Professional Documents
Culture Documents
POCKET PARK
New York, USA
Project Address
Project Type
Area
Year of Completion
Design Team
NATURAL ANALOGUES
[P8] Biomorphic Forms & Patterns.
Not significantly represented in the design.
SECTION
[P9] Material Connection with Nature.
Rough hewn stone of the east wall, water
sculpture, and waterfall; rough granite benches.
NATURE OF THE SPACE Greenacre park is insulated from the visitors walk toward the northern end of the
surrounding environment by three walls which platform where the ivy-covered wall joins with
[P11] Prospect. The upper level is enclose it in dense greenery, water, and gray a planted area containing trees, shrubs, and a
elevated above street level.
stone. The park is raised a few feet from ground rich understory of shade plants. An unimpeded
[P12] Refuge. Three walled enclosure level, further separating it from the noise and view of the lower areas of the park heightens
with a covered entryway, lower level
obscured by plantings, covered upper commotion of the street. After ascending the the sense of security and provides a good
level, sounds of the waterfall.
stairs, the first space visitors enter is an open balance of prospect and refuge conditions.
[P13] Mystery. The lower level platform with numerous small tables, partially
where the waterfall empties is not sheltered by a canopy of honey locust trees. While only partially covered overhead, the
visible from the entryway.
While this area is the largest and most social lower level may be the strongest example
[P14] Risk/Peril. Not significantly of the park’s three distinct areas, it retains of refuge conditions. It is depressed several
represented in the design.
an atmosphere of tranquillity even during the feet beneath ground level. When seated,
park’s most popular hours. visitors are unable to see the street and are
instead surrounded by plant life and water. In
Greenacre park provides a hierarchy of addition to being visually obscured from the
Site Plan: This plan reveals how Sasaki used plants, places for withdrawal from environmental street, the lower level is further secluded from
water, and trellises to create three distinct areas. A conditions or the main flow of activity, the surrounding activity by the sound of the
large T-shaped flower bed serves a physical divider.
in which the individual is protected from waterfall, which blocks all street noise and
Water frames the lower level on the northern end of
behind and overhead. Along the ivy-covered screens out the sounds of conversation. The
the park, and the raised platform on the west wall
is demarcated by a steel trellis. western wall, there is a raised platform, lower level is the smallest area of the park
shaded by a patinaed steel trellis. Wedged and offers less seating than the other two
Section: This section highlights the multi-tiered into the northwest corner of the park, near areas, resulting in a higher ratio of individuals
structure of the waterfall, the geometric patterns of the waterfall, this area is removed from the sitting alone than in groups, encouraging
the relief sculpture wall, and the elevation change highly social environment of the main level. introspection.
between the street, ground level, and lower level. The refuge condition increases in intensity as