VIA 57 WEST building’s design is influenced by the architect’s cultural background in Denmark – a city that embodies a courtyard-centric architecture. Ingels confirmed that the building’s design was inspired by the idea of uniting the solid skyscraper look of Manhattan with the courtyard public space that can be found in the typical Danish apartment buildings (Baan, 2017). Thus, the idea behind the development of the building explains the new design name, “courtsracper," a typology that describes VIA 57 West. The courtyard building is a unique concept that does not appear as a model residential location, given the city infrastructure in New York City. Located near "a power plant, a sanitation area, and the West Side Highway," – the building had to fit in with the contemporary architecture within the city (Baan, 2017). Consequently, VIA 57 West creates an ideal apartment block in the middle of the 57 th Street and 58 th Street in Manhattan.
VIA 57 West is a tetrahedral building at 57 th Street Manhattan, New York City, and was constructed from 2013 to 2016. The building located near the Hudson River was designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), which consists of 709 apartment units and measures 142m high. The building's pyramidal shape avoids the typical apartment block design and gives New York different architectural scenery. VIA 57 West embodies the renaissance architectural designs with its compact floor plan that mimics the construction designs of European courtyards in ancient times. The 32-stories building compliments the skyline views in lower Manhattan with its sail-like shape at the brink of Hudson River.
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The courtyard design of VIA 57 West informs the audience of the historical and cultural background of the developer. The courtyard design is evident throughout the building, and one can quickly notice the European influences embodied by BIG in developing the structure. The north-east side of VIA 57 West is 142m high and directs visitors to the three lower angles of the building. The courtyard design within the building creates a pathway that leads to the Hudson River and provides residents with endless views of New York City. Ingel spoke with the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat and explained the tetrahedron design of the building. The architect told CTBUH that the concept "came about from our conversations with Durst that were interested in trying to explore a mid-rise typology for the site because they actually had a rather large footprint with less density than you might normally have in a skyscraper situation" (CTBUH, 2016). With this vision, BIG wanted to exploit the low structures at the south side of the site, and its location at one of Manhattan’s broadest angles. Thus, to achieve the desired design, the architect had to pull the northeast corner to the point of 470 feet high.
BIG’s main aim was to provide residents with a mystic yet functional building that would enhance its habitat’s urban lifestyle. According to Betsky (2016), the social features within the building allow the residents to appreciate the internal and external spaces. The available amenities in VIA 57 West complement the urban lifestyle of millennials in New York City. For instance, the arrangement of different heights allows the sun to penetrate the building via the west side as well as provide sufficient sunlight for the apartment units facing the river. Furthermore, the inside units are designed in a herringbone pattern to adjust the views towards the water flowing through the Hudson River.
VIA 57 West building integrates various features of the 21 st century residential and industrial needs. Located in a busy city, the building is designed to ensure that residents appreciate the commercial and homey feeling that they would get from a home located away from the city. The angular balconies tilted at a 45-degree angle, the breathtaking views of the Hudson River Park, and minimal traffic sounds, support the vision behind the building’s construction. According to Baan (2017), the three-sided façade and lack of the typical roof shape in VIA 57 West creates a dramatic form that allows the residents to appreciate the urban nature of lower Manhattan. Consequently, residents are not overwhelmed by the commercial activities surrounding the apartment. VIA 57 West challenges the architectural design in the 21 st century by integrating the different aspects of technology, social and economic development in the world today. For instance, the architect was able to combine the various elements of European architecture and modern American society to elevate the skyline views in New York City.
The building's aesthetics provides its residents with sufficient airflow and protection from the weather, without compromising its ability to create exceptional internal and external views. For instance, the courtyard design includes a shared garden measuring 2044sqm, with a variety of vegetation; thus, the residents can engage in outdoor activities. BIG wanted to cater to enhance the urban lifestyle of its residents; therefore, it ensures that the building had residential units that would meet the housing needs of habitats of New York City. The building has studios and apartments ranging from one-four bedrooms, which include terraces, balconies, and bay windows with views. In addition to this, VIA 57 West has communal sporting amenities that include a gym, swimming pool, fitness area, and social facilities that can be used to host parties.
The steep sloping top connects the lower and upper structures of the building – the south side, which is the lowest, is linked with the high floors from the north and west sides. Additionally, the aesthetics are enhanced by the bright grey metal that is covering the roof, creating a perforated pattern, which is interspersed by balconies that face the south side. According to Baan (2017), the material used was the right choice due to its non-glaring exterior when the sun reflects on it. Moreover, BIG was keen to use non-corrosive material as the building is located near the Hudson River – a coastal environment that creates a saline atmosphere that could easily destroy the construction materials used. The use of stainless steel by BIG is a vital aspect to recognize as this material is resistant to the polluted environment within the city. Thus, VIA 57 West consists of thousands of stainless steel panels that are combined to form mega panels.
Conclusion
VIA 57 West is one of BIG’s outstanding projects in the United States. The architectural design enhances the skyline view of Manhattan by introducing the historic European architecture and integrating it with the urban lifestyle of New York City residents. Bjarke Ingels succeeded in developing a courtscraper design by using a utopian and pragmatic strategy in designing VIA 57 West. Through its design, BIG was able to bring its vision to life; VIA 57 West is an iconic building that challenges the conventional construction approaches for residential areas in busy commercial cities.
References
Baan, I. (2017). VIA 57 West. Metals in Construction. Retrieved from: https://siny.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Via_57_West.pdf
Betsky, A. (2016). Via 57 West and the Complexity of Compact Living. The Journal Of The American Institute Of Architects. Retrieved from: https://www.architectmagazine.com/design/buildings/via-57-west-and-the-complexity-of-compact-living_o
CTBUH (2016). CTBUH Monthly Video: Bjarke Ingels . Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=14&v=CjrXr4TXOuw&feature=emb_logo
