Herald Square, Greeley Square, Bryant Park [PLACEMARK Award: Hugh Hardy]

Peer Reviewed

Title: Herald Square, Greeley Square, Bryant Park [PLACEMARK Award: Hugh Hardy]

Journal Issue: Places, 14(2)

Author: Bressi, Todd W

Publication Date: 2001

Publication Info: Places

Permalink: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/1rx3s92v

Acknowledgements: This article was originally produced in Places Journal. To subscribe, visit www.places-journal.org. For reprint information, contact [email protected].

Keywords: places, placemaking, architecture, environment, landscape, urban design, public realm, planning, design, placemark, award, Hugh Hardy, Herald Square, Greeley Square, Bryant Park

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eScholarship provides open access, scholarly publishing services to the University of California and delivers a dynamic research platform to scholars worldwide. Herald Square and Greeley Square Kiosks

Carefully designed, carefully placed pavillions help bring two small Midtown public spaces back to life.

Greeley Square, after recon- struction, with kiosks ﬂanking south entrance

The restoration of parks and public spaces in restaurant turned what was once a dead edge to New York City has been a long and patient the space an important destination, activity gener- process, abetted by the emergence of private, ator and visual focal point. The structures know non-profit organizations skilled at marshalling the better than to steal the scene—which, of course, financial and organizational resources necessary is all about the dramatic layers of space created for the renewal of such places. Although this shift by the skyscrapers that surround the park, the of responsibility from government to private trees that embrace the lawn, and the landmark hands has raised questions about accountability library that serves as a backdrop, as well as about and equity, these projects have nevertheless the everchanging human activity on the lawn revealed possibilities for the public realm that had under the allees. essentially been foreclosed. Hardy is now involved in the renewal of One of the earliest examples of this was the Herald and Greeley Squares, two wedge-shaped restoration of Bryant Park, the largest open space spaces surrounded by the intersection of Broad- in Midtown, headed by the Bryant Park Ressora- way, Sixth Avenue and 34th Street. Here, the task tion Corporation. By the 1980s the park had of establishing functional public spaces was com- become dominated by drug dealing and fallen into plicated by the extraordinary volumes of vehicular Greeley Square kiosk a state of disrepair and disregard. Numerous stud- traffic that choke the squares. hhpa designed four Photo © Chris Lovi ies of use patterns, some by William H. Whyte’s new kiosks that complement landscape and traffic Herald Square Kiosk successors at Project for Public Spaces and some calming improvements implemented by the 34th by environmental psychologists from City Uni- Street Partnership. The structures provide space versity, clearly documented its design deficiencies. for newsstands, coffee bars, even a public rest The park plan, a collaboration of the Hanna- room, amenities that make lingering at the cafe Olin Partnership, hhpa and Lynden Miller, set a tables in the gardens an all the more reasonable— standard for restorative landscape design. hhpa and given the squares’ location, remarkable— also designed a pair of kiosks that bracket one proposition. park entrance and a restaurant set snugly against the New York Public Library’s rear wall. The —Todd W. Bressi kiosks provide a watchful eye and a welcome; the

24 PLACES14:2 Bryant Park Kiosks, Cafe and Grill

An unprecedented public-private partnership and effective design collaboration revives Midtown Manhattan’s greatest open space.

The Bryant Park Grill and cafe attract people into the back of the park, enlivening an area deﬁned by the rear wall of the New York Public Library.

PLACES14:2 PLACEMARK AWARD : HUGH HARDY 25