The more cynical amongst us have long suspected that the growing forest of supertall residential condominiums in Midtown Manhattan is as much about big egos as it is about great architecture.
Now, the marketing department in charge of selling the multi-million dollar apartments in SHoP Architects‘ slender skyscraper on West 57th have added fuel to that fire: as Curbed NY reports, they have released an outrageously elongated infographic that completely ignores many of the high-rise buildings being developed on adjacent plots, including the Nordstrom Tower, set to rise about 75 feet higher.
The diagram recognizes iconic towers such as the Seagram, Woolworth, and Empire State Buildings, as well as landmarks from around the world, from London’s Shard to the Pyramids of Giza. JDS Development’s main competition, though, is conspicuous in its absence —– although Rafael Viñoly’s equally skinny 432 Park Avenue does get a mention.
Of course, there is no real reason why they should give any free advertisement to rival towers, as one Curbed commenter points out: “The ‘missing’ buildings haven’t even been built yet! In showcasing your masterpiece, would YOU sketch in the future competition at this point? I wouldn’t…!”
The teaser render of SHoP’s skinny ‘scraper. Via Curbed
A fair point perhaps, but one that is symptomatic of the current trend: Residential developers are now competing for the investment of global business people, many of whom are not from New York City, and may never actually live in these extraordinary mansions in the sky.
As for me? If I could afford the $100 million view, I’m pretty sure I’d stay at home all day…
Yours loftily,
Top image: Midtown’s future skyline, with all proposals included… via City Realty