Peck Slip
QPR’s plan for this historic space in Lower Manhattan’s South Street Seaport District was developed in response to community input to provide a flexible use open space that will serve residents, tourists, and restaurant goers. The space had been used for various purposes over time - as a mooring slip for ships docked in the East River, and after the land was filled in, as a market area, and more recently as a parking lot, and temporary asphalt plaza, but the site retained its unique shape and is still surrounded by historic buildings.
Using a palette of historically appropriate materials - stone paving and seating elements and metal bollards — QRP created a protected pedestrian space that is visually connected with the surrounding cobblestone street, forming a unified space that refences earlier use as a boat slip and market space. These elements take their cues from the materials of the Seaport district, with a minimal palette of grey granites and black cast iron elements.
The wedge-shaped planting areas respond to the dynamic non-parallel shape of the space, and highlight movement through the space from the openness of the river to the east, to tighter inland street grid at the west. The planting areas were carefully located to avoid conflict with the extensive sub-surface utilities and to minimize screening of the most historic building, using light foliaged trees for shade and simple low plantings to absorb storm water, designed for the long term using sustainable, environmentally appropriate materials.
The project required review by the State Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO) and NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) who found the restrained palette of natural stone and simple planted areas to be in keeping with this nationally important historic landmarked district.
Location
Manhattan, NY
Client
NYC Parks
Role
Prime Consultant
Photo credit: Barrett Doherty
