Little Island Aerial View | Timothy SchenckIn New York City, where urban density is paired with iconic green spaces, Little Island is a unique addition to the citys landscape. Created by Heatherwick Studio in partnership with philanthropist Barry Diller and the Hudson River Park Trust, this park reaches into the Hudson River, redefining the typical pier design as a topographically diverse, green sanctuary. Little Island offers an escape from Manhattans hustle, a place where visitors can stroll through gardens, take in waterfront views, and enjoy performancesall while immersed in a space designed to blend seamlessly with nature.Little Island Technical InformationArchitects1-13: Heatherwick StudioLocation: New York, New York, USATopics: Urban ParksArea: 11,000 m2 | 2.7 acresCompletion date: 2021Photographs: Timothy SchenckThe piles become the deck they extend into planters that join together to create the parks surface. The height of the piles varies to create the parks contours: the corner of the pier is lifted to allow sunlight to reach the marine habitat, and the edge falls to define hills, viewpoints and to carve out a natural amphitheatre for performances. In this way, the pier and its supporting structure are one. Heatherwick Studio ArchitectsLittle Island PhotographsLittle Island Top View | Timothy SchenckLittle Island Side View | Timothy SchenckStructure | Timothy SchenckFront View | Timothy SchenckLittle Island Corner | Timothy Schenck Timothy SchenckPark Edge | Timothy Schenck Timothy Schenck Timothy Schenck China News ServiceLittle Island Auditorium | Timothy SchenckConcept and Vision of Little IslandHeatherwick Studios vision for Little Island wasnt just about creating another decorative pier but about transforming the visitor experience. Initially invited to design a pavilion, the studio instead reimagined the pier as a green oasis, where people could feel removed from the citys fast pace. This approach was inspired by the allure of Central Parka space within the city where one can feel utterly immersed in greenery and removed from the urban landscape. Heatherwicks approach challenged traditional pier design, opting for a lush, sculptural topography connecting visitors with the water, greenery, and wildlife along the Hudson.Little Island thus became a haven where nature, performance, and public life intersect. The parks raised profile invites exploration, inviting visitors to interact with nature in ways that are rare in dense urban environments. This reimagined pier goes beyond functionality, embodying the ambition to give New Yorkers a space that doesnt merely occupy the waterfront but elevates itliterally and experientially.Architectural and Structural InnovationLittle Islands structure challenges the conventional flat design of piers. Inspired by the wooden piles once dotting the Hudson River shoreline, Heatherwick Studio turned these old, submerged supports into a vision of organic architecture. Concrete planters, or pots, function as both structural supports and landscape containers, varying in height to create a rolling terrain that provides distinct spaces for gatherings, performances, and quiet reflection. The design is informed by the mosaic of frozen ice that forms around the wooden piles in winter, reimagined here in a tessellated pattern that gives the appearance of natural randomness.Each pot was meticulously crafted with smooth, tactile concrete to harmonize with the parks organic form. Engineering partners Arup and MRCE contributed to the parks stability, ensuring the foundations, which extend up to 200 feet below the water, could support the intricate topography and the multitude of landscape features. By eliminating the separation between the structural and landscape elements, Heatherwick Studio achieved a design in which each structural column seamlessly becomes part of the parks surface. This holistic integration of structure and landscape allows the architecture to fade into the background, allowing the landscape to captivate and guide visitors experience.Landscape and BiodiversityThe landscape architecture of Little Island, designed by MNLA, incorporates an impressive variety of more than 400 species of trees, shrubs, and grasses tailored to the New York climate. Each section of the park represents a unique microclimate, with variations in elevation, sunlight exposure, and wind patterns supporting distinct ecosystems within the limited acreage. These biodiverse zones are not just for aesthetics; they contribute to the health of local wildlife, with native plants that attract birds, butterflies, and other pollinators.Winding pathways offer visitors an intimate journey through glades, rocky outcrops, and grassy clearings, each designed to create a sense of immersion and discovery. The parks height provides moments of seclusion and viewpoints over the Hudson River, while the elevated design allows sunlight to reach the underwater ecosystem below. Here, the submerged remnants of old wooden piles continue to support fish and other marine life, a critical habitat that the design respects and highlights.This environmental sensitivity underscores the importance of Little Island as an urban ecosystem. During this retreat, people can interact with nature, and where the landscape is allowed to grow and change with the seasons, contributing to New Yorks urban ecology.The Role of Little Island in New Yorks Cultural LandscapeLittle Islands role extends beyond that of a park; it is a cultural landmark designed to bring people together in celebration of art and nature. Three performance spaces are integrated within the parks rolling landscape, each offering a different setting and atmosphere. The largest venue is a 700-seat amphitheater positioned to capture sunsets over the Hudson, with natural stone seating that blends into the terrain. This space is optimized acoustically and visually, designed to provide an immersive experience with the Statue of Liberty as a backdrop.To the south, a smaller, intimate stage hosts spoken word performances, while a central flexible venue allows for larger gatherings and events, its surface echoing the tessellated pile pattern seen throughout the park. Each venue is carefully crafted to merge with the landscape, allowing the parks natural beauty to serve as an integral part of the visitor experience. The seamless integration of performance and park space makes Little Island a destination for cultural engagement, reinforcing the role of public parks in enriching city life.Little Island PlansLittle Island in Spring | Heatherwick StudioGeneral Pier Section | Heatherwick StudioDetail Pot Section | Heatherwick StudioSite Plan | Heatherwick StudioGeneral Little Island Plan | Heatherwick StudioStructure Plan | Heatherwick StudioFloor Plan | Heatherwick StudioLittle Island Image GalleryAbout Heatherwick StudioThomas Heatherwick is a celebrated British architect and designer renowned for his innovative approach to blending art, architecture, and urban design. Founder of Heatherwick Studio, he has led transformative projects worldwide, creating spaces that challenge traditional forms and foster connections between people and their environment. Heatherwicks notable works include Londons Coal Drops Yard, Singapores Eden, and the UK Pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai Expo, each demonstrating his commitment to human-centered design and craftsmanship. His work on New Yorks Little Island epitomizes his philosophy of creating immersive, multifunctional spaces that redefine the relationship between urban life and natural landscapes.Notes & Additional CreditsDesign Director: Thomas HeatherwickGroup Leader: Mat CashProject Leaders: Paul Westwood, Neil HubbardTechnical Design Leader: Nick LingAdditional Team Members: Sofia Amodio, Simona Auteri, Mark Burrows, Jorge Xavier Mndez-Cceres, John Cruwys, Antoine van Erp, Alex Flood, Michal Gryko, Ben Holmes, Ben Jacobs, Francis McCloskey, Stepan Martinovsky, Simon Ng, Wojtek Nowak, Giovanni Parodi, Enrique Pujana, Akari Takebayashi, Ondrej Tich, Ahira Sanjeet, Charles Wu, Meera YadaveClient: Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT) & Pier 55 Project Fund (P55P)Structural Engineering: ArupLandscape Design: MNLA (Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects)Executive Architects: Standard ArchitectsMechanical Engineering: ArupMarine Engineers: MRCE (Mueser Rutledge Consulting Engineers)Cost Consultant: Gardiner & TheobaldMain Contractor: Hunter Roberts Construction Group