497 Greenwich Street - Condo

[Edward]

http://www.greenwichstreetproject.com

Concept
On the Lower West Side of Manhattan, a six-story warehouse is being renovated to accompany a new glass-skin residential building of eleven stories. This new building is a state-of-the-art luxury property, distinguished by its glass façade - a ten thousand square-foot "curtain-wall." The once-abandoned warehouse will be reinvigorated with living spaces and the addition of an art gallery, gym and spa, screening room, wine cellar, and a duplex guest apartment.

The integration of the existing brick building with the new steel and glass structure will create a zone of mediation between the past and the present. A small crease rising between the two structures, articulated with a set of cantilevered balconies, juxtaposes and differentiates the old and the new, inserting an interactive space into an otherwise neutral landscape. The crease as a system of inflections blurs the distinction between the external and internal environments - marrying urban experience with domestic privacy.

The New York City building code has here been reinterpreted: the horizontal plane of the traditional urban fabric is replaced with a diagonal surface that bifurcates the façade. It integrates the strict building setback codes into a new, vertical landscape that folds and twists as it ascends affording differing vistas to each interior.

The renovated warehouse will be completely redesigned to mirror the aesthetic of its new counterpart. Its robust wood and brick structure will allow for a four-story addition in glass and steel - a wing of the adjacent structure. The setback intervals allow for terraces with views toward the passing Hudson River and the lower Manhattan skyline.

The spacious feel of the units harmonizes with the spectacular views and unobstructed daylight. A central core contains elevators and utilities, efficiently merging the hybrid structures. At the ground floor, the façade bends inward; creating a more reactive streetscape that helps to foster the transition of the once industrial area into a residential neighborhood.


Location
In the frontier beyond Varick, where the water meets the city, sits a charismatic little neighborhood. It is upon this trapezoidal region that three of downtown's major cultural districts converge. To the north, the West Village - home to sidewalk cafés and residential tranquility. To the east, SoHo - land of cast-iron resplendence, monument to style and commerce. To the south, TriBeCa - where finance and entrepreneurship have transformed a district of industry into a triangle of lofts. *

But even with neighbors like these - each with their own entrenched sense of place - this yet-to-be-named quadrant has forged an identity all its own. It combines barely trafficked, broken streets, centuries-old pubs, and old warehouses with art galleries, modern furniture showrooms and digital media companies. And with the rediscovery of an historic park at Greenwich and Canal, and the magnificent Hudson River Park just steps away, there's plenty of neighborhood green space, too. Here, below Houston, above Canal, west of Varick - industrial shabby chic meets digital aesthetic. The traditional meets the virtual. The charms of the old neighborhood coexist with the refinements of contemporary living.


Amenities
Duplex Guest Apartment
Multi-Level Fitness Center
Sauna
Endless Pool
Weights/ Machines
Showers
White Glove Storage
Wine Storage
Screening Room / Meeting Room
Private Garden

In addition, units will be:
Pre-wired for Cable/DSL Internet Access
Pre-wired for telephone and cable television


Architect
Winka Dubbeldam is the principal of Archi-Tectonics, NY, founded in 1994. She is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Architecture at Columbia University in New York City and Practice Professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. She has taught and lectured at numerous Universities in Europe, the USA, and Canada.

Projects have been exhibited in solo shows at Form Zero Gallery in Los Angeles (1994), the Kunsthal in Rotterdam (1996), the Dessa Gallery in Lubljiana (1996), Parsons Architecture Gallery, NYC (1999), and the TZArt Gallery, NYC (1999). Archi-Tectonics was a participant in the MOMA show, "The Unprivate House" (1999) and the 'Young architects' exhibit (2001), NYC, and participated in the Archi-Lab 2000-2001 conferences and exhibits in Orleans, France. Winka Dubbeldam has received an "Emerging Voice" award (2001) from the Architectural League NYC.

Along with the Monograph, published in 1996 by 010 Publishers, Rotterdam, the work has been published in periodicals including A+U (Tokyo), Architectural record (NYC)), Architecture (NYC) Objekt (Amsterdam), Interior Design (NYC), and the New York Times, and in the books Waterwerk (Zwolle 1995), Techno-Fiction (Weimar 1996), Lofts & Apartments in NYC by Edizioni L'Archivolto (1999), Hybrid Space by Rizzoli, NYC (1999), and 10 x 10 by Phaidon Press, London (2000).

