br yantpar k t heur bani sm wi t hi n Bhumi kaVyas
Af t erbei ng r out ed by t he Br i t i shi nt heBat t l eofLong I sl and,att he st ar toft he Revol ut i onar yWar ,Gener al Washi ngt on' st r oops r aced acr osst hesi t e. I n1807,t hegr i dsyst em of st r eet swasl ai douti nwhat i snow consi der edmi dt own, expandi ngnor t hf r om t heal r eady cosmopol i t an downt ownManhat t an. Fi f t eenyear sl at er ,i n1822, t hel andcameundert hej ur i sdi ct i onofNew Yor kCi t y, and one year l at er , was t ur ned i nt o a pot t er ' sf i el d ( gr aveyar d f or t he unknown) . The ci t y decommi ssi oned t hepot t er ' sf i el di n1840,i n pr epar at i onf orconst r uct i on oft heCr ot onReser voi ron t he adj acentpl otofl and ( now t heCent r albr anchof t he New Yor k Publ i c Li br ar y) .
Bui l ti nbet ween1839and1842,t heCr ot onDi st r i but i ngReser voi rwas a manmade f ouracr el ake,sur r ounded bymassi ve,f i f t yf oot hi gh, t went yf i vef oot t hi ckgr ani t ewal l s.Al ongt het opsoft hewal l swer e publ i cpr omenades,of f er i ngexpansi vevi ewsoft hegr owi ngci t y. Thi swat er suppl ysyst em wasoneoft hegr eat estengi neer i ngt r i umphs ofni net eent hcent ur yAmer i ca,andwi del yconsi der edani nt egr alpar t oft hef i r stsuppl yoff r eshwat ercar r i edbyaqueduct si nt ot heci t yf r om upst at eNewYor k. I r onpi pest r anspor t edwat erf or t yonemi l est ot her ecei vi ngr eser voi ri n whati snowCent r alPar k,t hencet ot hedi st r i but i ngr eser voi ratt hi ssi t e. I n1846,t heNewYor kCi t yCommonCounci lor der edconst r uct i onofa publ i cpar kon t he l and nextt ot he Reser voi r .Reser voi rPar kwas f or medi n1870. Ther eser voi ri t sel fwas t or ndown f ol l owi ngnumer ousdel ays,i n1900.
TheCr yst alPal aceandLat t i ngObser vat or y 18511858
I n 1686, t he ar ea now knownasBr yantPar kwas desi gnat edpubl i cpr oper t y.
TheCr ot onDi st r i but i ngReser voi randReser voi rSquar e 18391884
pot t er ’ sf i el d 16861840
apar ki nt r ans i t i on Aer i alvi ew f r om t heLat t i ngObser vat or yonSi xt hAvenuebet ween42ndand43r dst r eet sshowi ngt he Cr ot onReser voi randCr yst alPal ace.
I nspi r edbyt hesuccessofTheGr eatExhi bi t i onof1851,hel di nt hef amedCr yst alPal aceexhi bi t i onhal l i nHydePar k,London,NewYor kCi t ybeganpr epar at i onsf orasi mi l arexhi bi tonU. S.soi l .TheNewYor k Cr yst alPal acewasbui l tonReser voi rSquar e,t hepar kj ustwestoft heCr ot onReser voi r .Thegl assand met al st r uct ur ewasbui l ti nt heshapeofaGr eekcr ossandboast edadomedr oof100f eeti ndi amet er .I t r emai nedst andi ngunt i lOct ober5,1858,wheni tbur neddown. Bui l tnextt ot heCr yst al Pal acei n1853aspar toft heexhi bi t i on,wast he315f oot t al l Lat t i ngObser vat or y. Thi soct agonal l ybased,i r onandwoodt owerwast het al l estbui l di ngatt het i meofi t sconst r uct i onandof f er edpat r onsunobst r uct edvi ewsofSt at enI sl and,Queens,andNewJer sey.I tper i shedi nan1856f i r e.
