Snøhetta's proposal for 550 Madison Ave. garden is approved in New York

Snøhetta's design for the public garden and revitalization of the Phillip Johnson and John Burgee-designed 550 Madison Avenue building received unanimous approval from the New York City Planning Commission last month. The design transforms the building's public space into an expansive vegetated garden, seeking to encourage the implementation of privately-owned public space (POPS). 

“Privately-owned public spaces are a critical part of New York City’s public realm. Urban life thrives in and around spaces that allow us to connect with one another and to nature,” said Michelle Delk, Partner and Director of Landscape Architecture at Snøhetta in a statement.

The new project will open up the public access to the west end of the building, creating a series of "outdoor rooms" that undulate between quiet, more intimate spaces, and larger, more open areas. Currently devoid of much greenery, the new design proposes...