Thomas Heatherwick to design public space at £9bn US development

Thomas Heatherwick has confirmed that he is working on a plaza in New York, which is reported to be one of the most expensive public art projects in the world.

Hudson Yards

Source: iotaglobal

The project is a public plaza intervention at the mixed use Hudson Yards development on Manhattan’s West Side, which is being developed by Related. According to Related the plaza is due to open in 2017 two years after the development, which is due to open in 2015.

Some reports are putting the project at a cost of $75m (£46m), following comments The Wall Street Journal claims have been made by Stephen Ross, chief executive and founder of Related Companies – and the man who appointed Heatherwick.

Thomas Heatherwick says, ‘I am extremely excited to have been invited to work with Stephen Ross on one of the most ambitious and keenly anticipated development projects that has ever been undertaken in New York. 

‘This is a unique opportunity to integrate a new kind of public space into the fabric of the city and to add another layer to New York’s rich cultural heritage.’

Development work will start on the 1.6 million square meter site in January, which will comprise an 80-story building construction and cost a possible $15bn (£9bn).

Hudson Yards will combine offices, flats and leisure space, and The Wall Street Journal reports that the Heatherwick-designed public space will have a ‘gathering’ theme and  may draw inspiration from New York’s Rockefeller Center or Rome’s Piazza del Campidoglio, which was designed by Michelangelo.   

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