NYC Architecture and Development

[datadyne007]

This explains a lot.

NYC’S $1.3B SUPERTALL SKYSCRAPER WAS INSPIRED BY A TRASH CAN

AUTHOR: MARGARET RHODES
DATE OF PUBLICATION: 06.02.15.
TIME OF PUBLICATION: 10:27 AM.

432 Park Avenue is the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere. It was inspired, say the architect and developer, by this 1905 trash can by Austrian designer Josef Hoffman.
DBOX FOR CIM GROUP/MACKLOWE PROPERTIES, NEUE GALERIE

INSPIRATION IS OFTEN mystifying, but this is especially weird: the exterior of 432 Park Avenue, the new luxury condo tower and tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, was inspired by a trash can. For a building that’s been panned by the media as “a genuine clunker,” the layup joke is almost too obvious.

To be fair, the wastebasket-turned-muse in question isn’t a ratty plastic bin, it’s an elegant metal example by Wiener Werkstätte (Vienna Workshops) designer Josef Hoffmann that now retails for $225. In a lecture last year, the building’s architect, Rafael Viñoly, said that while “there are so many inspirations,” Hoffmann’s work in particular inspired the grid-like exterior of 432 Park. As originally reported by The Real Deal, at a more recent lecture in December, 432 Park Avenue’s developer Harry Macklowe echoed Viñoly, saying that the gridded pattern on the Hoffmann bin heavily influenced the cubic facade. Indeed, if you look at the two designs side by side, the design twinning is undeniable.

...

Full article: http://www.wired.com/2015/06/nycs-1-3b-supertall-skyscraper-inspired-trash-can

 

[393b40]

432 has definitely grown on me.

 

[datadyne007]

2 WTC Shakeup! BIG has entered the arena!

BIG Replaces Foster, Unveils Plans for 2 World Trade Center
09JUN2015 by Karissa Rosenfield

BIG has revealed plans for the fourth and final skyscraper planned for the World Trade Center site - the 2 World Trade Center (2 WTC) - confirming rumors that the Danish architect has replaced Norman Foster as the project’s architect.

As announced by WIRED, the controversial take over is the result of James Murdoch’s distaste for Foster’s decade-old scheme and preference for a more integrated workplace. Though the foundation of Foster’s building has already been built, the BIG scheme will now be realized and become the new headquarters of Rupert Murdoch’s media companies, 21st Century Fox and News Corp.

Designed as seven unique building stacked on top of each other, the stepped 2 WTC tower will rise 1,340 feet – a height that would make it Manhattan’s third-tallest building if built today.

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Full article: http://www.archdaily.com/640530/big-replaces-foster-unveils-plans-for-2-world-trade-center/

 

[fattony]

I want to like this, but man they made it difficult. The terraces are spectacular, but the building looks ready to topple over at any minute. And it's pretty chunky from some angles. I really liked the original design for 2WTC, at least for its skyline impact. This building will probably be amazing for the employees of Fox and News Corp, but for everybody who never walks through the doors it's just so cumbersome.

 

[Downburst]

I normally like BIG, but I'm finding it hard to like this design. To be fair, however, I'd probably like it better if I didn't know what it was replacing.

 

[datadyne007]

I'm glad I wasn't alone in liking Foster's 2 WTC. I really don't like this BIG tower. It's so boxy. Just sloppy massing. It puts an overbearing damper on the whole site, tbqh.

 

[vanshnookenraggen]

From my Facebook feed:

Agreed! The Bjarke Ingels Pyramid on the West Side is probably the most interesting project in Manhattan at the moment, but this is a snooze. Here's hoping Norman Foster recycles 2 WTC elsewhere -- it was my favorite of the bunch as well!

Actually if he did it would be much more successful. The WTC suffers from a lack of overall cohesion. As separate buildings they are all fine. If built in midtown the old 2 WTC would be an icon it could never hope to be downtown.

 

[kz1000ps]

kz, where is this

Sorry to reply so late but this is up in Washington Heights around 161st Street. It's called the Jumel Terrace Historic District and this street in particular is Sylvan Terrace, one of the few remaining wood framed housing blocks in Manhattan.

