a stunning underground park, providing a beautiful respite and a cultural attraction in one of the world’s most dense, exciting urban environments.

 The Site The proposed location is the one-acre former Williamsburg Bridge Trolley Terminal, just below Delancey Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The site was opened in 1908 for trolley passengers, but has been unused since 1948 when trolley service was discontinued. Despite six decades of neglect, the space still retains some incredible features, like remnant cobblestones, crisscrossing rail tracks and vaulted ceilings. It is also directly adjacent to the existing JMZ subway track at the Essex Street subway stop– so park visitors and subway riders would interact daily. This hidden historic site is located in one of the least green areas of New York City— presenting a unique opportunity to reclaim unused space for public good. 
 The Technology 
Designed by James Ramsey of Raad Studio, the proposed solar technology involves the creation of a “remote skylight.” In this approach, sunlight passes through a glass shield above the parabolic collector, and is reflected and gathered at one focal point, and directed underground. Sunlight is transmitted onto a reflective surface on the distributor dish underground, transmitting that sunlight into the space. This technology would transmit the necessary wavelengths of light to support photosynthesis, enabling plants and trees to grow. During periods of sunlight, electricity would not be necessary to light the space. In September 2012, the Lowline team built a full scale prototype of the technology in an abandoned warehouse in the Lower East Side, for the “Imagining the Lowline” exhibit. The exhibit attracted thousands of visitors, was heavily covered by the press and ultimately served as a proof of concept.

 I sat and chilled in the space for a little bit, hoping that the rain had stopped and also planning out my time schedule to get to the concert. 

I really liked the display + idea and it’ll be cool to see this concept turn into the future park! I walked from the Low Line Lab to this dumpling house that Marcus and I found when we were in New York for Christmas last year. This place has the best dumplings + soup and for so cheap! It wasn’t exactly hot food weather but I’d been craving their soup since the day I left New York last year! 

 I walked 30 minutes, about 15 blocks, to this place which turned out to be the wrong location - just the same name in the complete opposite direction. I didn’t think it was a chain as the other location just looked like a family type business deal - so it was a totally different place. I was so frustrated. I was going to try and make it to the proper place, but I just didn’t have enough time to do that and then make it back to the hostel and then on to the concert. So I just went in and bought some dumplings to go, to eat on the way back to the hostel. They weren’t that good once I got to eat them as they had gone a little cold but I needed food.
 I got back to my hostel and quickly got ready before heading back out to make my way to the concert!Â
