Picture this: a pathway snakes around the coast of lower Manhattan, winding through picturesque parks and tranquil pools. This pathway would be called the “Dryline,” or a path that protects land from rising seas, thus keeping it dry. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? Well, it might become reality. Danish architect Bjark Ingels is attempting to transform the path around Manhattan into a walkway that would boast pretty views but also act as a barrier to protect New York from future super-storms like Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
Ingels’s design was one of the six winners of the US’s Rebuild by Design competition, a competition that challenged architects to think of new ways to protect the borders of Manhattan. The Dryline will consist of lush parks spanning from East 23rd Street all the way down to Montgomery Street; these parks will be planted on unused waterfront spaces, and they’ll include landscaped berms, manmade hills, and collapsible barriers. The barriers and the underside of the bridges in the Dryline will have artwork displayed on them in an effort to make these structures more beautiful. The Dryline will also consist of community spaces, active spaces like playgrounds, benches, and deployable art walls.
The new pathway will also have landscaping to help absorb rising water. Moreover, the Dryline will make the green spaces along the waterfront of the East River promenade more easily accessible; architects will build land bridges over the FDR Highway, which currently cuts off residents from nearby parks. Architects are also planning to plant trees and other plants that could withstand floods like those that occurred during Hurricane Sandy.
The Dryline is breathtaking in its scope; the entirety of lower Manhattan will partake in its creation. This new pathway will greatly increase the level of fortification and will serve as an example for cities around the world. The Dryline will not only serve as a defense mechanism for future hurricanes, but will also create a scenic green community and promote street art around lower Manhattan.
