Sir David Adjaye and Aston Martin design NYC apartments
Expect dark, brooding tones, and smoked glass, along with a scattering of design classics
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There’s an unmistakeable aura of brutish charm surrounding 130 William, the new residential development from Adjaye Associates. Currently rising above New York’s William Street in Manhattan, the 66-storey tower will house over 240 high-end condos and a full suite of residential amenities, including residents’ lounge, private IMAX theatre, pool and spa. Sir David and his team have adapted the city’s industrial aesthetic into a new residential paradigm, translating the rhythmic forms of the brick warehouse into a vaulted concrete structure, its façade serrated by concrete colonnades that provide sheltered loggias for the apartments within.
Up on the 59th and 60th floor are five very special apartments, created by Adjaye in close collaboration with Aston Martin’s specialist industrial design division and Lightstone developers. Intended as a bespoke set of turnkey apartments, each unit created by the partnership adds to the fixtures and fittings specified by Adjaye Associates with a carefully selected collection of furnishings, many of which are drawn from Aston Martin’s own range, developed along with the Italian manufacturer Formitalia. Expect dark, brooding tones, bronze, smoked glass and dark stained oak, along with a scattering of design classics.
The two and three-bedroom apartments can be arranged so that the spare bedroom serves as either an office or a futuristic sounding ‘Simulator Room’ incorporating a customised version of the Aston Martin-designed Curv Racing Simulator, a professional grade machine for video game aficionados (or even real racing drivers).
As well as the furniture, custom design elements and the optional Sim, Aston and Sir David put their heads together to create a special edition car for the new owners of the apartments. The 130 William Adjaye Special Edition Aston Martin DBX is not only a bit of a mouthful, but it’s the first Aston Martin to be given an architect-led makeover. Working with Q by Aston Martin and Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman, Sir David has brought hitherto unfamiliar materials, textures and colours into the DBX interior, including grey ‘Pietra D’Avola' marble inlays and carved solid walnut trim. Parliament Green leather and a bespoke exterior paint finish inspired by the building’s dark concrete façade complete the package. Just like the apartments it complements, the car splices old world warmth with contemporary style.
INFORMATION
130william.com (opens in new tab)
adjaye.com (opens in new tab)
astonmartin.com (opens in new tab)
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
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