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    Marmol Radziner creates club space in modernist Park Avenue skyscraper

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    The third floor of the iconic Lever House skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan has been renovated by architecture firm Marmol Radziner to complement the building’s original modernist design.

    Marmol Radziner completed the interiors for the Lever Club within the office tower at 390 Park Avenue, which was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in the International style and completed in 1952.
    The entrance to Lever Club is lined with green marble flooring and soapstone wall panelsSOM finished restoring the building last year, after it was purchased by developers Brookfield Properties and WatermanClark in 2020, and Marmol Radziner worked on updating its communal spaces that had fallen into disrepair.
    “Lever House is a globally renowned architectural marvel, symbolising the era’s shift to modern skyscrapers,” said Marmol Radziner.
    The green hues used through the interior nod to the colour of the building’s curtain wall facade”Recognised with the prestigious Twenty-five Year Award from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the building remains an icon of architectural excellence,” the studio added.

    Originally a cafeteria and repurposed several times over the years, the third floor now serves as a lounge, bar and dining space that continues onto a terrace projecting from the tower’s elevated base.
    The club’s layout revolves around “a series of paneled volumes”Design cues were taken from SOM partner Gordon Bunshaft’s own residence, and other modernist masters, to create an interior that feels in keeping with the building’s history and architecture.
    “From the beginning, we felt that the design of Lever Club should feel like a sympathetic insertion within the iconic curtain wall of the building,” said Marmol Radziner partner Ron Radziner.
    The bar is bookended by rosewood volumes and backed by a screen from John Lewis GlassThe club is entered via a lobby area where floors and walls are covered in panels of green marble and soapstone, contrasted by a simple cuboid reception desk made from wood.
    Inside, the layout revolves around “a series of paneled volumes set within the glass perimeter, taking advantage of the views and access to the most superbly sited outdoor terrace in the city”, according to Radziner
    The dining area overlooks an expansive terrace on top of the building’s elevated baseThe marble flooring, which echoes the green hues of the building’s pioneering facade, extends into the lounge area where tone-matched carpet demarcates soft seating areas.
    Many of the armchairs and sofas are upholstered in a complementary green hue, while chocolate-coloured leather is used to cover other seating options such as bar stool and banquettes.
    The curved banquettes are wrapped in chocolate-brown leather”The furnishings, largely bespoke, respond to and soften the hard edges of the architecture with plush texture and rich tones most often seen in a residential setting,” Radziner said.
    Rosewood tables match the large vertical elements that bookend the bar, which is backed by a John Lewis Glass patterned screen.

    SOM completes restoration of New York’s historic Lever House

    Aluminium also appears as table bases and chair frames that echo the slender window mullions.
    “It was important to us that the design respond intelligently and reverently to the building while also creating a real sense of comfort, warmth, and luxury,” Radziner said.
    Aluminium chair frames echo the slender window mullionsThis isn’t the first time that Marmol Radziner has created interiors for a SOM-designed skyscraper – the firm was also behind the penthouse at Fifteen Fifty in San Francisco, which was temporarily turned into a collectible design gallery in 2021.
    Earlier this year, Marmol Radziner completed California’s tallest residential skyscraper in Downtown Los Angeles.
    Lever Club can be used by the building’s tenants during the day and at nightLever House is one of several Manhattan office towers from the mid to late 20th century to have been retrofitted in recent years, aiming to attract new tenants.
    Among them are the postmodern AT&T Building by Philip Johnson, which was rebranded as 550 Madison after it was overhauled by Snøhetta and its lobby was transformed by Gensler.
    The photography is by Scott Frances.

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      Eero Saarinen’s Black Rock skyscraper refurbished in New York

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      The first and only skyscraper designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen in New York City has undergone a renovation by Vocon Architects and MdeAS Architects to help it “meet the expectations of today”.

      At the behest of developer HGI, local architecture studios Vocon Architects and MdeAS Architects renovated and restored the 51W52 skyscraper, also known as Black Rock, which was completed as a headquarters for American media giant CBS in 1964.
      CBS moved all of its facilities out in late 2023 and Black Rock now contains offices for a variety of companies, including HGI itself.
      Eero Saarinen’s first and only skyscraper has been renovatedDesigned by modernist architect Saarinen as his first and only skyscraper, 51W52’s original symmetrical facade of granite, bronze and travertine has survived, with the bronze fins updated by the renovation team.
      At the time, Saarinen called it the “simplest skyscraper statement in New York”.

