Vessel

“If Eiffel Tower is to Paris, Vessel is to New York City” – this statement alone from the developer behind Hudson Yards where the Vessel is located shows how this $200 million amphitheater is more than what meets the eye.

Rising at 150 feet, this climbable sculpture sitting above railway lines in New York City’s priciest neighborhood, the Hudson Yards, features 150 interconnected staircases with nearly 2,500 steps and 80 landings. For the mobility-challenged, a well-designed funicular escalator sits on the interior of the Vessel.

This 16-story climbable structure, according to designer Thomas Heatherwick, is partially inspired by Indian step wells where people descend through staircases to reach the water. The mesmerizing visual effect offered by its repetitive steps, flights, and landings allowed the studio to transform the Vessel into something memorable – a structure that visitors can use, touch, and interact with.

Since its public launching in 2019, the Vessel was already awarded multiple aliases. From “365-day Christmas tree,” a honeycomb, to giant shawarma, all of these nicknames share a common denominator. As the designer himself sees it, the Vessel is neither a building nor a sculpture. Instead, it serves as urban furniture where people are invited to climb, hence the surge of over 1,000 aspiring visitors upon its opening.

Reaching the apex of the Vessel allows visitors two completely different views in a turn of the back. Outside, a breathtaking view of the Hudson River and Manhattan awaits them. Inside, a view of a seemingly endless architectural framework of raw and painted steel contrasts with its copper-polished steel underside, mirroring the city around it.

Despite the Vessel as an epicenter of public activity, its main use is, in fact, subjective – open to interpretation. While commonly perceived as a public congregation space, the Vessel encompasses a variety of natures and uses, making it more interesting.

Just as its virtually endless maze and non-prescriptive function, the Vessel is not the final name of the structure. Amid the conundrums surrounding its name and intended use, the Vessel perfectly describes the dynamic choreography of the everyday New York life – endless walking and rushing through subway stairs; which further amplifies the chaotic, urban dance inside the Big Apple.