Dezeen Magazine

Pier 55 by Thomas Heatherwick

Barry Diller launches "one last attempt" to revive Heatherwick's Pier 55 for New York

Media mogul Barry Diller is making a last-ditch effort to build Thomas Heatherwick's "treasure island" park on the Hudson River, despite abandoning the plans last month.

Diller issued a statement today outlining his revived enthusiasm for Pier 55, after announcing he was cancelling it on 13 September 2017.

"I'm going to make one last attempt to revive the plans to build the park, so that the intended beneficiaries of our endeavour can fall in love with Pier55 in the way all of us have," said the billionaire chairman of media group IAC, who is funding the project.

Pier 55 by Thomas Heatherwick

He said that the people of New York had spurred him to "put aside the disappoints and difficulties" he experienced during the ongoing battle to construct the pier.

Although it had gained planning permission, the project came up against a series of court challenges and permit issues, resulting in costs ballooning to $250 million.

Its main opponent was advocacy group City Club of New York, which argued that the structure was not suitable for its proposed location in a protected estuary.

Pier 55 by Thomas Heatherwick

Diller now needs to reinstate his agreement with the Hudson River Park Trust, which would manage the public space, and regain the various construction and operation permits for the project.

"We'll need to know that the plaintiffs will not reinstate their litigation," said Diller. "And with all that, we'll joyfully proceed."

Heatherwick, who first unveiled the design for Pier 55 in November 2014, told Dezeen he was saddened by Diller's decision to abandon the project when it was announced.

Pier 55 by Thomas Heatherwick

The British designer – whose Garden Bridge has a similarly journey before it scrapped in August – described Pier 55 as a "treasure island".

His proposal comprises a series of green areas and event spaces supported by a cluster of mushroom-shaped columns stretching 56 metres from the Chelsea shoreline into the Hudson River.

Dezeen has contacted Heatherwick Studio for comment. Read Diller's full statement below: