Learning from the High Line

An event exploring New York’s High Line as a model for reimagining redundant infrastructure.

In December 2024, the Gateshead flyover was suddenly closed after the discovery of structural defects that could have led to its collapse. The closure led to immediate and extensive transport disruption, with traffic diverted to surrounding roads and the Metro suspended. Strengthening work has allowed the Metro to now run safely, but with the flyover unlikely to ever re-open, the disruption looks set to continue, with significant economic effects on local shops and businesses.

Coinciding with our Flyover Futures ideas competition exploring speculative alternative futures for the Gateshead flyover, this event focuses one of the most significant infrastructure transformation projects of the 21st century: the High Line in New York. Matthew Johnson, lead designer of the High Line and former principal at Diller, Scofidio + Renfro, joins us via Zoom to explore the origins of the project to reimagine a redundant elevated railway as a linear park, the process of bringing it to realisation and its impact on the city and influence globally.

After Matthew’s presentation, there will be a discussion exploring what the renewal, reuse and re-imagination of redundant transportation infrastructure, such as the Gateshead flyover, might look like and what it could offer its towns and cities: from the environmental and economic upsides, to the opportunities for supporting health, wellbeing and civic pride by creating a new green space.

Speakers

Matthew Johnson – Former Principal at Diller Scofidio + Renfro overseeing the art, multimedia, cultural and public space projects for 23 years. At DS+R, Matthew was designer and director of the High Line in New York City.

Dr Alistair Ford – Senior Lecturer in Geospatial Data Analytics and School X Climate Fellow at Newcastle University. He is part of DARe – the National Hub for Decarbonised, Adaptable, and Resilient Transport Infrastructures – which works to find solutions for a transition to a resilient, net zero transport system that works for all.

This event was originally scheduled for Thursday 13 March.

City Forum

This event forms part of the Farrell Centre’s City Forum series – regular space to explore a range of issues that shape our experience of the city today.

Image credit: AI-generated of the Gateshead flyover reimagined as an urban park.