1899over headvi ewoft heCr ot onReser voi r ,att hecor nerofFi f t hAvenue and42ndst r eet .( phot o:NYPLcol l ect i on
Thef i r stofi t ski ndi nNew Yor kCi t y,t heCr yst alPal aceExhi bi t i onsetof foneoft hef i r stmaj ort our i sm boomsi nNewYor kwi t hoveronemi l l i onvi si t or s.( I nspi t eofi t spopul ar i t y,t heexhi bi t i on' ssponsor sl ost $300, 000ont hevent ur e. )Theexhi bi tcl osedonNovember1,1854,t hought hest r uct ur er emai nedst andi ngandwasl easedf oravar i et yofpur posesovert henextf ouryear s.
I n 1884,Reser voi rSquar e wasr enamed Br yantPar k, t ohonorr ecent l ydeceased Romant i c poet , l ongt i me edi t oroft heNew Yor kEveni ngPost ,andci vi cr ef or mer , Wi l l i am Cul l en Br yant ( 17941878) .
t he1934r edesi gn 19341988
br yantpar k 18841934
apar ki nt r ans i t i on Ar oundt hi st i me,t heci t yappr oveddesi gnsf ort heNew Yor k Publ i c Li br ar y, The BeauxAr t s bui l di ng was compl et edi n1911.
Over headvi ew oft hepar k( c.1930)f aci ngt he backoft heNewYor kPubl i cLi br ar y.
Thepar kwasr edesi gnedi n1933/ 1934asaGr eatDepr essi onpubl i c wor kspr oj ectundert hel eader shi pofRober tMoses.Thenewpar kf eat ur edagr eatl awn,andaddedhedgesandl at erani r onf encet osepar at et hepar kf r om t hesur r oundi ngci t yst r eet s.Thi sdesi gnhowever , causedar i f ti npubl i cf l owandt hemanyi sol at edar easser vedi deal f or cr i mi nali nt ent . Byt he1970s,Br yantPar khadbeent akenoverbydr ugdeal er s,pr ost i t ut esandt hehomel ess.I twasni cknamed" Needl ePar k"bysome,due t oi t sbr i skher oi nt r ade,andwasconsi der eda" nogozone"byor di nar y ci t i zensandvi si t or s. Fr om 1979t o1983,acoor di nat edpr ogr am ofameni t i es,i ncl udi nga bookmar ket ,af l owermar ket ,caf es,l andscapei mpr ovement s,andent er t ai nmentact i vi t i es,wasi ni t i at edbyapar ksadvocacygr oupcal l ed t hePar ksCounci landi mmedi at el ybr oughtnew l i f et ot hepar k—an ef f or tcont i nuedovert hesucceedi ngyear sbyTheBr yantPar kRest or at i onCor por at i on,whi chhadbeenf oundedi n1980byagr oupof pr omi nentNew Yor ker s,i ncl udi ngmember soft heRockef el l erf ami l y, t oi mpr ovecondi t i onsi nt hepar k. I n1988,apr i vat el yf undedr edesi gnandr est or at i onwasbegunbyt he Br yantPar kRest or at i onCor por at i onwi t ht hegoalofopeni ngupt he par kt ot hest r eet sandencour agi ngact i vi t ywi t hi ni t .
Pl anvi ew ofBr yantPar kpr i or t oi t s1934r edesi gn.
Despi t eat t empt st or edesi gnt hespacei nt hemi d1900s,t hef or bi ddi ng,di vi dedspacecont i nuedt obeagat her i ng pl acef orpr ost i t ut esanddr ugaddi ct s.Byt he1970s,t hepar kbecamesopl aguedwi t hcr i mi nalact i vi t yt hatpol i ce bar r i cadedt hepar kni ght l yaf t erdar k.
Thet hi ckhedgesar epr omi nenti nt hi spi ct ur eof Br yantPar k.
Acl oseupofhowt hehedgescausedi sol at i on wi t hi nt hepar k.
