The Lowline - Kelsey Reddekopp

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. The vision is to create an underground park, a cultural attraction and a moment of rest in one of the world’s busiest urban environments. The proposed location is the abandoned Williamsburg Bridge Trolley Terminal. The original site was opened in 1908 but has remained unused since 1948 when the trolley service discontinued. Although it has since been neglected, the site has incredible features like vaulted ceilings, cobblestones and crisscrossing rail tracks. The hidden site is located in one of the least green areas of New York City which presents the need to reclaim the space.

The park would be made possible with solar technology designed by James Ramsey of Raad Studio. Ramsey has designed a “remote skylight. In this approach, sunlight passes through a glass shield above a dish collector, and is reflected and directed underground. The light is than transmitted onto a reflective surface on a distributor dish, transmitting that sunlight into the space. This would supply sufficient sunlight to support natural photosynthesis allowing life to flourish below ground.

http://www.thelowline.org/