      The original design was mostly maintained, and the developer, which purchased the landmarked building in 2021, said that the relatively column-less floor plans made it a perfect candidate for a contemporary office, though the interiors needed an update.
      The building’s facade is made of granite, bronze and travertine”From the beginning, we understood the immense potential of 51W52 given its architectural significance, desirable floor plans, and central location in Midtown,” said HGI president T Richard Litton Jr.
      “The structure of the building was optimal, we just needed to make subtle enhancements to reflect and appreciate its original design.”
      Most of the structural elements in the building were left intact. The architectural team completely renovated two lobbies on the ground floor, including a revamp of the finishes and the elevators. They also redid the building’s rooftop garden.
      Contemporary details and furnishings were added to the lobbyThe project also included the renovation of key amenities spaces including a lounge, fitness centre and a private cafe.
      The studios said that instead of completely rethinking the aesthetics of the 900,000-square-foot (83,600 square-metre) building, they aimed to “let the significant architecture speak for itself”.
      The wide, long walls of the lobby were finished in detailing that echoes those used for the original facade. Some of the walls were covered in brass-tipped wooden slats, while others feature monolithic granite slabs.
      The elevator bay was clad in light-coloured stoneBack-lit stone clads the reception desk, above which was placed a modernist fresco that incorporates the CBS logo to call attention to the history of the building.
      This artwork, by artist Vincent Ashbahian, was originally displayed in the building in the 1970s and willed back to the building after his death.
      Toronto outfit Viso created a massive lighting fixture made of dangling lights on strands to cover a large swath of the lobby.

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      “By conceptualizing the experience from the outside in, we were able to restore the fundamental beauty of his design and apply the principles of form, light, and even water to new elements such as the feature stair and water feature that meet the preferences of contemporary office users,” said MdeAS Architects managing partner Dan Shannon.
      From the lobby, a glass-lined stairwell leads down to lounge areas. The stairwell shaft is clad in stainless steel rendered in an undulating pattern.
      Models of furniture originally designed by Saarinen and architect Florence Knoll were placed throughout the renovated spaces.
      A water feature was placed underneath the staircase leading to the below-lobby loungeAs it leads to lounge areas below, it passes over a small, still water feature: a small pool of water retained by black-painted metal.
      “The creation of private lounges, a conference center, and fitness studios help the building meet the expectations of today’s best corporate talent, while their designs maintain the integrity of Saarinen’s original architecture,” said Vocon Architects principal Tom Vecchione.
      Saarinen is known for his modernist architecture, with built work across the United States and Europe. Recently, a number of his buildings have been undergoing renovation, including his TWA terminal at JFK, which was repurposed into a hotel.
      Other modernist skyscrapers that have undergone restorations and renovations in New York City include the famous Lever House skyscraper, which was restored by SOM, its original architects.
      The photography is by Colin Miller.

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      TPG Architecture creates “memorable moments” within NHL Headquarters in Manhattan

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      Bold graphics and a tall media wall are among the features in the TPG Architecture-designed home office for North America’s National Hockey League, which spans five floors in a new skyscraper.

      The project is located in One Manhattan West, a glazed, 67-storey tower designed by SOM. The building is part of an emerging mixed-use development atop railroad tracks in the city’s Far West Side district.
      Bold graphics define the office interior by TPG ArchitectureThe NHL occupies floors 23 through 27, encompassing a total of 160,000 square feet (14,864 square metres). About 600 employees work in the office.
      Local firm TPG Architecture – which has designed several NHL projects since the 1990s – aimed to create a flexible and high-functioning work environment that captures the spirit of the professional ice hockey league.
      The project intends to capture the spirit of the ice hockey league”We set out to develop a connected, tech-enabled workplace that showcases the NHL’s commitment to its players, fans and employees,” the architecture studio said.

      “The result is an inspiring office that features memorable moments throughout, immersing both staff members and their guests into the League’s culture.”
      One Manhattan West skyscraper provides the setting for the headquartersThe league was started in 1917 and consists of 32 member clubs – 25 in the US and seven in Canada. The organisation was formerly based in a tower on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.
      The new headquarters encompasses a range of spaces, including private offices, open workspaces, meeting rooms, media suites, social areas and a cafeteria that doubles as a “town hall”. The main entry and executive suite are on the 27th level.
      Interior finishes include concrete flooring and beige carpetingTo unify the different areas, the team used a black-and-white scheme with pops of colour – a move inspired by the NHL’s logo, which consists of a monochromatic shield.
      Interior finishes include concrete flooring, beige carpeting and warm-toned wood.
      Floors are connected by a feature staircaseFloors are connected by a feature staircase lined with an 18-foot-tall (5.5-metre) media wall. Games, graphics, social media feeds and staff announcements are showcased on the wall.
      NHL memorabilia is found throughout the headquarters, including a wall with pucks signed by players, a partition made of hockey sticks, and a corridor lined with uniforms from the league’s member clubs.
      An etching of the Stanley Cup features within the buildingOne area features a freestanding glass pane with an etching of the Stanley Cup trophy.
      “This area is great for visiting players to come in and take part in media interviews and other content-capturing activities,” the team said.

