New York’s Eiffel Tower

Designed by British architect Thomas Heatherwick, the Vessel in Hudson Yards is one of New York’s boldest modern landmarks. Standing 150 feet tall with 154 interconnected staircases and 80 landings, it was inspired by an old wooden staircase Heatherwick saw in a scrapyard—reimagined into a climbable, geometric sculpture meant to spark curiosity and play. His goal was to create a public space that feels interactive, like a vertical park or a giant jungle gym. It’s so visually striking and endlessly photogenic that I may or may not have taken enough photos to fill all 154 flights—twice.