The ubiquitous asphalt of Manhattan spills into the pier as an extension of the city over water. This seemingly endless play surface reaches to the horizon and on it children’s games and makeshift drawings merge with the shade cast by the rope above. Rope, which is woven – turned over and under itself to determine varying densities of weave, filtering light at different intensities to transform the texture of the ground below or to create shade. Active, passive, and historical areas run parallel to one another and expand into each other along the length of the pier. Their relationship and location are porous and always changing as they are defined by moving shadows of woven rope. The interaction of site elements; rope, steel gate, and asphalt, provides the pier with sun shelter while maintaining the openness of its existing state.

 

Words on Sun Shelter:

“The jurors lauded such socially aware designs as Hecker-Skinner’s simple rope sun shelter proposal for Manhattan’s Hudson River waterfront… grounded in real and, as Sterling said, ‘humane’ needs.”

– I.D. Magazine

 

“It works simultaneously as public art, architecture and installation” 

– David Sterling, designer, art director, and chef – I.D. Magazine

 

“Good functional sculpture, an elaborate Christo installation”

– Ken Krayer, designer

 

“Here someone has taken waterfront vocabulary and achieved something on this really big scale, almost like urban planning.”

– William Drenttel, designer

 

“In a low key way, it’s beautiful”

– Lorraine Wild, designer and educator

 

Collaborator: Doug Hecker