Glass Construction Towering Over Brooklyn
An article in yesterday’s NY Sun takes a look at the wave of glass-sheathed high-rises under construction in the outer boroughs, with shout-outs to two of Brooklyn’s biggest new towers o’ transparency, Williamsburg’s Northside Piers and Prospect Heights’ On Prospect Park. The article notes that developers say the contemporary aesthetic of glass towers does not…
An article in yesterday’s NY Sun takes a look at the wave of glass-sheathed high-rises under construction in the outer boroughs, with shout-outs to two of Brooklyn’s biggest new towers o’ transparency, Williamsburg’s Northside Piers and Prospect Heights’ On Prospect Park. The article notes that developers say the contemporary aesthetic of glass towers does not detract from typical brownstone neighborhoods’ charm. Done correctly, we’d agree. On Prospect Park’s developers believe the condo will enhance its surroundings because Richard Meier’s design is an opportunity to have an impact on the urban landscape. A spokesman for Toll Brothers, meanwhile, says 20 percent of Northside Piers buyers are from Brooklyn, suggesting that Brooklynites are hungry for translucent architecture. Of course, the Williamsburg waterfront is hardly a typical brownstone ‘hood like Prospect Heights, so it’s difficult to compare how Northside Piers and OPP gel with their respective surroundings. Where do you come down on the great glass debate?
Glass Towers on the Rise Outside of Manhattan [Sun]
My biggest gripe about the Meier building is that it can be seen above the treeline from the lawn in Prospect Park.
Speaking of the new glass face on the Brooklyn Museum, how do folks here feel about that? Personally I think it’s a hideous clash of styles that failed utterly, like a piece of a cruise ship was grafted willy-nilly onto a grand old facade. Anybody here feeling the love for it?
Observed over time, you start to notice some interesting plays with light and reflections.
I also like how it echos the old/new vibe at the nearby Brooklyn Museum, with its new glass face.
There’s also some rumors of retail going in there — which could be interesting.
I think that OPP looks attractive. It’s height is in context and it fills out the line of buildings stretching down Eastern Parkway. It looks much better than the vacant lot that was there before.
Sometimes I think that most posters on this site will hate anything that is built. It’s a rare day that a new building is complimented on these threads.
What I really wonder about with these glass buildings is the amount of energy it takes to heat and cool them. They seemed absolutely unsuited to the extremes of New York weather. I don’t find them aesthestically appealing enough (I think “suburban office park” is the operative word in describing the one in Prospect Hgts.) to warrant their lack of efficiency, even if rich people are williing to pay the bills.
How about “cheap and charmless”? Or, “swing by in a quarter century and let’s see how the quality of craftsmanship has aged.”
Northside Piers looks silly but will presumably drive my rent down in the long term. On the waterfront, context doesn’t feel as relevant, and Kent Ave is mostly empty low-rise industrial buildings, with townhouses and factories scattered around haphazardly. I’d say it’s basically a win.
down with OPP – how did i not think of that? nice work 5:29
I think this place is ugly.So much glass makes it look dingy.Also if they don’t regulate what can be put up at the windows it will look even worse.