Will New York Build The World’s Largest Pop-up Culture Venue?

Architizer News

Will New York Build The World’s Largest Pop-up Culture Venue?

February 18, 2013

Left image via Vulture; right image via Curbed

Usually pop-ups are relegated to the tiny and the temporary, like Zaha’s pop-up hair salon or this hammam-turned-library in Bulgaria. But if the ambitious Hudson Yards development continues apace, come 2017 the city may bestow on itself one of its fanciest architectural toys yet: a 150-foot-tall giant glass box outfitted with a hideaway synthetic shell that can glide out and enclose a public plaza.

Like a modern-day Crystal Palace, the 170,000-square-foot Culture Shed—designed by Diller, Scofidio + Renfro and David Rockwell—will be an insta-venue that can house programming from all over the city, from Fashion Week to large-scale art installations to heretofore-unthinkable collaborations between the city’s artists, musicians, and performers.

“The Culture Shed encourages the city to shed those old definitions of culture,” Justin Davidson writes at Vulture. “It will operate the way the Forum did in Ancient Rome, as a neutral meeting ground where ideas can be incubated and influences exchanged.” Read more!

Culture Shed proposal, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, David Rockwell

When not in use, the Culture Shed will nestle inside a new apartment building also designed by DS+R and Rockwell. The site abuts the High Line at West 30th Street, near 11th Avenue. Earlier this month, reported Crain’s, the City Planning Commission submitted the plan to the local community board for review. Per the city, the designers have kept the details of the design largely under wraps. But we do know that the shed’s primary entrance will be under the High Line at 30th Street, with others on the Hudson Yards platform. In addition to apartments, the building will house three indoor galleries and one rooftop gallery and café.

A large public plaza is also planned for Hudson Yards. Image © Nelson Byrd Woltz

“There have been a lot of shows New York has wanted, and that have wanted to come to New York, that we were not able to get in the past,” said Laurie Beckelman, a consultant on the project, told Crain’s New York. “This creates a tremendous opportunity for the city to host all kinds of new art.”