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      The work zones offer plenty of opportunities for group activities, which was somewhat lacking in the league’s former headquarters.
      “We interspersed more collaborative environments to boost productivity,” the team said.
      “Huddle booths, whiteboards with tabletop seating, and informal lounge areas are found throughout the office.”
      Various other spaces are included within the headquartersOther spaces in the headquarters include a Player Safety Area, where games are monitored in real-time and video clips are created for disciplinary review. The office also has a newsroom, broadcasting studio and editing suites.
      TPG Architecture was founded in 1979 and is based in New York City. Its extensive portfolio of office projects includes the conversion of a former tobacco factory in North Carolina into an advertising agency.
      The photography is by Eric Laignel.

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      Studio Sofield completes interiors on world's skinniest supertall skyscraper in New York

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      Studio Sofield has completed the interiors of 111 West 57th Street, also known as Steinway Tower – a supertall skyscraper designed by SHoP Architects in New York City.

      The interiors mark the full completion of the 1,428-foot-tall (435-metre) skyscraper, which is the second tallest in the Western Hemisphere, and the skinniest in the world with a height-to-width ratio of 24:1.
      Studio Sofield completed interiors for Steinway Tower in ManhattanSited on a street bordering Central Park in Midtown that has come to be known as Billionaire’s Row, the skyscraper has views looking north and south.
      New York-based Studio Sofield designed the interiors for the skyscraper as well as the adjacent Steinway Hall, which is connected to the tower.
      The 91-storey skyscraper has 46 residences, with an additional 14 held in Steinway Hall, as well as a variety of amenities, and was developed by JDS Development Group and Property Markets Group.

      The design included interiors for the lobby spaces that connect the tower and Steinway Hall”With 111 West 57th Street, I set out to create interior architecture that was unmistakably and quintessentially New York,” said Studio Sofield founder William Sofield.
      “While celebrating the vibrancy of today, I am a historian by nature and sought to honor and evoke the splendor of our city’s gilded age.”
      Studio Sofield wanted the public interiors to reflect the “gilded age” of New York CityInteriors designed by Sofield includes the “block-long lobby sequence” that connects the two aspects of the tower. Here, the studio restored the original flooring of the Steinway Hall and used limestone, marble, blackened steel and velvet accents.
      Murals in bas-reliefs of gold and silver leaves depict architectural landmarks of New York, and elephants were depicted elephants roaming through the city as a”tribute to the history of pianos”.
      The swimming pool room has full-height windowsAnother room in the lobby sequence was outfitted with bronze mirror cladding that leads to a “domed salon” lined with banquet seating.
      On 58th street, a residence entrance featuring a granite porte-cochere with grillwork doors inspired by “the bronze filigree on the building’s exterior”.
      Steinway Hall was renovated using themes from the original buildingThe bar area and the swimming pool are also in the hall structure. According to the studio, the bar was based on the “legendary King Cole Bar with its chic bar” with an ornamental balcony and skylights that further the material references to the original building.
      Elevator vestibules for the tower were completed using custom-made doors by artist Nancy Lorenz. The swimming pool is 82 feet long (25 metres) and is housed in a double-height room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

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      In the skyscraper, the residences each occupy at least a single floor. Each home has a central room where the views to the north and south are prioritised, and these rooms lead to a “signature great hall, which often spans the full width of the tower,” according to the studio.
      Grey oak and macauba stone were used for the flooring and nine-foot-tall doors separate the room.
      The skyscraper’s residences have wooden and stone floorHardware for the doors as well as other features like the freestanding bathtubs and the fixtures were sourced from long-standing US manufacturers such as PE Guerin, which, according to the studio, is the “country’s oldest architectural hardware firm”.
      Other supertall skyscrapers – defined as one between 984 and 1,969 feet (300 and 600 metres) – designed by SHoP Architects include the Brooklyn Tower in Downtown Brooklyn, which is nearing its way to completion, having topped out earlier this year.
      Billionare’s Row – the name for the luxury skyscrapers on 57th Street near Central Park in Manhattan, continues to see new developments, with New York studio ODA announcing the construction of a “fractal” skyscraper on the street.
      The interior photography is by Adrian Gaut with exterior photography by David Sundberg.

