VIA W57, Manhattan NY US
BIG, 2016
A new building typology is designed for the American city: the Courtscraper. BIG put in collaboration the American skyscraper with the typical European perimeter block and created a pyramid building, with a garden at the heart and 709 units surrounded. Built in the corner of West side highway and West 57th st. offering a wonderful view to Hudson river park and the waterfront.
The Durst organization commissioned BIG in spring 2010 to design a residental building, with the construction begin in 2011 and collaboration in May 2016, with the Council of Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) naming VIΛ the Best Tall Building in the Americas as part of its 2016 Tall Buildings Award. With a 137m tall at the north side, the south elevation is fully sunny and the number of units and floors is maximized and prevents the Helena’s Tower loosing its view..
The 6.705m2 heart garden with the shaded forest in the east and the sunny meadow in the west, is derived from the classic Copenhagen 'urban oasis’ and has the exact same proportions as Olmsted's park, just 13,000 times smaller - a bonsai Central Park, designed by landscape architecture firm Starr Whitehouse.
“By keeping three corners of the block low and lifting the north-east portion of the building, the courtyard opens views towards the Hudson River and brings the low western sun deep into the block. While the courtyard is a private space and a sanctuary for residents, it can still be seen from the outside, creating a visual connection to the greenery of the Hudson River Park.
The street level and the second floor is providing cultural and commercial program, while these lowest levels have a strong relationship to the countryard. The street level is directly connected to the yard via a grand stair that “invites” the residents to the garden.
The generous amenities at VIΛ include lounges and events spaces, a golf simulator, movie screening room, a pool, a basketball court, gym and exercise studios, and game rooms for poker, ping pong, billiards and shuffle board, and are all constructed around the courtyard to create a strong physical and visual connection between the interior and exterior communal spaces.
The upper levels, with the fishbone unit layout and the large terraces, maximize the view to the river and the light in the apartments, while provides full privacy between houses. Oak wood floors and porcelain bathroom tiles, connects the Scandinavian with the local American materials.
Completion: 2017
Gross floor area: 26,500 m2
Floors: 20
Client: Kilden & Mortensen APS
Architect: Bjarke Ingels in collaboration with Finn Norkjaer and Andreas Klok Pedersen
