Today Michael Wyetzner of Michielli + Wyetzner Architects joins AD in New York for an in-depth walking tour of Central Park. Everything in Central Park got there by considered choice, not by nature, and the park as we know it today is the result of a design competition held in the 1850s. From hidden through-roads to its calming bodies of water, join Michael as he walks you through why Central Park is the best-designed city park in the world.

How long can a building survive? New York is a city famous for its relentless evolution but it’s not a place that’s particularly sentimental about its legacy when something shiny and new comes around. The economic engine that made Manhattan one of the densest skyscraper forests in the world is the same that has brutally destroyed many of its historical gems. Protected status can offer some protection for buildings, but that doesn’t make it a done deal. While that might be a matter of survival, what does it take for a historic tower to really thrive? In a city where multi billion dollar skyscrapers set the tone of the debate, what can older buildings still offer other than heritage?

The Woolworth Building may be one of the city's most iconic skyscrapers but its chequered history has not always lived up to its grand appearance. Built at the start of the skyscraper boom in a style that quickly went out of fashion and with a huge maintenance bill, the story of its survival tells us a lot about how a building lives in the Big Apple.

Tom Delgado takes you on a tour of the Manhattan neighborhood of Kips Bay in New York City. He tells you about the Revolutionary War, Robert Moses, CUNY, the Armory Show, and Curry Hill. Shot by Cameron Burton. Music by Shakir Standley.