Deconstructing the high line: The representation and reception of nature in post-industrial urban park design

The aim of this thesis is to study how nature is represented and perceived through the lens of cultural values which influence the development, design and reception of public park spaces. This research uses the High Line in New York City (designed by Field Operations and DillerScofidio + Renfro) as a case study to explore how underlying values about nature have influenced its development as an elevated rail, an abandoned infrastructure and now a celebrated model for reuse as a park. In 2009 the space was opened to the public as a re-interpreted eco-typical botanic garden portraying an idealized nature and showcasing "wild nature" as its own aesthetic. Drawing from Semiotic and Reception theory, this thesis analyzes how modes of representation have been used to construct particular meanings and ideologies about the landscape. These values are revealed through the semiotic manifestation of both material and immaterial signs which influence a visitor's reception and experience of nature.;The development of the High Line exemplifies the polarity between the cultural ideal of the static and orderly garden and the messy processes of wild nature. This thesis argues that while the space's history as a "wilderness" inspired its preservation, its design and development indicate a continued value for the idealized representation of nature through Picturesque representation and the selective editing of site history.