“Vessel” – The Active ‘Interactive’ Staircase

Let the city be defined by bold, eye-catchy public plazas.

Location: Hudson Yards, New York
Architect: Thomas Heatherwick
Height: 150 ft (46m)
Floors: 16
No. of steps: 2500
No. of flights: 154
No. of landings: 80

Recently, an intricate and technical structure for a public square opened in New York (in March), paved its way in becoming one of the city landmarks. Amidst the tall steel and glass buildings of the Hudson Yards, the most expensive private real estate development in the history of America, stands this marvel made of bronzed steel and concrete pieces. This centerpiece sprawling over an expanse of 5-acre public plaza, with luscious landscaping around, is distinctive in that particular region because of its unique character and ambiguous nature.

Designed with an idea of improving social interaction, the honeycomb-like structure is a combination of staircases and landings for visitors to climb and enjoy the views of Hudson River. Also, ramps and elevators are provided in order to make it accessible for the handicapped people. At the hexagonal base, the diameter stretches out to 50ft (15m) and further expands to 150ft (46m) reaching the top. This design strategy maximizes space on the ground and provides greater opportunities for small scale human interaction, at various levels.

Inspiration for the Marvel

A lot of interpretations compare the “Vessel” to a honeycomb, ribcage, a climbing frame or doner kebab. News reports called it a jungle gym because the steps are cladded with copper. For many, it was New York’s version of Eiffel Tower. However, true inspiration came from the concept of Indian step-wells.

Thomas Heatherwick always had a fascination towards stairs and one of his visits to the step-wells of Baori, Rajasthan, inspired him to develop this masterpiece. During the earlier times, these step-wells were utilized to preserve groundwater and provide it during drought along with holding social and cultural significance. They highlight a series of an endless number of steps and landings reaching deep into the earth.

Heatherwick wanted the Vessel to be symbolic of the timelessness of humans and their imagination. In addition to the pretty front on the outside, he wanted to give it a human touch so that the energy created inside the structure can be shared among its users. It can be utilized for various activities like work, play, dance, exercise or social gatherings. So, in spite of digging it down into the earth, the team created a vertical standing public park as a breathing space amongst the hustle and bustle of the city.

Without a doubt, the Vessel is going to be the new meeting point in the city of New York. It’s a maze that people will enjoy, rushing up and down, creating their own rhythm. Multiple shared experiences by the walkers will create a story within a small piece and it will be engaging to watch. It is the perfect spot for a human to climb and contemplate on his thoughts. Over time, it's likely to increase community engagement, expand its scope of use and set a bar to escalate the design of public plazas throughout the world.