The Battery

Plazas, Public Realm Frameworks, Urban Furniture, Waterfronts

New York, NY

2005

Bringing New Life to Manhattan's Historic Battery

Once a barren stretch of asphalt, our design for the Battery Bosque transformed it into a verdant, inviting destination. Designed as a “porch” to the waterfront, it provides spaces to sit, eat, play, and explore amidst the garden designed by Piet Oudolf and harbor views.

Pathways lined with dense foliage and trees lead to a waterfront in a vibrant urban park. — Curvilinear pathways and lush plantings frame views of the New York Harbor.

Designing a resilient yet dynamic public space meant reconciling the rigorous demands of daily use with the ambition for architectural innovation. The site’s historical legacy further intensified the challenge, requiring a solution that seamlessly integrates contemporary design with a thoughtful dialogue between past and present, while forging a lasting connection to the harbor.

A cyclist rides past a kiosk surrounded by foliage with the New York Harbor in the background. — A sustainable hardwood kiosk is situated among the plantings.

Our design introduces a series of transformative elements to the Battery Bosque, creating a dynamic and enduring public space. The design of the waterfront park elements echoes the circle of the Battery with a new curvilinear park geometry. Benches that follow the form of the landscape and kiosks made of certified sustainably harvested hardwood were designed to be long-lasting while using a minimal amount of material for fabrication.

The garden, envisioned by Dutch arborist Piet Oudolf, weaves together 34,000 perennial plants, 70,000 bulbs, and 140 mature London plane trees into a lush, four-season tapestry of color and texture. Lighting by Linnaea Tillett further enhances the space, with bronze “firefly” bollards illuminating the park’s pathways and kiosks. Our sustainably designed food kiosks, constructed from certified hardwood, serve as functional and aesthetic anchors and blend utility with elegance.

Children play in a fountain under a canopy of tall trees with sunlight filtering through. — Dappled sunlight filters through London plane trees, framing a playful moment at the Battery Bosque fountain

We collaborated with landscape designers Starr Whitehouse and Piet Oudolf to design a completely new environment for the Battery Bosque.

Curved wooden benches sit near lush gardens with views of the New York Harbor in the distance. — Curved benches and layered plantings create an inviting area for pedestrians.

The Battery Bosque has revitalized the southern tip of Manhattan, transforming it into a vibrant public space that welcomes millions of visitors each year. Its lush plantings, inviting benches, and playful features create a destination where locals and tourists alike can relax, connect, and explore. As the first unfenced, admission-free horticultural landscape in a New York City park, the Bosque sets a new standard for accessible, community-focused design.