Pr i ort oi t sr evi t al i zat i on,Br yantPar kof f er ed vi si t or sl i t t l et ododespi t ei t spr i mel ocat i on.
y ogai nt hepar k
HBO s ummerf i l mf es t i v al
br yantpar k:now
Amer i can Radi at or Bui l di ng
1095Avenue One Br yant oft he Par k Amer i cas
Br yantPar k Bui l di ng
W. R.Gr ace Bui l di ng
Sal monTower
500Fi f t h Avenue
TheNewYor kPubl i c Li br ar y
42 nd St r ee t
40 t hS t r ee t
Br yantPar ki ssur r oundedbybeaut i f ulwor ksofar chi t ect ur et hatf unct i onasof f i ceandr esedent i albui l di ngs.
5t hA ven ue
KnoxHat Bui l di ng
Av en ue of t he Am er i cas
s i t e
Br yantPar k St udi os
41 st St r ee t
si t esect i ons
sec t i on a
se ct i on b
Bot ht hesesect i onsexposeBr yantPar k’ scompl exi t y.Thescal eoft hel ar gebui l di ngsi ncompar i sont o Br yantPar ki sonef act oroft hi sur banspace’ scompl exi t y.Anot heri sbel owgr oundl evel .Br yantPar k wasr edesi gnedt ost or eTheNewYor kPubl i cLi br ar y’ sbookst acks.Thesest ackssi taboveyetanot her f act orofBr yantPar k,i t ’ smaj orsubwayst at i on.
s ec t i ona
s ec t i onb
Thesepat hsr evealt heavenuest akenbypedest r i answhosesol ei nt enti st ouseBr yantPar kasa t r anspor t at i onhub. Al t hought hesear ej ustahandf uloft hemanyi t er at i onst hatcanandhavebeenused,i ti seasyt osee whi ch por t i onsoft he space ar e hi ghl yused asa meansoft r anspor tandwhi chspacesar emor er eser vedf orot heruses.
e v o lv in g
fix e d
p a th w a y s
p a th w a y s
Thepr i vat ear easi swher eyouwi l l f i ndaf ai r l yconsi st entamountofBr yantPar ksi coni cmovabl epi ecesof f ur ni t ur e.These“ pr i vat e”spacesr emai ncl oset ot he t r eel i net oal l owcont i nualpubl i cf l owoft r af f i ct hr ough. Themovabl epi ecesoff ur ni t ur ehel pt owar dst her educt i onoft hepat hwaysandmaket hem mor el i vel y. Iwoul d say t hese ar et he mosti mpor t antspaces wi t hi nt hepar ksi ncet heycapt ur et hever ysoci aland adapt abl eessenceoft heur banspace.
p r iv a t e
lo n d o n
n ic h e s
p la n e
tre e s
Thepat hwaysi nBr yantPar kar ecl ear ,wi de,andaccessi bl ef r om manyl ocat i ons.Theyal l owmuchvar i et yi nget t i ngf r om onepoi ntt oanot her .
Tal l “ LondonPl ane”t r eesl i net hepat hwayspr ovi di ng t hef i l t r at i onofsunl i ghtandofsur r oundi ngskyscr aper s.
The mostf r equent l yt r avel l ed pat hsar e shown i n br i ghtr ed.Thesepat hsar ecl oset oal l ent r ancesand ar emor edi r ectf orcr ossi ng.Themut edr edpat hsar e usedmost l yf ormeander i ngt hr ought hepar ksi nce evenst r anger st ot hespacecanvi vedl yseet hecl ear cut st hr ought hi sopenur banspace.
Thet r eesal socr eat easenseofembr acementas t heyl eani nwar d.Thi sal sor educest hebr oadwi dt hs oft hepat hs,al l owi ngt hem t of eelcomf or t abl eand scal ed.
