Underutilized space is an unfortunate yet reoccurring issue that takes place in densely populated cities, Manhattan being no exception. When Youngwoo & Associates decided to take on a large underutilized space at the intersection of Amsterdam Ave and Washington Bridge, the team at MDRDV took to the challenge and created the plans for Radio Tower & Hotel.
Built on one of the major linking areas between Manhattan and New Jersey, the multi-leveled, multi-purpose building is set to tackle a main design challenge: navigating a way to create a large volumed structure while still keeping its relevance and contextual nature. Standing at 22 stories tall, this "vertical village" takes the typical composition of a small block to be taken apart and reassembled into a stack. The asymmetrical arrangement of these stacked volumes are designed to appear like separate buildings. Each stacked volume, measuring roughly the same size as the others, is finished with a different color of ceramic bricks. The exterior color palette of each structure was inspired by the colorful shopfronts found in the primarily Hispanic neighborhood.
At its interior, the Radio Tower & Hotel provides a solution to the need for workspaces, event spaces, retails units, and a hotel. As the 5th largest neighborhood in New York, Washington Heights has a population of over 150,000 people. Due to its population size and location, it was essential to create a structure that would satisfy the needs of the neighborhood. Currently have only two, 50-roomed hotels the hotel will function as a pivotal role in accommodating visitors. Located near the development is the New York Presbyterian Hospital and Yeshiva University which generate traffic through the neighborhood.
Winy Mass, principal and co-founder of MVRDV states "Radio Tower & Hotel, located at the thinnest part of Manhattan Island between the Hudson and the Harlem River, is a colorful new building which will strengthen an already wonderfully mixed and vibrant neighborhood"
Expected to be completed in 2021, the new "vertical village" will play an integral role in the already growing Washington Heights neighborhood. Through its construction, the building attempts to show how changes to a community can be done not only to enhance the area but to also respect the existing character of the neighborhood.
I like it as a diagram but the translation into actual materials will be very tricky to get right
All 9 Comments
Sim City.
I like it.
Loved it
there goes the neighborhood
I like it as a diagram but the translation into actual materials will be very tricky to get right
good, not great. still better than the norm, which is awful garbage. color is awesome, especially when it is used with solid buildings materials like brick. the possibilities are endless, and not just in "hispanic" neighborhoods.
You'd think any firm wanting to be welcomed in a flag-waving patriotic country would research how to hang the country's flag correctly...
it's a metaphor
Are you suggesting they put a burning flag in their image?
Not bad.
But what exactly is an explosion of function?
Put in context. This is interesting in at least one respect: it picks up the dominant bland architecture of the neighborhood and enhances it.
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.