Film screening "Elevated Thinking: The High Line in New York City" (2003)

Rising thirty feet on platforms above the streets in Manhattan in New York, the abandoned High Line railroad was once a symbol of urban decay. Now it has become one of the world’s most iconic new urban landmarks. "Elevated Thinking: The High Line in New York City" shows the stunning transformation of an unpromising industrial structure into a widely acclaimed public space. This documentary details the remarkable efforts of a group of neighborhood activists, real estate developers, philanthropists, city officials. and the architects, designers, and landscapers who created this model of urban imagination that is now celebrated as a monument to community-led activism, adaptive re-use of urban infrastructure, and innovative ecological design.

After the screening, join us for a discussion with Bozhena Zakaliuzhna of the Jam Factory on the lessons of the High Line and the challenges of Lviv’s post-industrial transformation.

"Cinematic Visions. American Cities and Architecture in Documentaries" is a series of film screenings which will be held from February to June. We will view films and discuss architecture through the lens of American movies. The American experience in shaping architectural trends, urban planning, and design in the Modern and post-Modern eras has been celebrated and vilified through the cinematic lens. Our newly launched film series Cinematic Visions explores, celebrates, and deplores the visual legacies of American society. Monthly screenings will offer interpretations of American efforts in contemporary architecture, urban construction (and deconstruction), as well as related topics.

Credits

Сover Image:  The 23rd St. Lawn and Seating Steps. Still from "Elevated Thinking: The High Line in New York City" (2003)