Thef i gur egr oundpl ani ndi cat esal lt hesur r oundi ng bui l di ngs,whi chhoveroverBr yantPar k.TheNew Yor kPubl i cLi br ar y,whi chi sani nval uabl easpectof Br yantPar k,i sshownt or eveal t hespacest hatr esi de oni t smai nl evel . Al lt heot herel ement st hatcont r i but et oBr yantPar k ar ei ndi cat edonal i ght ershade.
fig u re -g ro u n d
g r e e n
s
p
p la n
a
c
e
Ther ei sagr eatbal ancebet weent hegr eenspaces wi t hBr yantpar kandt heaccessr out esi nbet ween. Thesepar at i on ofsmal l ergar densmakest hi sl ar ge spaceseem mor ei nt i mat easyoupassby. TheGr eatLawni nt hecent eri smor ever sat i l ei nuse. I tser vesasat heat er ,st udi ospace,pi cni car ea,concer tspaceandever yt hi ngi nbet ween.
f i xed+evol vi ng
Thi sanal ysi sover l apst hef i xedpat hwayswi t hi nBr yantPar kwi t ht hosecr eat edbyi t suser s.Thebr oader ,mor edi r ectpat hswi t hi nt hespacer i ght f ul l yaccomodat et hel ar gerf l owsofpeopl ewhouset hem.Ther ear eaf ewsubwayent r ancesadj acentt oBr yantpar k,whi chnotonl yaddst ot he f l owofpeopl ewi t hi n,butmakest hi sur banspaceani mpor t antt r anspor t at i onhubaswel l .
40 t hS t r ee t Theset wosket chesr epr esentmove mentt hr ought hepar kandr el at et ot he movementdi agr am.Thef i r stsket chshows t hesceneseenwhenwal ki ngdi r ect l yacr oss t hepar kf r om 42ndSt r eett o40t hSt r eet( t he mostut i l i zedpat hway) .Her e,asyoupasst heNew Yor kPubl i cLi br ar yt oyourl ef t ,t heEmpi r eSt at e Bui l di ngr i sesi nf r ontofyou.Thepat hwayi swel ll i t wi t hsal vagedant i quel i ght sf r om i t sl astr enovat i on ( r epr esent edbyt heci r cul arf or msi nt hesket ch) . The secondskect chi savi ewseenf r om 42ndSt r eetwhen movi ngt owar ds5t hAvenue.TheChysl erBui l di ngi st he mostpr omi nenti nt hi sscene,eveni nt hedi st ance.
5t hA ve nu e
Av en ue of t he Am er i cas
42 nd St r ee t
publ i c+pr i vat e
Thi sanal ysi scompar est hemor epubl i c,expansi vepat hwayswi t ht hemor epr i vat eni chest hatr esi der i ghtadj acent .Thei mpor t anceoft hi sst udy l i esi nhoweachef f ect st heot her ,exchangi ngt hei rpubl i candpr i vat et r ai t st oal lt hosewhot akepar ti nei t herspace. Thel ar gecr osswaysar emadet oseem mor ehumanewi t ht hei ncor por at i onofsoci al humanbehavi orati t sedges.Thi saddsi nt i macyandconnect i onwi t ht hespaceasyouwal kby. Thepr i vat eni chesf eedof foft hosewhopassby.Thi sof f er st hoseseat edever changi ngvi sual scenesandmovement .Thel i vel i nessofBr yantPar k i scr eat edbybot hpubl i candpr i vat ei nconj unct i on.
Theset wosket chesr epr esentt hepubl i candpr i vat eel ement sofBr yantPar k.Thef i r stsket chi st aki ngonapat hway wal ki ngt owar dsAvenueoft heAmer i cas.Youcanseehowt het al lLondonPl anet r eesactasaf i l t r at i on el ementi ndi f f usi ngt hemassi vest r uct ur eswhi chsur r oundt hepar k,causi ngt hi sspacet of eelj ustel uded enoughf r om t heci t y,whi l emai nt ai nganur banset t i ng.
42 nd St r ee t
5t hA ve nu e
Av en ue of t he Am er i cas
I nt hesecondsket ch,Iam seat edonapi eceofmovabl ef ur ni t ur er i ghtout si deBr yantPar k Gr i l l e.Iam f aci ng42ndSt r eet .TheTal lt r eesal soaddcomf or tf ort hoseseat edi n pr i vacy,of foft hepat h.
