flatiron-sky-line-untapped-cities-afinelyne-001LOT’s Flatiron Sky-Line, the winner of the Third Annual Flatiron Public Plaza Holiday Design Competition

The winner of the Third Annual Flatiron Public Plaza Holiday Design Competition was unveiled at the intersection of Fifth Avenue, Broadway and 23rd Street this week, and we were on hand for the opening reception. Sponsored by the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership Improvement District (BID), and the Van Alen Institute, the winning proposal was conceived by the architectural design firm, LOT, based in New York and Greece.

Entitled Flatiron Sky-Line, the series of ten large contiguous arches come alive with the addition of suspended hammocks, lined in LED lights inside the white powder-coated steel tubes. The hammocks are situated in clear view of the historic Flatiron Building and Empire State Building, and in between Madison Square Park and Eataly.

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If this installation would have opened just two days ago, we would be lounging in t-shirts and shorts. But in true New York spirit, despite the temperature in the high thirties, the enthusiasm for the installation and the swinging hammocks did not wane. And what did those loungers do when they secured a coveted hammock? Why, they put down their hot chocolate, pulled off their mittens and pulled out their cell phones – to snap a photo, and even chat with friends, horizontally, while gazing at the sky.

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flatiron-partnership-and-van-alen-institute-untapped-cities-afinelyneLive music by The Jazz Gallery

Flatiron Sky-Line is part of the 23 Days of Flatiron Cheer, with a full calendar of accompanying programming. You can follow the installation by the hashtag #FlatironSkyline, on Twitter and Instagram. Flatiron Sky-Line is permitted through NYC DOT Art.

hammocks-at-flatiron-untapped-cities-afinelyneSmall bites from ilili BOX and hot chocolate sampling from Shack Shack

Check out the 2015 winner of the design competition. Discover the Top 10 Secrets of the Flatiron Building. You can contact the author at AFineLyne.