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      David Adjaye and Aston Martin design five residences in New York skyscraper 130 William

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      David Adjaye has partnered with luxury carmaker Aston Martin to design homes and limited edition SUVs for five residents who will live in the British-Ghanaian architect’s first New York skyscraper.Five Aston Martin Residences will be located on the 59th and 60th floors of 130 William – Adjaye’s 244-metre-tall residential tower under construction in Manhattan. Each resident will also receive a limited-edition, Adjaye-designed Aston Martin DBX.

      Above image: crosshatched bronze, an emblem of Aston Martin, will cover Adjaye-design wallpaper. Top image: residences will have outdoor loggias
      “The 130 William Aston Martin homes have been touched in a very particular way that merges our design sensibilities,” said Adjaye.
      “Together with the limited edition SUVs that come with these units, we’ve created a truly unique signature that blends our two disciplines.”
      Differing from the other homes in the 242-unit tower, these five will be decorated with materials, textiles and furniture sourced from the Aston Martin Home Collection by the Italian manufacturer Formitalia, with additional touches by Adjaye.

      The living and dining room will feature items from Aston Martin’s home collection

      The entry hallway will be covered with a bronze cross-hatch, a signature of the Aston Martin brand, that will cover over dark Adjaye-designed wallpaper. A large arched smoked-glass mirror by Aston Martin’s design team will hang on the wall, as a reference to the arched windows of the skyscraper.
      Renderings show these windows will flood daylight into the lounge and dining room, whose furnishings will include leather, metal and fabric chairs that are intended to draw on the aesthetic of Astin Martin car interiors.

      Residents can customise a bedroom into a study
      An open-plan kitchen adjoining the living room will have rich materials like blackened-oak Italian cabinetry, marble countertops from Italy’s Apuan Alps and a cantilevered Nero Marquina marble top.
      In the main bathroom, meanwhile, dark Italian Salvtori will be carved into a bathtub and double vanity sinks. Design details in the main bedroom will include Formitalia furniture and a custom cashmere headboard.

      The spare room can also be turned into a racing simulator
      Residents will also be able to turn one of the rooms in the two- or three-bedroom homes into a racing simulator, an office and library space or a bedroom. The racing simulator will be made in partnership with British technology company Curv Racing Simulators.
      Each residence will also have an expansive outdoor space with bespoke slatted screens to divide up lounging areas.

      The main bathrooms with have a bathtub carved from marble
      The Adjaye-designed Aston Martin DBX that will accompany the purchase of each residence will feature rich materials to mirror the homes – including marble, walnut wood and hand-stitched leather with green trim.
      The five Aston Martin Residences include two penthouses for sale at $11,500,000 and $10,500,000, and three loggia residences priced from $3,985,000, $5,985,000 and $10,000,000.

      130 William skyscraper for New York will be “great for drones” says David Adjaye

      First unveiled in 2017, 130 William is a 66-storey skyscraper in Downtown Manhattan that Adjaye has designed with local firm Hill West Architects for developer Lightstone.
      It will have a textural hand-cast concrete exterior to complement the materiality of the surrounding historic, brick commercial buildings, which Adjaye has previously said will make it ideal for close-up drone photography.

      Each resident of the five homes will get an Adjaye-designed Aston Martin DBX luxury car
      The partnership with Aston Martin is not the first time the car marker has turned its hand to architecture and design.
      “This is a fascinating project for the Aston Martin design team to work on and a great opportunity to collaborate with David,” Aston Martin CCO Marek Reichman said.

      Rich materials inside the SUV are intended to reference the homes
      “It is our first real estate project in New York City but our second collaboration in real estate design after the Aston Martin Residences in Miami,” he added. “We can apply what we have learnt in Miami and also bring our unique automotive design skills to these beautiful luxury homes.’
      Last year, the brand also launched an architectural design service called Automotive Galleries and Lairs to design homes around the resident’s cars. It has since teamed up with US studio S3 Architecture to create Sylvan Rock, an angular black-cedar home in Hudson Valley, New York.
      Renderings are courtesy of Aston Martin.

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