Transformation of an obsolete railway heritage into an urban landscape: The High Line case

Industrial heritage comprises the physical remnants of structures, spaces, and infrastructure that served production, transportation, and energy-related activities during and after the Industrial Revolution. Railways, as one of the most significant components of industrial heritage, have played a decisive role in shaping urban memory through spatial representations of industrialization. This study examines the transformation of a railway into an urban landscape through adaptive reuse by addressing the High Line as a case study within the context of spatial problems arising from the obsolescence of railway heritage. It analyzes this process in both temporal and spatial dimensions. The research is based on a qualitative methodology and utilizes data obtained from literature review, archival documents, on-site observations, and visual materials. The transformation process of the High Line is evaluated through four main periods: use as a railway line, abandonment and spontaneous vegetation growth, design and construction phase, and use as a public green space. Each period is analyzed in terms of function/current use, physical structure, vegetation characteristics, and landscape character/spatial perception. The findings reveal that while the physical structure largely maintained continuity throughout the transformation process, significant changes occurred in function, planting design, and spatial perception. In particular, incorporating vegetation that developed spontaneously during the abandonment period as a reference in the design process demonstrates the considerable potential of ecological processes and spatial memory within adaptive reuse approaches. Consequently, High Line Park serves as a qualified example of industrial heritage conservation, sustainable urban transformation, and public space production, offering important insights for planning and design processes aimed at reintegrating obsolete railway infrastructure into contemporary urban contexts.