Archi-Tectonics has constructed an Art Gallery on West Broadway, the new offices for Gear Magazine, and several loft renovations -all in New York City. Urban planning proposals for the Cities of Dordrecht and The Hague in Holland have been developed, and Dubbeldam recently was one of a team of five international architects developing an urban scheme for Moscou (Feb. 2000). Recently completed work includes a new 25,000 sq.ft. Digital Imaging Facility in Midtown Manhattan, a 2000 sq.ft. hair salon on the Upper East Side in NY, and a 5000 sq.ft. loft in SoHo. Currently the office is working on a private residence & guesthouse in Upstate New York, an 11-story mixed-use building in SoHo, three residential towers in Rotterdam, a Digital gallery in Chelsea, and the museum for the Eniac Computer in Philadelphia.

Dubbeldam is a graduate of the Faculty of Arts & Architecture, Rotterdam (1990); and she received a Masters Degree from Columbia University in New York City in 1992. She has previously worked in several offices in Holland and in the offices of Bernard Tschumi Architects and Peter Eisenman Architects in NYC.






[hr]

497 Greenwich Street on 4 July 2003.

[Kris]

Excellent.

The integration of the existing brick building with the new steel and glass structure will create a zone of mediation between the past and the present. A small crease rising between the two structures, articulated with a set of cantilevered balconies, juxtaposes and differentiates the old and the new, inserting an interactive space into an otherwise neutral landscape. The crease as a system of inflections blurs the distinction between the external and internal environments - marrying urban experience with domestic privacy.

This is what happens when you reject conservative esthetics - new spaces more adapted to contemporary living become possible. Freedom from stifling habitual perception and behavior and embrace of what today's world can offer.

[Edward]

It looks like the residents of 497 Greenwich Street will not be able to enjoy the sunset views and most of the river views because of the Holland Tunnel building. 26 July 2003.

[Gulcrapek]

If they turn their heads a bit to the right they can.

[Kris]

I'd live there regardless.

[Edward]

Quote: from Gulcrapek on 11:42 pm on July 28, 2003
If they turn their heads a bit to the right they can.

They will see Pier 40, a stretch of Hudson, but no sunsets...

[billyblancoNYC]

It looks good. *There is also some fancing up at the site directly next to it. *There seemed to be a lot of work going on in the area, with West St. and it's environs. *I guess the level will depend on if they rezone Hudson Sq. more for residential or not. *Nice to see, though. *Can't wait for the High Line. *

[TLOZ Link5]

A 35-story or so residential tower was recently approved for Little West Street in BPC.

[Derek2k3]

505 Greenwich Street/499 Greenwich Street
14 stories 150ft
Gary Handel & Associates
Under Construction Summer 2003-2004

Metropolitan Housing Partners
\http://www.metropolitanhousing.com/m...il&proj=13

505 Greenwich - MHP in partnership with Synchron Corporation is developing this $82.5 million, 102 unit, 14 story condomonium project in western SoHo, New York, NY. Construction began in Summer 2003. The project design team includes Gary Handel & Associates as architect and DeSimone Consulting Engineers as structural engineer.

[billyblancoNYC]

That'll be a pretty nice looking block. I guess. At least they used some glass, too, instead of the normal "brick" facades.

[Gulcrapek]

Something I don't like about both of these is the blank walls on the 'unimportant' sides. Kind of like when Beaux Arts ignored their sidestreet facades.

[Jasonik]

I think those are the blind sides that will be hidden by the buildings in the adjacent lots when they are built. *The answer to blank brick walls - more development.

Back in the day they would paint a Coca-Cola or Morton Salt advertisement up there.

[ZippyTheChimp]

Latest photos of 497 Greenwich St





View south at Greenwich and Spring Sts. Foundation has been poured for 505 Greenwich on the adjacent site.


Rendering for 505 Greenwich


Opposite side of Greenwich near Canal St

[Kris]

Progress!

[Gulcrapek]

Both buildings look good.

497 is definitely an eye catcher.