Don't Like the Flatbush Flatiron? No Worries
We’ve got nothing against the upzoning and resulting building boom on Flatbush Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn; in fact, it makes a lot of sense to us. We also think that the derogatory implications of the term “Manhattanization” are overdone (usually in the process of opposing the Atlantic Yards project). That said, Ismael Leyva’s design for…
We’ve got nothing against the upzoning and resulting building boom on Flatbush Avenue in Downtown Brooklyn; in fact, it makes a lot of sense to us. We also think that the derogatory implications of the term “Manhattanization” are overdone (usually in the process of opposing the Atlantic Yards project). That said, Ismael Leyva’s design for the 108-unit condo destined the triangular lot bounded by Flatbush Avenue Extenstion, Tillary and Duffield is a downer, we think. It feels soul-less, robotic even. We aren’t going to get to worried about it though for reasons one commenter on Curbed summed up very nicely:
It’s one building by one architect for one developer. And when another building by another architect is built next to it — blam! — you start to get an interesting streetscape and diversity. and the people who didn’t like the first building may like the second. And problems that are encountered after the first building can be addressed by the second building. It’s not like, oh, say…16 skyscrapers designed by one guy being dropped in one fell swoop on top of an entire neighborhood.
And, there, folks, you have our biggest objection to the Atlantic Yards project.
Flatiron on Flatbush [Brooklyn Papers] GMAP
Alien Spawn of Flatiron on Flatbush [Curbed]
“no one’s ever quoted me back to me before” (rip bruno kirby). thanks b’stoner.
AJ – i DID read the BPaper article. And in defense of my comments, I explicitly said “one building by one architect for one developer.” The other buildings are for other developers with different needs, budgets and preferences.
Similarly, Gehry’s proposed “Theatre for a New Audience” building on Flatbush is very different looking than from all of the nearby AY designs. IMHO, better looking. Same architect, sure, but different developer, different project.
So take your (tired) comments and put them to bed.
why do you say scary, i dunno?
Brooklyn MAY be a scary place 10 years from now. I’m not sure what I think of all this new stuff. But a change is definetly a coming between AY and these type of developements.
Not a fan of most modern residential design here in NYC, but I find myself liking this one. The architect seems to have at least taken the time to actually design. I like the curved balcony front. It will tower over the site, but this is inevitable for the location, and better there than in a brownstone neighborhood.
The comment from Curbed was right on point, I thought.
You’re absolutely right that this is not in the same league as the things we usually complain about. Maybe it’s just that we’re not big fans of curves in architecture. It’s the balconies that bother us.
while it may not be to everyone’s tastes, it certainly shows some creativity and adds variety to the bklyn-scape. the development of downtown can only be a positive thing, architecture aside.
I don’t hate it but it just reminds me of something you would see in the “edge cities” of Atlanta or Houston.
Not sure what folks expect a new high-rise apt building to look like. If don’t like that genre then I guess none (or very precious few) will pass muster but then you loose credibility as valid critic on individual buildings.
What could you conceivably expect to be built on such a lot/location? I think its great that this depressing
stretch of real estate is changing for the better.
Also add that from these archtitect or developer renderings, it is often difficult to imagine what final product will look like.
When I initially read that Curbed comment, I thought the poster was trying to be sarcastic. Now I realize he was just making another (tired) reference to the AY development.
The poster (and B’stoner) should have read the Brooklyn Papers article more carefully before defending this building. It clearly states that, in addition to this tacky building on Tillary, the same architect “is the designer of adjacent twin luxury towers on Gold Street, which will stand 40 and 35 stories, and “two or three†other buildings already in the works for the short stretch from the Manhattan Bridge to DeKalb Avenue.”
While it may not be 16 skyscrapers, 6 Jetson’s-style monstrosities hardly constitutes variety.