Manhattan - New York - Case Study Example

Introduction Famously known as “Little Apple” the city of Manhattan is located approximately 120 miles to the west of the Kansas City. The community of Manhattan occupies about 18 square miles with an approximate population of about 50,000. It houses the Kansas State University with a student population of about 23,000 and a soldier population of about 15,000 at Fort Riley. According to a consensus taken in 2007, the island, the borough and the county has a population of 1,620, 867 (US Census Bureau, 2007) people who live in an area of about 22.96 square miles. Manhattan is considered as a regional leader where education, entertainment, communication and health care is concerned and in addition serves a three county population of about 200,000 people in the surrounding areas. Other amenities that Manhattan can boast of are both private and public educational centres and numerous universities that cater to a mixture of diverse cultures. The famous Kansas State University which was established in 1863 was the first successful land - grant university system that was established in the United States. This famous university houses eight colleges that represent 60 different departments of various specialized subjects. Manhattan boasts of beautiful scenic public parks, and zoos like the American zoo and the Sunset zoo. It is also quite famous for various sports facilities which include stunning golf courses. In addition to these, Manhattan is well known for its exceptional trail system that is indispensable to both bikers and walkers and which is also easily accessible to disabled people. Te trail is nine miles long and circles around half of the community. Manhattan City is committed to development and progress and continues in its quest to achieve it. Its municipal planning of the city is not only progressive but works with a vision and forward thinking. Since the 1980’s, one of the most significant developments that took place was the construction of a 300,000 square foot shopping mall situated in downtown Manhattan. The past decade has seen the construction of a new airport terminal called the “Manhattan Regional Airport.” The city has also seen the construction of the Northeast Community Park and it has now undertaken a major project initiative of downtown redevelopment in order to enhance the Town center Hall north and south of Manhattan. Geographic Context and Environment Geographically speaking, the character of Manhattan was largely shaped by its Geographical outlay. It’s strategic location dominates the New York Harbor and hence it emerges as the chief nerve centre of business, trade and commerce. Manhattan is considered to be the stage or the cradle of Western Civilization. In trying to find a new passage to China, an English sailor called Henri Hudson, chanced to make a discovery of the future New York in 1609, nearly 85 years after Verrazano. In 1626, however, the governor of New Belgium, Pierre Minuit became quite famous, due to the purchasing of Manhattan Island from the Manhattes Indians. He had bought this island by exchanging glittering trinkets and beads whose total value was $24 (approx. 60 guilders) Later, after about forty years, Manhattan was taken over by the English, without paying the Dutch a cent. New York City includes the whole of Manhattan Island and three other smaller islands located in the East River and is bounded by the Harlem River, Hudson River, East River and the Upper New York Bay. In 1653 it was called Amsterdam but after it was procured by the British it was rechristened as New York. Manhattan is considered to be one of the world’s greatest cultural, commercial and financial centres and is chartered as one among the five boroughs that make up Greater New York. Though people unknowingly attribute to Peter Stuyvesant as the original founder of New York, there is clear evidence to prove that he came nearly 23 years after the first settlers set foot in 1647. Till this day people hold this wrong opinion about the founding of New York since not many people are really interested to know such important facts. Urban Culture, Context and Environment Manhattan’s cultural prominence triggered by the Harlem Renaissance and its Bohemian culture in addition to its political clout helped it to gain both national and international fame. The island became the haven of art, literature and theatre (Broadway) and was a centrifugal hub for writers and other artistes. An urban space can be defined as an “the information field originating in the surrounding surfaces, which permeates the space and connects it to the human consciousness”(Nikos A.Salingros,1999) Urban spaces are more often than not open to sky and thus give endless opportunities for design and in this context the attention of urban designers is consumed by a focus on how to plan a formal design for such spaces. Unlike indoor spaces which are defined by their enclosures, an urban space depends on the information gained from the surroundings in which it is placed such as the facades of buildings, pavements, the flora and fauna and the public utility furniture. Many variables constitute the fabric of an urban society whose basic tenets may be difficult to take hold of at once. (Madanipour, 1996). New York City, the world’s greatest urban centre is an architect’s delight with its innovative and creatively designed buildings, spanning a period of 300 years. The city has its fair share of architectural styles, ranging from narrow row houses, to elegant brownstones, ornate churches and the sky hugging skyscrapers which give the city its unique picture postcard quality. “Delirious New York” (Rem Koolhaas, 1978) is a collage of overlapping ideas and interesting themes was written when he visited New York. This book was published in 1978 and was a retroactive manifesto for the city of Manhattan. Koolhaas describes this book as “an exploration of the culture of congestion.” This classic text which was written about modern architecture and society made him quite famous even