New York Vessel closed again after four suicides
What will be the future of New York's Vessel? Four suicides force a general reassessment of Manhattan's tourist attraction, [...]
United States of America
What will be the future of the Vessel of New York? Four suicides force a general reassessment of Manhattan's tourist attraction, to Hudson Yards. The facility has once again been closed to visitors and will probably have to undergo some sharp changes to be able to regain permits for opening. However, a permanent closure cannot be ruled out.
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Four suicides at Vessel
It was supposed to be an aesthetically and architecturally sublime attraction. In less than two years, however, there have been four suicides at New York's Vessel. In December 2016, "CNN" recalls, journalist Audrey Wachs wrote about how the 45-meter-high structure had balustrades barely above the average visitor's waist: "When you build something this high, people will jump off". A grim premonition that turned out to be accurate.
The latest case is that of a boy as young as 14 years old. He jumped into the void from the eighth floor of the facility, which he was visiting with his family. It was supposed to turn out to be a scenic facility, but now there is no idea how much it will be able to reopen, or if it will ever do so again. Permits had been granted after two months since the last enforced lockdown because of the extreme gestures made. The new security measures did not help. The system included preventing people from entering the attraction alone. However, the latest suicide occurred, as mentioned, while the young man was in the company of his family. This did not deter him from his intent.
What is Vessel
Designed by the studio of British designer Thomas Heatherwick in 2019, the Vessel represents a flagship for Hudson Yards. An exhilarating attraction consisting of. 154 stairs meeting on well 80 platforms. The entire structure is honeycombed and gives breathtaking views, diversified by the lights (natural and artificial) of the different phases of the day and night.
The basic idea was to propose new perspectives on the city, as well as on the same citizens and tourists scattered everywhere. The mammoth size also allows one to locate different vantage points, favoring original photographic shots and video footage, depending on one's inspiration and imagination.
The Vessel has, needless to say, become a hangout for influencers as well as tourists. Impossible to travel to Manhattan without browsing inside this innovative architectural attraction. Many stopped at the first levels, but there was no shortage of those confronted with a real climb.
As mentioned, 154 flights of stairs built, with a total of nearly 2,500 individual steps and 80 landings. All interconnected beautifully in order to create the effect of a huge spiral staircase. Something that looked like something out of one of the Harry Potter books, albeit with a decidedly more modern look. From the city to the river, to casting your gaze far beyond on the clearest days. What will happen next at the opera? Without a convincing way to secure visitors, it will be doomed to fade away.
