Critics of the tallest residential building in the western hemisphere, 432 Park Avenue, are quick to try to bring the tower down from its 1,400-foot pedestal. And strangely, its very own architect is the latest jump on the bandwagon. Rafael Viñoly admitted at a Douglas Elliman talk last week that his creation “has a couple of screw-ups,” namely the window framing, which he blames on developer Harry Macklowe, and the tiny issue of “the interior design and layout.” — 6sqft.com
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what developer-driven project doesn't have a couple of screw-ups?
Refreshing honesty, and I actually like the simplicity of the building.
Looks like it might fall over in a stiff wind. If it did, I'm not sure anyone would care.
This building has completely f'd up the skyline of Midtown Manhattan. It's really awful.
The first screw-up was selecting Rafael Viñoly.
so the arguments against this building are what? It's too tall? It is taller than adjacent buildings?
If that attitude always prevailed there would be no Manhattan skyline at all.
If the argument is that this is an ivory tower for the rich to invest in... yes, it is. But be mad at the developers and the politicians which made it possible, not the building and the architect.
Vinoly has produced some really shitty shit in his time, but this is one of his better buildings. At least no one will get scorched to death by it.
Why don't we talk about how Phillip Johnson permanently fucked up the skyline with that huge turd next to it.
the tricks they used to make it that tall are interesting. something like 30 foot mechanical double floors every 12 floors and ceiling heights of 14 feet. no way you could get that height otherwise.
Olaf, i thought the mechanical floors with their circular enclosures were also about wind as well? not sure but i think the shop tower does the same thing
"Then there’s 432 Park Avenue, a venture of CIM Group and Macklowe Properties, which topped out last year at 1,396 feet and holds the title for the tallest residential tower in the Western Hemisphere. It has two tuned mass dampers."
Think this falls under typical architect candor about projects. Doesn't fall under "I totally messed it up" as the headline bait may say. Think the building is elegant and nice, like many others (agree that the French Guy's tower sucks though). Stern and Nouvels towers will also be nice. SHoP's is too thin, frankly, very scary.
The SHoP tower looks like it comes from some amazing quasi-dystopian art-deco future. I love it.
It was not classy of Vinoly to agree to participate in this promotional event for the building and then turn it into a forum to criticize his client and another architect in public.
My argument against this building is that it's too tall for the neighborhood, and that it's ugly.
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