Thomas Heatherwick's "Vessel" Will Be an Endless Staircase in New York's Hudson Yards

Acclaimed and controversial British designer Thomas Heatherwick has unveiled renderings of “Vessel,” a mammoth stairway to nowhere. The structure stands 15 stories tall, weighs 600 tons and is filled with 2,500 climbable steps. “Vessel” will be situated in Hudson Yards on the Far West Side and will be completed in 2018. Housing 154 intricately interconnecting flights of stairs, the renderings are reminiscent of M.C. Escher’s work. Heatherwick derived inspiration for the structure from Indian stepwells, hoping to provide a free space for New Yorkers to exert themselves. “New Yorkers have a fitness thing,” remarked Heatherwick. “We had to think of what could act as the role of a landmarker,” he added. “Something that could help give character and particularity to the space.” Learn more on the unveiling here.