The Mall: The Mall in Central Park is framed with a tree canopy and allee. These shape the vanishing points and perspective views of occupants and passersby.
Central Park, mid park
Photographed June 19, 2010
In addition to tree cover, the Mall offers seating, scattered sunlight and opportunities for people to congregate.
People use the Mall in one of three ways: as a pedestrian thoroughfare, as a place to rest on a park bench or as place to congregate. Typically passersby are in groups of two or more while benches are occupied by one to three people. People choose to congregate around a performance, such as jugglers, or around comrades located at one of the benches. Most passersby travel on the right side of the path, few walk in the middle or against the flow of traffic. Thus I observed five levels of activity along the Mall:
1. Resting
2. Low to moderate activity - individual - ex. walking, talking, watching a show
3. Low to moderate activity - group
4. Moderate to intense activity - individual - ex. jogging, running, cycling, juggling
5. Moderate to intense activity - group
Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir: The Reservoir is Central Park's largest water feature and has three levels of concentric framing: a pedestrian path, foliage and a building scape.
Central Park, mid-north
Photographed June 19, 2010
The path offers seating along the edge of the reservoir and along the edge of the tree cover. Gradiated tree cover allows the center of the reservoir to receive direct sunlight while the edges of the reservoir are periodically shaded throughout the day.
The photograph shows an intimately coiffed space appropriate for two to gather for low intensity activities. Such spaces are too small for large groups and too voyeuristic for individuals. This pocket of space has a direct view to the reservoir, is intimately lined with foliage while maintaining a moderate level of openness and is directly adjacent to a footpath; characteristics that are pseudo - secluded and fitting for pairs.
The path offers seating along the edge of the reservoir and along the edge of the tree cover. Gradiated tree cover allows the center of the reservoir to receive direct sunlight while the edges of the reservoir are periodically shaded throughout the day.
The photograph shows an intimately coiffed space appropriate for two to gather for low intensity activities. Such spaces are too small for large groups and too voyeuristic for individuals. This pocket of space has a direct view to the reservoir, is intimately lined with foliage while maintaining a moderate level of openness and is directly adjacent to a footpath; characteristics that are pseudo - secluded and fitting for pairs.
Bethesda Terrace: Sun-kissed Bethesda Terrace is outlined with grassland and sunbathers; lake and sailboats; 72nd street and cyclists. Visitors gather around the fountain and along the upper parapet wall to take on the role of subject and object.
Central Park, southern end
Photographed June 19, 2010
The seating around Bethesda Fountain is the only seating available in the hard scape, leaving it highly transient. Its grand scale without periodic pockets of sanctuary discourage engagement and congregation within the space.
Recessed tree cover allows direct sunlight into the terrace. This coupled with the terrace's scale will cause users of the space to tend towards groups rather than pairs or individuals.
Photographed June 19, 2010
The seating around Bethesda Fountain is the only seating available in the hard scape, leaving it highly transient. Its grand scale without periodic pockets of sanctuary discourage engagement and congregation within the space.
