The latest waterside attraction to adorn the Lower East Side is Pier 35. Just five-minutes from the condos at One Manhattan Square, this nautical oasis of green space, sustainable architecture, and stunning views is there to remind residents that they are truly island-dwellers. Let’s take a look at what Pier 35 has to offer.
Connect With NYC’s Nautical Side
Pier 35 is all about giving New Yorkers a tangible sense of the city’s nautical environment. The folded terrain of dunes and lawns in this eco-park — envisioned by SHoP Architects and Ken Smith Workshop — reflects the rising and dipping tides of the rivers by which Manhattan sits. You might start your day on Pier 35 with a spot of waterside tai chi on one of the landscaped lawns while enjoying the sunrise over Brooklyn. Elsewhere, porch swings invite you to recline and relax while watching the river flow. Or, you can take an evening stroll across walkways and footbridges, admiring views of the Manhattan Bridge and the Dumbo neighborhood across the water.
At the Forefront of Sustainability
Pier 35 wasn’t built to just look good; at every twist and turn, sustainability is at the forefront of the architects’ vision. An angular metal canopy, which glows golden in the evenings, will eventually be covered in lush Virginia creeper and Boston ivy; at more than 300 feet long and up to 35 feet high, it’s the largest screen of its kind in New York. The same screen hides a sanitation shed on a neighboring pier. A rocky beach — constructed with purposefully placed boulders and intentionally ridged concrete — provides a habitat for ribbed and blue mussels. Efficient, long-lasting LED lights illuminate Pier 35 after dark; they’re cleverly integrated into the park’s wooden bench seating, so views of the water remain unimpeded.
Part of the Bigger Picture
Pier 35 is, in fact, the final piece in the jigsaw of a wider redevelopment project along this stretch of Manhattan: the East River Waterfront Esplanade. Spanning 1.5 miles between the Financial District and the Lower East Side, the esplanade encourages locals to feel more connected with the waterfront. There is a lot to do in this waterside space: bike in a 24-hour cycleway; play bocce or basketball orsip a cocktail at Watermark Bar; picnic on recreational piers; And, after you’ve spent some quality time on the esplanade, you can continue to appreciate the natural side of NYC at your One Manhattan Square condo by taking advantage of its relaxation lawns, herb garden, adult treehouse, and stargazing observatory.