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]
I’m relatively down with OPP. It’s certainly better than the completely uninspired condos sprouting up along Fourth Avenue.
bob – you just reminded me of a funny anecodote from my childhood – i grew up in a brownstone. one day my dad is getting dressed in the morning in the parental bedroom on the 2nd floor facing the street – so he’s standing there in his undies looking out the window thinking to himself what a nice day it is out there and hey, what a fool that guy is across the street in the window on the second floor standing there in his undies looking out, can’t he realize that i (and others) can see him. story ends when my dad and the guy across the street realize that they each are being seen by the other, and proceed to hastily drop the window shades.
FWIW I’ve read that the house rules in Meier’s Manhattan buildings forbid window coverings. I’m not sure if that’s actually true or, if so, whether it would also apply to OPP.
OTOH, many people who live in brownstones don’t use window coverings.
It sure is a good time in history to invest in the window coverings business.
if people choose to live in a fish bowl, so be it. it sounds as though YOU are the one that has the problem with it. because you have to see them. which is pretty silly.
those who live in these places do have options for window coverings, you realize?
These two buildings all in glass are done well and work with their surroundings. Fairly impressive craftsmenship. The issues i have isn’t with the aesthetic, but with the lack of privacy the tenants suffer. I walked past a similiar glass structure in Brooklyn the other night and was able to see right into peoples homes. I could see what kind of art they decorate their walls with and what tv show they were watching (on their wall-mounted flat screen tv). I didn’t stick around, but if i waited a few minutes i probably could’ve seen the occupant get up to go to the bathroom and observe what kind of comfy clothes they like wearing. I realize the city isn’t for privacy, but these floor to ceiling glass dwellings take invasiveness to a whole new level.
“So strong statements from Ghery are a no-no because they are out of context, eminent domain abuse, etc., but this bland box (OPP)which already looks dated is OK?”
Although I greatly prefer masonry to glass and 19th Century architecture to that of the present, I recognise that Gehry’swork is far more innovative than Meier’s and speaks to the present, rather that 1he ’20s. It seems to me that Meier has been more or less re-hashing the same old Bauhaus concepts for his whole career.
The problem with Ghery’s AY buildings is that they’re being built in the wrong PLACE.
Bob Marvin – your opinions are fine. do think that there is a very large group of people who do prefer modern buildings and spaces tho, and until recently, really didn’t have a lot of choices. remember moving here from Chicago in the early ’90’s and really just being amazed that the only way to get a clean modern space was to renovate an old space. Chicago had been building town houses and condos for years and mixing them in with older architecture, and everyone took it for granted.
personally, i would take any modern space every time. love clean clean clean and central air. don’t leave near the Meier place, but the toll bros buidling has shot up extremely quickly and seems like it could be great. interested to see what it’ll be like when there are the 3 planned high rises by toll bros.
generally i am a big fan of the glass skin style, but i’m just not feelin the blend (clash) of OPP with its surroundings in this instance.
everytime i walk by that building i can’t help but stop, look up, and think to myself, WTF?
but this is exactly what is making brooklyn even greater as modern buildings continue to sprout up throughout the boro (excluding the fedder segment) – diversity of residents, diversity of architecture, diversity of residents’ opinions of the architecture.