In 2019, Vessel was completed in Hudson Yard (Hudson City Plaza) in midtown Manhattan, New York. Designed by British designer Thomas Heatherwick, Vessel is shaped like a pine cone or a beehive, with interlocking staircases and a modern sci-fi feel, and soon became known as “New York’s Eiffel Tower It soon became known as “New York’s Eiffel Tower” and was a hit. But the opening of less than a year, jumping off the building has three suicides, in order to avoid similar tragedies, Hudson Yard developers in the beginning of this year, announced that Vessel closed indefinitely, until the discussion of the best countermeasures so far.
Thomas Heatherwick’s work has been produced worldwide
Thomas Heatherwick is known as the “Da Vinci of Architecture”, and his works include the Dandelion British Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo, the “Dim Sum Tower” at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, and the “Dessert Tower” at the Shanghai World Expo. Shanghai World Expo, Nanyang Technological University’s “Dim Sum Tower”, Shanghai Bund Organ Financial Centre, 1000 trees on the Suzhou River, and the main torch stand for the London Olympics with bronze petals. He is the author of such landmarks. The most familiar to Hong Kong people is when he led the Heatherwick Studio team to refurbish Pacific Place in 2011, with natural curves and details in every corner.
In addition to architecture, Thomas Heatherwick is also involved in product design and sculpture, including the Spun Chair The “Spun Chair” is a popular and widely used chair around the world because it has both ride and play characteristics. When upright, “Spun Chair” like a sculpture; slightly tilted, the user can use the weight of the infinite rotation at the origin. So far, it has been launched in different materials such as plastic, enamel, leather, granite and other versions, each with its own characteristics.
Vessel inspired by the magic and fun of Indian stepwells
Thomas Heatherwick’s works are often rich in imagination and creativity, making the building not only a building but also a public space in the city, allowing people and space to influence each other.
Thomas Heatherwick says the design is inspired by Indian stairwells, where people at the bottom of the well are drawn to the top of the building and climb up the stairs. Every short walk will lead to a small observation deck that overlooks the bustle of New York or takes in the serenity of the Hudson River. Whether from the exterior or from the interior, it is interesting to see the visual impact from different angles. The main material of the building is reinforced concrete, which was specially shipped from Monfalcone (Italy) to Hudson Yard for assembly on site.
Does architecture affect emotions? Three suicides in one year
Beginning in 2020, a college freshman, a 24-year-old woman suffering from depression, and a 21-year-old man leapt from the Vessel, prompting discussion about the building’s design flaws.
Audrey Wachs, former associate editor of The Architect’s Newspaper, pointed to the Vessel as a safety hazard before the tragedy continued to unfold: “Even though the railing is kept above waist level, it is not a safety hazard. Although the height of the railing is kept above the waist, but people stand high, there will always be the impulse to jump off. Jennifer Hames, a professor of clinical psychology who specializes in suicidal behavior in the United States, named this imaginary impulse to jump as “High Places Phenomenon”.
Vessel’s pinecone or beehive-like appearance has also been criticized for its vertigo-prone feel. In addition, the building is covered with polished red copper, and people’s emotions may be affected by the color shift and become unstable. Dr. Jill Harkavy-Friedman, vice president of research at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, suggested that the building should be designed to prevent suicide. “Suicide prevention should be taken into account in the design of buildings, because people never know who might be in danger. “
Researchers urge communication to create better buildings
Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden) researcher Charlotta Thodelius, combining sociology, criminology and architecture, said that in Vessel, all those who kill themselves are young people. Their suicides are sudden and often very impulsive; no matter how high the walls are, they cannot stop the determination to end their lives. She added that the frequent occurrence of suicides cannot be blamed only on the lack of safety considerations in architecture: “From civil engineers, property security personnel, psychiatrists and even local authorities, different industries should work together to examine and analyze each potentially dangerous place, so that we can come up with effective measures to prevent suicide. effective measures to prevent suicide. ”
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