Oehme, van Sweden & Associates
Wolfgang Oehme
James van Sweden
Transforming a flat, sandy patch of landfill in the Hudson River, this waterfront parcel is one of 26 that constitute lower Manhattan’s Battery Park City. Van Sweden, in Gardening with Nature, wrote, “The first design challenge was to shape the land for a softer, more natural appearance.” One portion was to be a “subtle reminder of the beach environment that flourished on the site centuries ago,” while the “upland reaches” feature plantings native to the Hudson River Valley. [1]
The respect given this park by users is evidence of its success. Although it attracts multitudes year-round for sports, entertainment, and passive recreation, it retains the natural image we originally envisioned: a timeless seashore behind rolling meadows, lush swaths of flowering perennials, and welcoming carpets of lawn.[2]
Gardening with Nature, Gardening with Water,