before he could realize any buildings. Manhattan’s architectural progress and development has been profiled, which states that it was an organic process that was greatly influenced by numerous cultural forces. In the rush and storm of progress, Koolhaas has cut out a definitive niche for himself which carries his own identity. He is considered to be one of the most influential architectural thinkers of his time and a personality who is most innovative and intellectually challenging. . He received the Pritzker Prize in 2000. (Columbia Encyclopedia) His cutting – edge work is not only functional but difficult to categorize because of his use of regular everyday material. Manhattan’s famed “Museum Mile” (Jackson, Kenneth T., ed. 1995) is considered to be among the best in the world and is an amalgamation of different cultures and visited by tourists from all over the world. Infrastructure Manhattan is famous for its mass transit system which is their dominant form of travel. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, more than 75% of Manhattan households do not own a car.” (National travel Household Survey, 2001) From the 1850’s onwards, due to the sudden explosion of population coupled with new and innovative technology, Manhattan became a sort of virtual laboratory or a kind of testing ground for different inventions and a mythical revolutionary lifestyle: the Culture of Congestion. ‘Delirious New York’ portrays and explores the symbiotic relationship between the mutant metropolitan culture and its unique architecture which it spawned. The New York City Subway which is the primary means of travel in the city, is the largest subway system in the world considering both its track mileage and its huge number of stations. The other chief means of transport are the busses and trains which connects all the boroughs including Manhattan to Long Island. The Upper East Side of New York is where the elite and affluent people reside. These wealthy people can afford tall and beautiful buildings with exquisite architecture. The infrastructure here which includes the airports, roads, power and water supply is strong as the standard of living is quite high. Quite in contrast to the high living style of the East side of New York is Manhattan which is much cheaper. Efforts are being made to enhance the existing infrastructure which at present poses a bit of a problem. Commuter cable cars, trams and the ferry have been servicing this island right from 1978. Manhattan has a limited amount of clean fresh water due to the boom in population. Now water supplies are taken from a dam across the Croton River and are stored in huge reservoirs. New York also gets a good supply of very pure water from the Catskill Mountains and sends a regular supply to Manhattan through huge water tunnels. The city’s garbage is either processed or incinerated at various waste – to- energy facilities or disposed at Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio and South Carolina in mega dumps. Promoting and developing modern infrastructure in New York City and especially in Manhattan, with regard to good roads, power and sewerage would help to alleviate many of the existing problems faced by the people and make life much easier for them. The Governor George E. Pataki had outlined a plan for one of the biggest efforts involving public transit in the city’s history, with an expenditure of up to $5 billion to enhance the transportation facilities in the area of Lower Manhattan which would in turn not only make transportation for the general public much easier but would enhance tourism and trade and commerce. Built Form – Architectural typologies 19th century Manhattan was an amalgamation of many architectural forms, showing a preponderance for brownstones, row houses and mansions, but the technological advances in 1870’s led to the construction of the quintessential architectural structure of New York City-the skyscraper. Most of these buildings were fortified cement and steel interiors , decorated on the outside in the style of Baroque, Beaux Arts and Gothic manner, as seen in the Woolworth and Flatiron buildings. Cass Gilbert's 1913 Woolworth Building is a cornucopia of arches, corniches and columns and the Art Deco style which followed this was a revolt against these heavily accented structures. The Chrysler Building architect Van Alen proclaiming his style as new, gave the building its distinct radiator cap look which captured the imagination of the people. The Empire State Building with its Egypto-Aztec tiered pyramidical top is a landmark of the city. It has a limestone and steel exterior, which rises in a series of setbacks. This design incorporated the 1916 New York City zoning law that required high rise buildings to set back their facades corresponding to increase in height. The zoning laws were created to ensure that enough light and air was made available in the streets. The GE Building in the Rockefeller Plaza is another famous tribute to the Art Deco style. Public Open Space During the middle of the 20th century, buildings followed the functional glass and steel look, where beauty lay in the clean lines and simple architectural form. The UN Building, the Lever House, Seagram Building, along with the AT&T Building and Lipstick Building are some of the finest examples of this style. The Beaux Arts is well represented in the Ansonia Hotel, Dakota Apartments public buildings, such as The New York Public Library with its iconic marble lions named Patience and Fortitude and Grand Central Station. The New York City zoning laws have been vilified by developers who have built plazas, arcades and galleries in public spaces and this was put forth in Privately Owned Public Space: The New York City Experience. Central Park, built a century ago typifies best the meaning of urban open space, but in spite of the 1961 zoning laws, much remains to be done. One of the most famous urban spaces in Manhattan is the Ford Foundation Building, built in the 1960’s. It has an exposed steel structure and a glass atrium