High Line

 

The High Line in New York City by Diller Scofidio + Renfro is a great use of urban space.  The High Line is located on the West Side of Manhattan and utilizes the abandoned elevated railroad track. The 1.5 mile stretch of the elevated railroad track is full of plantings indigenous to the northeast, lots of areas for resting and gathering and gives you great views of the city skyline.  The use of materials, from the reuse of the railroad tracks to the concrete walks coming out of the ground makes it seem like the high line has been there for 100 years and not just a year.  The vegetation is actually what grew naturally on the railroad tracks for the 40 years that it was abandoned and there aren't any plantings or trees that are unnatural to the area.