This residential building is located in New York’s West Chelsea neighborhood, a former industrial zone and home to many art galleries. The building makes an iconic contribution to the neighborhood while establishing continuity with Chelsea’s architectural traditions. The base anchors the building to its surroundings by reflecting the low-rise scale and through a material palette (terracotta cladding and blackened steel window frames) that evokes the masonry façades and details of industrial Chelsea. Above the plinth, the tower energizes the neighborhood with a new architectural expression: the metallic sheen and organic form of its custom-fabricated stainless steel rainscreen.

The 16 units are configured as duplexes—a strategy which increases building height in order to maximize river views. Each unit has the feel of a private home with a double-height living space and a private garage which is served by a car elevator. Interiors are modern, with tall ceilings, graceful proportions, and casement windows. Environmentally-conscious design strategies were utilized including operable windows and doors for natural ventilation and the use of locally sourced terracotta for the exterior cladding.