Highline Hotel
Located on the campus of the General Theological Seminary in New York’s historic Chelsea neighborhood, the Desmond Tutu Center was the home of The Center for Peace and Reconciliation which hosted conferences and seminars that emphasize peace & reconciliation, lifelong learning and interfaith understanding. QRP designed the entry garden for the Tutu Center facing 10th Avenue. The entry garden contains a small water rill and pool that anchors a fully accessible path leading through the garden to the front doors. Retaining walls adjacent the paths are made of rusting cor-ten steel that are reflective of the surrounding brownstone buildings.
Since completion of this project, the building has been sold for use as a boutique hotel, now called the Highline Hotel, which replaced the Tutu Center. QRP adapted the garden to provide an expanded area for a coffee bar and the Hotel entrance. The row of Zelkova trees which were planted as part of the Tutu Center development now are beautiful 8” caliper trees. These trees were carefully protected throughout the installation of permeable stabilized gravel pavement. An entirely new planting palette was designed consisting of lavender along the water rill and a simple green edging of Inkberry Holly with seasonal plantings. Moveable café tables and chairs sit on the gravel surface and a seasonal coffee truck, imported from Europe serves coffee outdoors. Both iterations of this entry garden were reviewed by LPC.
Location
Chelsea, Manhattan, NY
Client
The Brodsky Organization
Role
Landscape Architect
