San Francisco Residence

In the landscape of 21st-century architecture, few projects have captured the public imagination quite like the High Line. What began as a proposal to transform a derelict freight rail line into an elevated public park has become one of New York’s most beloved destinations, welcoming over 8 million visitors annually.

But beyond its bold vision and transformative impact on Manhattan’s West Side, the High Line offers something rarer: a living case study in how thoughtfully chosen materials can mature alongside the spaces they inhabit.

The material selection for the High Line was never about following trends. When the design team—comprising Diller Scofidio + Renfro and James Corner Field Operations—began sourcing elements for the park, they sought materials that could hold their own against both the industrial heritage of the site and the wild landscape design that would define it.

During this time it was also brought to light that many FSC Certified sources of Ipe were being unethically harvested. The design team shifted focus to Marble Mountain as a trusted source for sustainable wood and proceeded with confidence on the materials being used.