Nowadays, technology provides easy access to attraction information on smart phone which travelers can get anywhere. The travel industry is now shifting to personal and local experience which is different from place to place.

This visitor’s center will be a prototype for the other one which will be placed at different borough. Each place will only serve local area where it’s located.

With the growth of sharing economy, the center will connect with local residents to setup local tour. By getting the locals involved in tourism planning, the center will guarantee the authentic experience that visitors cannot get elsewhere.

LOCATION 

This visitors' center is placed in Chelsea Manhattan, under the High Line Deck.

People will have continual sight of the center as they approaching the deck from the High Line Path. The High Line Deck also frames the view of the center through its window.

This location is an area for people to connect with environment and the public with many local activities like city bike, yoga class, view to the Hudson River and the High Line.

Because the visitor’s center is placed at the intersection, pedestrian flow comes from both directions. The corner location serves as an urban punctuation, the place to pause.

As human eye typically perceives the space within the angle of 50 degrees above the eye level, the lower portion of the building wall contains details and articulation that is readable to the human eye.

Taking such opportunity, a dynamic structure is introduced that runs from the façade to the roofing and canopy to serve as spatial attractor and a protection from sun and rain.   

The use of architectural detailing, entries, transparency, and landscape is to increase the complexity at the lower floor. It helps to complement the human scale, engage the walker, and break down the length of the sidewalk.

Getting into the interior experience.

Every visitor has their own way to explore the city. Most travelers see themselves as explorative, self-deciding rather than passive one. The journey will be more memorable if their experience is more engaging.

This place allows travelers to engage through immersive learning with digital display, interact with concierge, personalize their own itinerary on interactive screen, and find companionship with other travelers or local residents.

By combining both cutting edge technology and hospitality experience, travelers are more involved and get more control.

Getting inspiration from the concept of a maze that encourages people to explore and wander the unknown, the interior space is filled with horizontal and vertical grid line. The vertical lines come down as digital displays which direct people to different path. The way people explore the space is self-deciding. The central void serves as a destination where interactive map allows visitors to customize their own itinerary.

The horizontal lines attach to neon light to provide direct lighting, combining with indirect lighting emitted from the screen.

Bringing the inside experience back to the outside to engage more pedestrian, a parklet – a sidewalk extension provides outdoor space for visitor to wait for their local tour or just to people-watch.

Additional digital displays are also available from the outside for quick check-in.

All of those elements incorporate local touch and technology to serve as a meeting point that draws people in.