25 Park Row in New York by COOKFOX Architects

Article source: COOKFOX Architects

The land that is now City Hall Park has a long and rich history as a green space and public commons. Portions of the commons have been used as grounds for a 1691 almshouse, a cemetery, and the British military. During the Revolutionary War it also became a place of protest, with five “Liberty Poles” erected between 1770 and 1776. When the war was won it was chosen as the site for the new City Hall. For a brief period at the end of the 19th Century the southern portion was home to New York’s Central Post Office, but was returned to open, public space in 1910. As a result of the park’s enduring history as civic gathering space, the city has organized itself around it, creating a green urban room walled with a historical tapestry of architecture.

25 Park Row sits at the southeastern border of City Hall Park, across from the iconic 1913 Woolworth Building. COOKFOX’s vision for its design was to complete the urban room, taking inspiration from, and complementing the historical architecture around it, while crafting a building that stands on its own as an example of beautiful biophilic design.

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

• Architects: COOKFOX Architects
• Project: 25 Park Row
• Location: New York
• Photography: Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

A series of Juliet railings, expansive terraces, and loggias are integrated into the architectural expression of the building, connecting residents to nature and the changing seasons. In a modern interpretation of traditional divided light casement windows, the glazing allows abundant daylight and sweeping views while balancing the solidity of the façade. The hand cast concrete of the façade is articulated in a concave arch to create a play of light and shadow while providing depth to protect from the glare of early morning and evening light. Referencing the classic skyscraper setbacks of the 1930s, Park Row’s terraces step back, softening its massing on the skyline and integrating its form into the historical context.

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

The surrounding architecture offers examples of historical botanical motifs from which from which the designers drew inspiration to create contemporary details. Custom biophilic patterned screens define every terrace, loggia and Juliet railing, weaving the natural patterns of the park into the fabric of the building. Rising above neighboring buildings, the apartments oriented toward Uptown and Downtown culminate with “lantern” living rooms, three sides enclosed in glass from which loggias extend, their corners defined by the articulated façade and structural columns to blur the definition between indoor and outdoor and allow the loggias to read as part of the building mass.

The residential entry is differentiated from the elegant ground floor retail, and second, third and fourth floor office entries, meeting the street at a human-scale. The welcoming, double-height lobby paneled in warm oak offers a biophilic space to transition from street to home. 110 residential units range in size from one bedroom apartments with views directly onto the treetops of City Hall Park, to four bedroom simplex and duplex penthouses with expansive prospecting views from the East River to the Hudson River and from Lower Manhattan up to Midtown and beyond.

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

COOKFOX designed 25 Park Row holistically, creating a refined approach to the use of natural materials and custom details in the interior. The grains of walnut and oak, veins of Calacatta and Statuary marble, and natural patina of oil-rubbed bronze support occupant well-being by eliciting positive biological responses to natural patterns. Amenities include fitness, dining and pool areas designed by Andre Mellone with treetop views and natural materials, and a common landscaped terrace garden heightens resident’s connection to the outdoors.

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Image Courtesy © Alex Ferrec

Tags: New York

Categories: Apartments, Building, House, Housing Development, Residential

This entry was posted on Friday, August 26th, 2022 at 7:17 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.