DETAILS
At the locus of two famous NYC neighborhoods, East Village and Greenwich Village, this new corner plaza takes full advantage of the vibrant urban life generated by nearby NYU and historic Cooper Union across the street. With a strong architectural alignment of banquette seating, this plaza benefits from its urban context by carefully staging the cherished NYC pastime of street theatre. Using the new Fumihiko Maki-designed building as its backdrop, the layout encourages transverse pedestrian traffic which cuts the corner along the building, retail storefronts and lobby entrance. 24-hour activity at this busy intersection is further enhanced by the light wands and cove lighting beneath the banquet seating. This unique NYC public space has replaced the famous Rosenthal Cube traffic island as the go-to social gateway to the “villages.” The faceted topographic green roof on the building setback hosts an outdoor lounge terrace and softens views from adjoining buildings.
The plaza’s simple but strong program and forms have helped anchor this new building to its neighborhood and earned the public’s warm embrace.
Gotham West
Gotham West is a residential development west of Times Square that nearly encompasses a full city block. Two mid-rise buildings and a market-rate tower form to create a signature courtyard that is accessed from the tower’s lobby. A sculptural Japanese maple, floating within a reflecting pool, is centered with the lobby entrance, and serves as a focal feature. ...
33 Beekman
33 Beekman Street Plaza is a public plaza that also serves as the front entrance to a new 30-story Pace University Dormitory, located in the financial district. The contemporary plaza appearance synchronizes with the contemporary plaza of Frank Gehry’s high-rise residential tower across Beekman Street to South.
Gate City Osaki
“I do sculpture as it relates to my designs, and as the sculpture emerges from the designs it becomes collaborative. This is gratifying because the sculpture is very much in keeping with the overall landscaping concept. It is not an afterthought,” writes Tom Balsley. Here we see the full integration of his sculptural expression in the overall landscape design ...
Jinbocho Redevelopment
Situated in central Tokyo’s university and publishing district, this new mixed-use project brought urban streetscape character to its immediate neighborhood through the introduction of plazas whose fountains, seating areas, cafes and sculptures serve residents, workers, and the community as a refuge from the busy streets.
A diagram of pedestrian flows t...