adjaye associates’ first skyscraper evokes fortress ruin in new york
CategoriesArchitecture

adjaye associates’ first skyscraper evokes fortress ruin in new york

now complete: new york’s modern ruin by adjaye associates

 

130 William stands completed in New York City‘s financial district, marking Adjaye Associates‘ first skyscraper. Designed as a rejection of the common glass tower, the architecture takes its inspiration from the industrial heritage of the city with its facade of rhythmic, arched windows and its hand-cast concrete skin — this way, the project evokes a ‘ruin’ in the city, proposing an alternative history of New York architecture. The building rises 800 feet and 66 stories above the city, and introduces 242 residences along with a luxurious collection of amenities and a welcoming public plaza at street-level. See designboom’s previous coverage here.

adjaye associates 130 williamimage © Ivane Katamashvili

 

 

a hand-cast concrete facade evokes the texture of lava rock

 

From the street, 130 William’s entrance plaza opens up as a lush public ‘pocket park,’ which Adjaye Associates designed as a quiet retreat from the density of the Financial District. This park is wrapped on three sides by the building’s custom hand-cast facade with its stack of arched windows. From here, visitors can observe the rich texture of the blackened concrete skin, cast to evoke the porous surface of lava rock, which is highlighted by refined bronze accents. The distinctive silhouette of large-scale arched windows are a reminder of the historic lofts that once defined the fabric of lower Manhattan.

 

This idea of making a ‘pocket park’ as an outdoor room for the city was the compelling part of the project for me,’ architect David Adjaye said during an opening celebration at 130 William.Making not just a condo but a piece of public infrastructure, a piece of the city, was really important.’

adjaye associates 130 william
image © Ivane Katamashvili

 

 

inside the airy residences

 

While Adjaye Associates designs its 130 William tower with a dark, fortress-like exterior, the team curated its interiors with a light and airy ambience. The 242 residences range from studios to four-bedroom units, and take shape with materials gathered from across the globe. With wide-plank white oak flooring and large, bronze-framed arched windows, the each residence is designed with open and spacious interiors and a meticulous attention to detail. The team at Adjaye Associates custom-designed all the residences’ burnished bronze fixtures and hardware — including all faucets, showerheads, accessories, and door handles — along with textiles and textural wallpaper.

adjaye associates 130 william
image © Ivane Katamashvili

 

 

sheltered loggias bring private outdoor space

 

Within the top ten floors of 130 William, Adjaye Associates fits the Penthouse and Loggia Residences, which feature spacious rooms and high ceilings ranging from 11 to 14 feet. These interiors seamlessly connect to expansive outdoor areas with breathtaking views. The Loggia terraces envelop these residences from one end to the other, offering substantial outdoor space starting at a height of over 600 feet. These distinctive residences are further enriched with exclusive touches, such as sink countertops and soaking tubs crafted from exquisite marble.

adjaye associates 130 william
a ‘pocket park’ is open for residents and the public alike | image © Dror Baldinger

 

 

the luxury amenities of 130 william

 

130 William presents an extensive range of lifestyle and wellness amenities spanning over 20,000 square feet. These offerings encompass a comprehensive health and wellness club featuring a luxurious infinity-edge spa pool, invigorating cold and hot plunge pools, a rejuvenating dry sauna, and tranquil massage rooms. Additionally, there is a cutting-edge fitness center with a terrace, a serene yoga studio, and a versatile basketball court. Residents can indulge in various entertainment facilities, including a private IMAX theater, one of just two in all of New York City. Indoor and outdoor lounges offer a chef’s catering kitchen, a club room, a golf simulator, and a children’s play space. 

adjaye associates 130 williamthe blackened, textural facade wraps the public park on three sides | image © designboom

 

 

For panoramic views across the city and beyond, a private rooftop observation deck crowns 130 William, situated almost 800 feet above ground level. Convenient services include a 24-hour attended lobby, a concierge service catering to personal needs such as reservations and theater tickets, as well as a pet spa. Additional amenities comprise bicycle storage, private storage options, and exclusive rooftop cabanas.

Reference

Pema Studio designs Forte House as “a dense and closed fortress”
CategoriesArchitecture

Pema Studio designs Forte House as “a dense and closed fortress”

Architecture practice Pema Studio drew on the idea of a protected fortress when creating the Forte House, a blocky, white-rendered home that replaces a neglected existing structure in Santo Tirso, Portugal.

The dwelling is set back from a retained facade and sits within existing stone perimeter walls on the site, creating an exterior space around its edges with private, skylit patios.

Aerial view of Forte House in Santo Tirso
Pema Studio drew on the idea of a protected fortress when creating the Forte House

“The house is designed in a complex balance between the creation of a dense and closed fortress and the reinterpretation of the typical patio house, looking for a protected oasis in its intimate relationship with the sky,” said Pema Studio.

“The intervention starts from a massive block that impertinently detaches from the limits and mimics the land plot outline.”

Sheltered outdoor space at Portuguese house
The white-rendered home is set back behind an existing facade

The retained facade and a metal gate of the former building now lead into an entrance courtyard, sheltered by a sloping roof punctured by a large opening.

Set back from the street, an entrance is tucked into the northern side of the home’s white exterior, leading into the more secluded study and bedroom at the front.

Courtyard outside Portuguese home
It sits within an existing stone wall

“The old facade, an element of the pre-existing [fabric], is one of the few remaining elements,” said the studio.

“With the necessary functional changes, it was restored and rehabilitated as an element of cohesion and framing with the adjacent urban fabric, reducing the intervention’s impact on the street,” it continued.

From the entrance, a corridor leads through to a more open living, kitchen and dining area at the rear of the home. This space is connected to a garden and swimming pool that can be independently accessed using the narrow pathways along each side of the site.

Two small planted courtyards have been cut out of the home’s southern edge, providing access to natural light and ventilation.

Swimming pool at Forte House by Pema Studio
There is a swimming pool

Stairs on both the interior and exterior lead up to Forte House’s first floor, where two additional bedrooms connect to rooftop seating areas and a balcony overlooking the street at the front of the site.

Inside, walls of white plaster in the circulation areas echo the design language of the exterior, while wooden panelling has been introduced in the bedrooms and living spaces, and used to create large areas of built-in storage.

White-walled living room with wooden cabinets
The living space echoes the white exterior of the house

Based in Santo Tirso, Pema Studio was founded by Tiago Pedrosa Martins in 2019.

Other homes recently completed in Portugal include a cork-clad dwelling near Lisbon by Inês Brandão Arquitectura and a minimalist white home on a narrow site in Ponta Delgado by Box Arquitectos.

The photography is by Ivo Tavares.


Project credits:

Architect: Pema Studio
Collaborator: Daniel Carvalho/Livre Atelier and Dário Cunha
Main architect: Tiago Pedrosa Martins
Construction: Construções Alves e Freitas, Lda.
Engineer: M2 – Gabinete de Estudos

Reference