The Urban Glass House - 330 Spring Street - Condo - by Philip Johnson

[billyblancoNYC]

Philip Johnson tower site cleared
http://thevillager.com/villager_61/p...nsontower.html

A former two-story warehouse at the corner of Spring and Washington Sts. was demolished over the past week in preparation for test boring of the subsurface for construction of a new 11-story luxury residential building designed by architect Philip Johnson. According to a source, Nino Vendome, the developer and owner of the property, has sold a majority share in the project to one of the developers of the Richard Meier towers on West St. on the West Village waterfront. Calls to Vendome’s spokesperson and to Richard Born, who developed the first two Meier towers, were not returned by press time. After last August’s blackout, Vendome said he planned to construct a green building that would be “blackout proof.” Rip Hayman, owner of the adjacent landmarked John Brown building, was anxiously monitoring the demolition work last week. “We’re the canary in the coalmine,” he said. Hayman said that the Ear Inn bar, on the first floor, will be without air conditioning for a while as a result of the demolition because its units were on the roof of the warehouse. The site may sit empty for about six months, Hayman said.

Here's (the latest?) rendering...
http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_51...todeliver.html

[krulltime]

^On the corner of Spring and Washington Sts:



Rendering of architect Philip Johnson’s “Urban Glass House,” a 120-foot building proposed to be built at 328 Spring St. across the street from the U.P.S. lot. - Downtown Express


I don't like it. It looks more like a mall building than a place to live.

[Edward]

Downtown Express April 30 - May 6, 2004
http://www.downtownexpress.com/de_51...todeliver.html

... The U.P.S. property is about seven blocks south of Morton Square. Just across Spring St. from the U.P.S. site, Nino Vendome has presented several variations on a plan to develop a luxury residential tower by renowned architect Philip Johnson; but so far the project hasn’t gotten off the ground.

Johnson’s latest plan for 328 Spring St., which Vendome released recently, is for a 120-foot building, described as an “Urban Glass House” to contrast with one of Johnson’s most famous designs, his Glass House in Connecticut. Johnson, 97, collaborated with his partner, architect Alan Ritchie, on the design, which would preserve the adjacent James Brown House, the historic home of the Ear Inn.

Zack Winestine, co-chairperson of the Greenwich Village Community Task Force, said it was the first he’d heard of the new project, but that an image of Morton Square, a new, 14-story, 281-unit, full-block residential development seven blocks to the north, immediately flashed into his mind.

Lincoln@DowntownExpress.com

[Edward]

The site of 328 Spring Street, with the glass of 505 Greenwich on the left. 1 May 2005.

[pianoman11686]

From cityrealty.com:

Philip Johnson's "Urban Glass House" is under construction 07-JUL-05

Construction has started on the “Urban Glass House,” a 12-story condominium apartment building at 330 Spring Street designed by Philip Johnson, the dean of American architecture who recently died, and Alan Ritchie.

Glass House Development LLC, a partnership of Abram Shnay, Charles Blaichman and Scott Sabbagh, recently acquired the site and the architectural plans from Greenwich Street Partners LLC for about $24 million.

The sleek, glass-clad building will have several setbacks and 40 apartments. Its name refers to the famous one-story, glass enclosed residence that Philip Johnson built in New Canaan, Ct., which is one of the icons of 20th Century American architecture.

The site is adjacent to the James Brown House “Ear Inn,” and across Washington Street from the Holland Tunnell vent shaft building.

A spokesperson for The Sunshine Group said yesterday that the project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.

Anabelle Selldorf, who has designed interiors for the Neue Gallerie on Fifth Avenue at 86th Street and many prominent contemporary artists such as Eric Fishcl and David Salle, will design the lobby and interiors.

[Concrete Fountain]

I assume this building will not be tall enough to look over the Department of Sanitation Depot (see rendering) , right?

[lofter1]

Originally Posted by Concrete Fountain

I assume this building will not be tall enough to look over the Department of Sanitation Depot (see rendering) , right?

It appears that the Urban Glass House building will top out at the same height as the "sanitation" building -- which is actually part of the Holland Tunnel ventilation system (the Dept. of Sanitation occupies the triangular section on the west end of that block facing West St.).

So, that means little or no views to the west.

Also the building to the north has been discussed as a site for a new building -- so the north views could go before long.

The parking lot catty-corner across the street has also been discussed as a site for a large building; no doubt it will kill the views to the northwest.

Based on the rendering only the units above the 7th floor on the south side of the Urban Glass House will have any sort of view.

It seems odd to use all that glass in this situation.

(I'm not sure what the treatment is on the east facade facing the Ear Inn -- but, as it's a lot-line facade, I doubt that the same window placement will be used there.)

[Edward]

Construction of 328 Spring Street. 16 July 2005.

[lofter1]

They are pouring the third floor on The Urban Glass House.

The EAR INN is now walled in.

[lofter1]

I still think that Johnson's original design for a 26-story tower on this site would have been magnificent:

[lofter1]

Just for the heck of it...

More renderings / models of what might have been on this site:

[sfenn1117]

Yeah that one was cooler. The new one looks like it should be an office building in Stamford CT

[BrooklynRider]

Originally Posted by lofter1

Hmmm - I wonder where Gehry came up with his design for Atlantic Yards.

[ablarc]

Originally Posted by lofter1

I still think that Johnson's original design for a 26-story tower on this site would have been magnificent.

Can we thank the NIMBYs and their obsession with height?

Though tall, the first design was in scale with its surroundings; the second is grotesquely out of scale.

Why do folks confuse scale with height?

[Edward]

Urban glass house - at 328 Spring Street. 11 September 2005.