40 t hS t r ee t
f enci ngl essons r eadi ngr oom Cust omdesi gned car t sf oran ext ensi ve andecl ect i csel ect i onofbooks,per i odi cal s andnewspaper s;r eadi ngsandpr ogr ams atl uncht i me,af t erwor kandf orki ds;movabl ef ur ni t ur et ocr eat eamor ei nt i mat eenvi r onment ;and ki dsi zed car t sand f ur ni t ur ef orchi l dr ent ouse.Thepr ogr ammi ng, publ i cat i ons,andenvi r onmentoft heReadi ng Room ar e avai l abl et o ever yone f or f r ee. i ceskat i ngr i nk/skat er ent al hol i dayshops TheHol i dayShopst r ansf or m Br yantPar k i nt oanol df ashi onedhol i daymar ketst yl ed i nt heEur opeant r adi t i on.Thi sf r eehol i day f ai rf eat ur esmor et han120ar t i sansand mer chant sf r om ar ound t he wor l d.You' l l f i nd speci al pr omot i ons, i ncl udi ng di scount sandsampl es,t hr oughoutt hehol i cel si usl ounge
HBO br yantpar ksummerf i l mf est i val I t ' sasummert r adi t i onandat r ueNewYor k exper i ence.TheHBO Fi l m Fest i valscr eens gr eatf i l mson a gi antscr een on Monday ni ght s.New Yor ker sf l ockt oBr yantPar kt o pi cni cont hel awnandenj oyagr eatf i l m undert hest ar swi t hNYCasabackdr op. r eadi ngr oom yoga Cl assesar et aughtt wi ceaweekbyavar i et y oft al ent ed i nst r uct or s.Mat sar e pr ovi ded f r eeofchar ge,butyoucanbr i ngyourown.
HBO br yantpar kf al lf i l mf est i val Runni ngover8days,Br yantPar kFal l Fest i valpr esent edbyBankofAmer i capr esent s t heper f ectoppor t uni t yt ospendaneveni ng i nt hepar ksoaki ngupsomecul t ur e.Ther e ar eavar i et yofper f or mancesf orvi si t or st o choose f r om i ncl udi ng f unk/ r ock, bal l et , dance,oper a,andj azz. Ci t yWi ner yhast eamedupwi t h' wi chcr af tt o pr ovi der ef r eshment sdur i ngeacheveni ng per f or mance
sum m er autum n
w in te r sp rin g
publ i c+pr ogr am
Br yantPar k’ scont r i but i onofpubl i cpr ogr amst oi t suser si sanot heroneofi t ’ sgr eataspect s.ThePar kst aysconsi st ent l yi nuset hr oughoutt heyear .Al l ofBr yantPar ksannual event sar ef r eet ot hepubl i c,maki ngt hem t hatmuchmor eappeal i ng.Eachoft heevent sshownabovear er eput abl eandwel l r ecogni zed.Asi def r om i t smaj orpubl i cannual event s,Br yantPar kof f er schess,backgammon,pi ngpong,Pet anqueandar i deonLe Car ouselt hr oughoutt heyearandi ti st hehostt omanyconcer t sandot herl ar gepubl i cevent s.
Av en ue of t he Am er i cas
40t hS t r eet
5t hA ve nu e
42 nd St r ee t
Thesesket chescoi nci dewi t hmypubl i c+pr ogr am anal ysi s.They r epr esentacoupl eoft heact i vi t i esBr yantPar kof f er si nt hewi nt erseason. Thef i r stsket chi st aki ngf r om t hecent r alent r anceonAvenueoft heAmer i cas, l ooki ngr i ghti nt ot hepar k.Thever yf i r stt hi ngyouseei st hememor i alf ount ai n. I nt hewi nt erseason,ast hi sanal ysi sshows,Hol i dayshopsar epl acedar oundi tand atl ocat i onsdownot herpat hwaysi nt hepar k. Thesecondsket chshowst hewi nt eract i vi t yofi ceskat i ng.Thi ssket chal soshowshowmanypeopl e act ual l yvi ewt heeventaswel l .Ther ear eal waysl ar gecr owds,notonl yf orwai t i ngt oskat e,butt ovi ew t heact i vi t yaswel l .Iwashappi l yoneoft hem.