 

[kz1000ps]

Another month, another batch of pics:

 

[kz1000ps]

Well well well.... 7 months into living in NYC and I definitely have some thoughts on the place by now, namely that it is definitely, without a doubt a love/hate relationship.

 

[statler]

Did...did she just make a klein bottle out of bubbles? That's impressive!

 

[Justin7]

a love/hate relationship.

Let's see some photos of trash days in Manhattan. (This is what I remember hating most.)

 

[BeeLine]

KZ, beautiful photo set. Thanks much for keeping in touch.

 

[Arlington]

Can anyone recommend a few high-and-free places from which to view Midtown and Downtown Manhattan? If not in Manhattan, maybe good views from a tall hotel or public building in Brooklyn, Jersey City, or Long Island City from which to look out at the city?

 

[deh74]

Can anyone recommend a few high-and-free places from which to view Midtown and Downtown Manhattan? If not in Manhattan, maybe good views from a tall hotel or public building in Brooklyn, Jersey City, or Long Island City from which to look out at the city?

I'm also interested in the answer to this question as I'll be in New York for a few days and would love to get some good pics.

 

[kz1000ps]

Let's see some photos of trash days in Manhattan. (This is what I remember hating most.)

I'm up for the challenge! And every day is trash day in Manhattan.

As for free views, I have no idea. Vanshnookenblahblah would probably have some good leads.

 

[vanshnookenraggen]

Can anyone recommend a few high-and-free places from which to view Midtown and Downtown Manhattan? If not in Manhattan, maybe good views from a tall hotel or public building in Brooklyn, Jersey City, or Long Island City from which to look out at the city?

Best bet is in Hamilton Park in Weehawken, NJ. It's a cliff overlooking midtown. Also check out Brooklyn Heights Promenade for views of downtown. Tall buildings with public observation decks don't exist outside of a couple buildings in Manhattan. There are plenty of buildings with roof decks but you have to know someone who lives or works in the building.

 

[Arlington]

Best bet is in Hamilton Park in Weehawken, NJ. It's a cliff overlooking midtown.

How do you get there? Ferry from W 39th St NYC? PATH to Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (to Port Imperial and walk/climb up?)

Also check out Brooklyn Heights Promenade for views of downtown.

I can vouch both for Brooklyn Heights (for Downtown views & decent transit access + walk) and taking the Tramway to Roosevelt Island (for Midtown views, both during the trip and from the shoreline park), but you're still just a groundling there. I was hoping to look down on New York (with love). Others have recommended walking the Brooklyn Bridge (which has the virtue of being up high)

Tall buildings with public observation decks don't exist outside of a couple buildings in Manhattan.

If I'm holding out for an elevator ride and something more than 25 floors up, any links/hints/names of the ones that have them? Actually, as with the Marriott Copley Plaza here in Boston, I'd settle just for a window at the end of a hallway, not needing to be outdoors and not needing to sit/linger (much).

I'm fresh out of NYC friends with roof deck access (did do a Park Ave Penthouse in October 1993...glorious)

On the flipside, I used to recommend the atrium of the Marriott Marquis in Times Square just for the glass elevator ride (fast!) and huge/tall indoors view. Not sublime, but it is big.

 

[vanshnookenraggen]

How do you get there? Ferry from W 39th St NYC? PATH to Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (to Port Imperial and walk/climb up?)

No idea really, I just know a guy on Wired NY that gets good shots from there. NJT has to have a bus that goes there.

On the flipside, I used to recommend the atrium of the Marriott Marquis in Times Square just for the glass elevator ride (fast!) and huge/tall indoors view. Not sublime, but it is big.

Totally forgot about this one. I both love and hate that elevator ride (maaaaaaaaaad vertigo).

The thing is about NYC is that all the tall buildings are together in Manhattan. Only recently have towers gone up in NJ, Queens and Brooklyn and these are, for the most part, private condo/apartments or offices.

 

[Matthew]

My parents like Fort Lee Historic Park but that is obviously uptown. Not too far from the GW Bridge for either walk or bus across. Bonus points for taking a jitney across the bridge...

There's also some of those brand new condo towers going up nearby, if NJ development interests you (not me), albeit of the suburban sort.