The underground parks of New York are just like any other, with trees, plants, and sunlight, except that through new technology, they channel, absorb, and emit sunlight underground. The project aims to reclaim abandoned public spaces and turn them into recreational areas. From the outside, only the solar panels on the roof indicate that the building on the east side of Manhattan is not a typical brick structure. Large letters on the wall next to the entrance read “Lowline Lab,” so let us tell you more about this project.
Lowline, the First of Many Underground Parks in the World
In recent years, abandoned public spaces in numerous cities have begun to be reclaimed, from areas under bridges to former subway stations. This has allowed urban design to be not only more aesthetically pleasing but also more efficient and sustainable as a whole.
An example of this case is the new underground park taking place in the city of New York (USA), which will replace an abandoned subway station with a green area powered by solar energy. This project, known as the Lowline project, aimed to use optical fiber filaments to connect sunlight channels from street fixtures to the galleries below.
However, after extensive research associated with Sun Portal, a South Korean firm, electricity was replaced with 100 percent organic photons projecting a mysterious yellow-greenish glow. This will allow sunlight to provide its spectrum and intensity to sustain the underground oasis.
This technology could be used to reclaim other public spaces. This would not only reduce the ecological footprint of these unused and abandoned spaces but could also serve as a “micro lung” that provides balance to our planet. Since October 2015, the Lowline has been showcased in an experimental laboratory (Lowline Lab), where the solar technology and underground horticulture of the project are tested, welcoming over 70,000 visitors since its opening.
Moreover, besides creating a much-needed public space, it is hoped that the Lowline will establish a model for reuse and cultivation in abandoned underground spaces, as well as “shape the future of the city through innovation, a deep commitment to the community, education, and the development of young people.”
This story was originally published in Spanish in Ecoosfera.
