Architects and design aficionados frequently get embroiled in heated debates over the value of renderings when evaluating unbuilt projects, and rightly so — cleverly lit, artificially textured images can be misleading all too often. That’s why this Instagram photo — posted by New York-based developers JDS — constitutes the most satisfying preview of a building we’ve seen to date:
This huge fragment of architecture is a 1:1 scale mockup for SHoP Architects’ most significant project yet, the “skinny skyscraper” of 111 West 57th Street. Set to rise just south of Central Park, the slender building will blend a highly unusual palette of materials for such a modern super-tall building, combining terra cotta, glass and bronze filigree to create a tapered tower that will glimmer in the changing light throughout the day.
The façade rendering of 111 West 57th Street accurately matches the real-world sample.
While there are those who have questioned the wisdom of constructing so many lavish buildings along New York’s burgeoning Billionaire’s Row, there is no denying that this is a seriously attractive chunk of architecture, and it is especially refreshing to see building prototypes being shared on social media, giving the whole world an insight into the development process behind modern buildings.
The building will offer jaw-dropping views of Midtown and Central Park.
SHoP’s tower will slot between two existing buildings on West 57th, spanning only 45 feet and soaring to over 1,350. That width-to-height ratio likely makes it the world’s thinnest skyscraper, enabling the architects to preserve the interior of the historic Steinway Hall next door. It will also house some of the city’s most sought-after full-floor apartments with spectacular views of Central Park to the north and the Empire State Building to the south.
To see more images and information on this and more of SHoP’s recent projects, head over to the architects’ firm profile page now!
