Curved walls: Zaha Hadid turns her High Line condo hoarding into public art

The hoardings that interject New York City’s blocks, covering building sites, are rarely given a thought by architects or developers. It’s notable, then, that the structures in front of Zaha Hadid’s much talked about residential tower beside New York’s High Line have been transformed into a veritable art installation, unveiled last week.

Titled Allonge, the temporary structure, which provides mandatory cover for the High Line’s pedestrians, is as fluid and curvilinear as the building – 520 West 28th Street – currently in construction next to it. Made from a silver metallic fabric that stretches over an undulating metal frame, the installation is a dazzling articulation of Dame Z’s signature style, that everyone can walk through. Almost 15 ft high and 112 ft long, the tunnel is inspired by the movement that occurs on the High Line. Not coincidentally, its sculptural form also echoes the design of the tower itself. 

’Our collaboration with Ms Hadid has been exceptional and we are thrilled to unveil this new installation, designed to beautify the necessary overhead protection system. This beautiful installation serves as a civic gesture to the neighbourhood, embracing the innovative and artistic spirit of West Chelsea,’ says Greg Gushee, executive vice president of Related Companies, the developer behind the project.

520 West 28th Street’s 11-storey building is made up of 39 individually conceived loft-style residences and eschews the archetype of rectangular units for a more amorphous footprint. The tower’s futuristic design, which fuses together two chevron shapes, is set to be a glittering addition to the High Line vicinity. With completion set for June 2016, the building still needs a while to take shape. In the meantime, a visit to Allonge will do just fine.