Lincoln Center Has Officially Been Transformed Into A Massive Public Lawn

Thoughts of Lincoln Center's Josie Robertson Plaza typically conjure up images of gilded cosmopolitan glamour - black tie galas, evenings at the opera, and even, once upon a time, New York Fashion Week.

Iconic as the scene is in the city, the full experience has admittedly been reserved for a particular subset of moneyed New Yorkers. But now, the cultural hub is embracing a more democratized approach to the arts, and welcoming back patrons and visitors with a completely transformed new green space. 

Open to the public starting this week, Lincoln Center has debuted "The GREEN," a reimagining of the iconic plaza, fountain and all, as a massive urban lawn. Part art installation, part oasis, the project was realized in collaboration with award-winning set designer Mimi Lien, who covered the 14,000-square-foot concrete space in recyclable, biobased "SYNLawn" turf that resembles real grass. 

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“When invited to consider how the physical space of Josie Robertson Plaza could be re-envisioned to be a more inclusive and inviting environment, I immediately thought that by changing the ground surface from hard paving stones with no seating to a material like grass, suddenly anyone would be able to sit anywhere,” Lien said in a statement. 

In addition to laying out in the "grass," visitors can lounge around in turf-covered arm chairs and on sculptures which seem to spring up from the ground. 

As a part of Lincoln Center's broader reopening project, Restart Stages, the green space will feature rotating food vendors, pop-ups, and even free surprise performances.

Well, we know where we'll be 'gramming from this summer...

[Photo via Lincoln Center]