New York's 101 Warren Street "Skyscapes" A Pine Forest
by John Laumer, Philadelphia on 09.26.06
New York City's 101 Warren St. residential complex includes a green roof with a much bigger than usual “Z” dimension: they’re calling it a “mature pine forest.” Does this mean that Landscape Architecture has a new offspring called “Skyscaping?” (More on that question below the fold) The designers included a 20,000 square foot ‘pine forest,’ located five stories above the street level, and which separates the condominium from the rental section of the complex. This forest seems to be contiguous with the children’s’ play area that itself includes a 700 square foot “maze.” The choice of species is probably wise, as will attest anyone who has tried to scale a pine. Not much literal tree hugging or climbing is likely to go on. Plenty of wedding backdrop and modeling photo sessions will, though. Pines being generally of shallow root habit, they may fit well into the “X” and “Y” of their urban habitat. The Skyscapers also must be confident that there will be enough heat loss from the floor below to prevent root freezing: a condition that many pines avoid in nature by benefiting from an insulating snow cover. Ah...signs of an emerging new ecology of climate change. We are left to wonder who will be charged with cleaning up the sap drippings and sweeping up the floor-stuck needles at the end of each summer?
Looking so green and hopeful, this roof trips the ‘way-back machine’ switch to remembrances of the Civilian Conservation Corps (the “CCC”) of the 1930’s and 40’s. Much of the Corps work consisted of planting pine trees in neat rows to help mitigate the then-looming symptom of climate change called the “dust bowl.” So, maybe that’s it New York! A Civilian Skyscapers Corps. for job creation and climate change mitigation would help you beat San Francisco in the green city championships.
:D I grew up climbing pine trees. Sure they get your hands messy, but the branches are close enough together that they're easy to climb. I had enough fun looking down on the roof of my house, I can only imagine what kids living on a skyscraper are going to get up to.
What a great idea! It's nice to see people using green roofs and really making the idea their own.
When I was a kid, I used to climb redwoods all the time. Not very comfortable at all, but well worth it.
I'm with Ailsa on that - climbed pine trees all the time as a child - you get dirty and sap spotted clothes but you're a young kid how much do you really care about clean clothes?
I have to congratulate you on your article from the New York City's 101 Warren St. You are the first person in seven years to recognize Skyscaping as an offspring of the Landscaping Industry. I designed and built seven rooms in my 2,000 sqaure foot backyard; Grandmas' Garden, a Breakfast area with an arbor above, a Hot Tub area with out door shower, a Kitchen area with grille and a buffet, a Living Room with a Timber Framed Arbor and a pond, a Fireplace Room, and a Dining Room. Along with the rooms, I have a flower mound, four flower beds, and 100 square feet of grass. The rest is hardscaped. You can visit my web sight Skyscaping.com for other projects I have designed and built for others.