Elite subterranean space is not a part of New York’s architectural narrative. But there is necessarily more of it than you think. The skyscraper is the primary visual symbol of a city synonymous with verticality, and the punishing scarcity of interior space constantly tempts us to assume most important events unfold out in the open—that Manhattan’s colossal reef of concrete, steel, and glass isn’t merely the tip of a much larger iceberg. When the city needs more space it expands upward, leaving the underground available for infrastructure and mole people. In London, where comparable expansion is frequently blocked by the city’s heritage designations, they excavate, creating “iceberg homes” with massive multi-level basements stuffed full of luxurious amenities—swimming pools, cinemas, and wine cellars.

#186: Lake of Fire - by Drew Austin - Kneeling Bus