which rises to the top of the building, till the skylight. The offices are located around the atrium whose garden doubles as a public space. This layout is so apparently humane, where consideration is given to the public who frequent the structure, that it is almost an extension of the humanitarian ideals of the foundation. The lush green atrium soothes the soul and is in sharp contrast to the steel and granite façade. The Ford Foundation Building has been called 'a new kind of urban space' by Architectural Record in 1968. However, Manhattan has a large number of public spaces like Paley Park, Herald Square, Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center which are specifically designed to attract citizens and give to the city its unique character. There are destination spaces where people socialize, eat, shop and attend events. In these places design follows wide open spaces, which are lit well and well proportioned. The neighborhood spaces provide people from the immediate vicinity to meet and socialize as well as take children out to play and are built with a view to providing residents with clean air and maximum sunlight. These places too have ample seating areas and water features and plants and greenery. (Jerold S. Kayden, 2000) These urban spaces incorporate nature with manmade innovations like sculptures and other art forms to create unique open spaces. Living in Manhattan is made delightful because of the juxtaposition of the flora and fauna and water bodies along with its ubiquitous jungle of concrete which imparts to it its unique identity. It is these urban designs which create the memories, integral to all well designed spaces. An urban designer has to understand that the design of the space is such that it appeals to human feelings and aesthetics. For an urban space to fulfill its requirements, it should be able to give “unambiguous information” have “connective web of paths and nodes” and most importantly, have a clear demarcation of space for pedestrian and non-pedestrian traffic, where priority is given to foot traffic.(Nikos A.Salingros,1999) The plan and pattern of urban spaces should take a back seat to its functionality and it is found that successful urban spaces sacrifice geometrical considerations (Camillo Sitte (Collins and Collins, 1986) Rob Krier (Krier, 1979). Conclusion Manhattan’s urbanism had been slow but consistent. It establishes and portrays New York as an interesting product of an unformulated movement called “Manhattanism.” The progress though taken place over a long period, has been spectacular, but even so has raised the standard of living of the people to a great extent. The revival of Lower Manhattan has seen a surge in its trade and commerce besides the tourism industry. Building up a more modern and strong infrastructure has served to make it one of the most useful “transportation centres” making commuting easier and boosting its business connections. Currently, Manhattan boasts of the biggest central business district in the United States which is home to the nation’s largest number of headquarters in the corporate sector. Lower Manhattan is a most dynamic and pulsating area, and is one of the oldest metropolises of the world. When translated from the Lenape language, (Holloway, Marguerite, 2004) Manhattan means the “island of many hills.” Manhattan also houses the headquarters of the United Nations and is famous for its beautiful tourist attractions and exceptionally famous landmarks and recreational sites. It also houses the seat of the city government and can be indisputably called the nerve center of New York City. References Book: “Delirious New York.” Rem Koolhaas. Publisher: Monacelli Press,U.S.; New Edition (Dec 1997) Paperback – 320 pages. Collins, G. R. and Collins, C. C. (1986) City Planning According to Artistic Principles, by Camillo Sitte (New York, Random House). [Der Städte-Bau, Carl Graeser Verlag, Vienna, 1901] Krier, Rob (1979) Urban Space (New York, Rizzoli). Koolhaas, Rem. Delirious New York New York: The Monacelli Press, 1978  Koolhaas, Rem. Conversations with Students New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 1996 Madanipour, Ali (1996) Design of Urban Space (Chichester, England, John Wiley). O.M.A. Rem Koolhaas and Bruce Mau. Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large New York: The Monacelli Press, 1995 City of Manhattan www.ci.manhattan.ks.us New York and its Origins www.users.skynet.be/newyorkfoundation/US/the_birth_of_new_york.html Rem Koolhaas - Capitalism www.spikyart.org/koolhaaspaper.htm Architecture in Manhattan and New York City http://www.tripcart.com/usa-regions/New-YorkCity,Architecture.aspx#Guide||||||Top|||||||| New York City http://bluedandelion.net/english/nyc.htm NIKOS A. SALINGAROS. Journal of Urban Design, Volume 4 (1999) pages 29-49. © Taylor & Francis Ltd (posted by permission).   Division of Mathematics, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, USA. Privately Owned Public Space - New York City Department of City http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/priv/mndist1.shtml Privately Owned Public Space: The New York City Experience, published by John Wiley and Sons in October, 2000, Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Columbia Encyclopedia. The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition Copyright © 2003, Columbia University Press. Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. www.cc.columbia.edu/cu/cup/ Jackson, Kenneth T., ed. The Encyclopedia of New York City. New York: New-York Historical Society, 1995. US Census Bureau Annual Estimates of the population for counties: April 1, 2000 to July 1st 2007. Holloway, Marguerite. "Urban tactics; I'll Take Mannahatta", The New York Times, May 16, 2004, accessed 2007-04-30. Highlights of the 2001 National Household Travel Survey, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, United States Department of Transportation. Accessed May 21, 2006. Urban Residue and Other Urban Theory http://zeta.math.utsa.edu/~yxk833/UrbanSpace.html Read More