Dezeen Magazine

H-Line hat by ZHA

Zaha Hadid Architects models sinuous H-Line hat on 520 West 28th project

Zaha Hadid Architects has translated the swooping shapes of its recently completed condos beside New York's High Line into a blue and white headwear design, for a "hat-themed" party on the elevated park.

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) director Patrik Schumacher led the team on the design of the H-Line hat. It will be worn during a fashion show at a fundraising event for the hugely popular High Line park, taking place tomorrow, 14 June 2018. Everyone at the party is required to wear some form of headgear.

H-Line hat by ZHA

ZHA's hat is modelled on the firm's 520 West 28th residential building, built beside the elevated park in New York's trendy Chelsea neighbourhood.

Curving up at the top to form a peak and then swooping down at the back into a point, the hat follows the sinuous forms found across its facades. Slender, diagonal perforations puncture the 3D-printed nylon headwear, mirroring the building's curved metallic window frames.

H-Line hat by ZHA

"The fluid chevrons of 520 West 28th's facade weave up the building, conveying its split levels and demarcating each residence within," said ZHA in a statement. "The H-Line hat echoes these chevrons, weaving around the wearer with open and closed forms."

The headgear is similar to a collection of 3D-printed hats created by milliner Gabriela Ligenza. But ZHA has added colour, with a blue rim that blends into white at the centre.

H-Line hat by ZHA

Non-profit Friends of the High Line organised the High Line Party as part of its mission to raise 98 per cent of the annual budget for the park's maintenance.

As well as maintaining the public walkway, Friends of the High Line was among those who originally campaigned to transform the once-abandoned freight rail line into the park. Architecture studio Diller Scofidio + Renfro and landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations completed the design.

H-Line hat by ZHA

Since the High Line opened in 2009, there has been a boom in construction in the surrounding area that remains ongoing. 520 West 28th completed earlier this year as part of this wave.

The 11-storey structure includes 39 private residences and a variety of luxury amenities, like a skylit swimming pool, a striated IMAX theatre and a bright gymnasium. It is also the only building in New York City designed by ZHA's late founder, British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid.

Also along the park, BIG is constructing a pair of twisting towers, Studio Gang is building the glass tower that is "sculpted by the angles of the sun", and Thomas Heatherwick has proposed condo buildings with bulging orb-like windows.

Photography is by Luke Hayes.

Project credits:

Designer: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Patrik Schumacher
Design team: Johannes Schafelner, Stella Dourtme, Marius Cernica, Weilong Xie
Special thanks to: Alessandra Lazzoni, Michela Falcone