ARCHITECTURE
Via 57 West Joins the New York Skyline
Aluminium is already a major part of the New York cityscape, helping build the iconic Empire State Building.
13 October, 2016
The newest addition to Manhattan's West Side is continuing that tradition in a bold new way.
Now that tenants have moved into Via 57 West in New York City, the building's stunning architecture is starting to attract significant notice. The 35-story apartment house – with 45,000 square feet (4,180 square meters) of retail space at street level – is the work of architectural firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and stands out against the larger skyline.
That change is dramatic. The angular Via 57 West, perched along the Hudson River in the city's Midtown West neighborhood, is helping to bring new energy to the neighborhood long known as Hell's Kitchen. From the air, the building is clearly a tetrahedron; from the water, the Via 57 West appears to be a triangle rising to its 467-foot (142-meter) pinnacle, clad in curved aluminium panels to reflect the city and the sun.
That change is dramatic. The angular Via 57 West, perched along the Hudson River in the city's Midtown West neighborhood, is helping to bring new energy to the neighborhood long known as Hell's Kitchen. From the air, the building is clearly a tetrahedron; from the water, the Via 57 West appears to be a triangle rising to its 467-foot (142-meter) pinnacle, clad in curved aluminium panels to reflect the city and the sun.
Images: BIG
The aluminium materials, along with stainless steel and rolled metal tubing, are meant to evoke the motion of the river. The innovative design at Via 57 West leaves tenants with uninterrupted views of the river or the skyline, while optimizing the southwest sun exposure to keep an outdoor plaza space well-lit.
Inside, a courtyard replicates Central Park in its scale and dimensions, with a walking path through the garden that leads to the plaza opening. Apartments on three sides of the garden are able to enjoy the view below. Those apartments range from one- to four-bedroom units, all constructed with sustainable lifestyles in mind. It connects with the waterfront Hudson River Park, which spans from 59th Street to Manhattan's southern tip at Battery Park and offers walking paths, biking, sports facilities, dog runs, and playgrounds.
Inside, a courtyard replicates Central Park in its scale and dimensions, with a walking path through the garden that leads to the plaza opening. Apartments on three sides of the garden are able to enjoy the view below. Those apartments range from one- to four-bedroom units, all constructed with sustainable lifestyles in mind. It connects with the waterfront Hudson River Park, which spans from 59th Street to Manhattan's southern tip at Battery Park and offers walking paths, biking, sports facilities, dog runs, and playgrounds.
Image: BIG
Just blocks away is Pier 57, an updated commercial and retail complex set to reopen in 2017 with Google signing a 15-year lease for its biggest office complex outside Silicon Valley. Across the street from Via 57 West, at Pier 96, the Manhattan Community Boathouse features kayaking. The entire waterfront stretch is undergoing a revitalization to emphasize the arts and active green space, and the height and material selection of an aluminium exterior align well with existing architecture to its immediate south and west.
The Bjarke Ingels vision was to create a visual gateway to Manhattan that balanced the excitement of the city with the tranquility of nature. While there is a lot of excitement around the signature profile that Via 57 West has become, there is even more of it inside.
The Bjarke Ingels vision was to create a visual gateway to Manhattan that balanced the excitement of the city with the tranquility of nature. While there is a lot of excitement around the signature profile that Via 57 West has become, there is even more of it inside.
Images: BIG
Beyond the enclosed 22-000 square foot (2,044 square meter) courtyard, the building offers an indoor swimming pool, a half-court for basketball, full gym, and an exercise studio and fitness lounge. Sun decks, outdoor lounges, and four barbecue grills make entertaining or evenings at home pleasant among the native plants and trees.
Image: BIG
Game rooms feature billiards and ping pong, there's a putting green and a movie-screening space, and a children's playroom for the younger set. Reading rooms and resident lounges offer quieter social spaces.
The Via 57 West was designed to reflect more than the river. The sustainability plan includes diversity and inclusion, and so 20 percent of the 709 units are designated for affordable housing with subsidized rent agreements. Those units include high-performance windows with solar shades, energy-efficient kitchen and laundry appliances, and cabinets made from woods with Forest Stewardship Council certification.
With its eco-friendly aluminium exterior – there are even special rails installed so workers can clean the cladding panels – the environmentally friendly choices that Via 57 West is built upon are changing more than the Manhattan skyline postcard. The project is part of building the future of the city's West Side, connecting the best features of its history and natural resources with a new vision for New York City.
The Via 57 West was designed to reflect more than the river. The sustainability plan includes diversity and inclusion, and so 20 percent of the 709 units are designated for affordable housing with subsidized rent agreements. Those units include high-performance windows with solar shades, energy-efficient kitchen and laundry appliances, and cabinets made from woods with Forest Stewardship Council certification.
With its eco-friendly aluminium exterior – there are even special rails installed so workers can clean the cladding panels – the environmentally friendly choices that Via 57 West is built upon are changing more than the Manhattan skyline postcard. The project is part of building the future of the city's West Side, connecting the best features of its history and natural resources with a new vision for New York City.
Banner image: Dezeen