Take a first look inside Álvaro Siza’s first US building, 611 West 56th Street in New York City. The interiors by Gabellini Sheppard Associates reveal a warm, yet minimalist architectural response to Siza’s exterior architecture with clean lines, custom finishes and exposed structural elements.
Located at the intersection of Midtown and the Upper West Side, the monolithic, Perla Bianca limestone-clad tower that tops off with a four-story crown, will offer 80 one-to-four-bedroom residences including penthouses and duplex maisonettes, once complete. Not only will these homes bring New York residents the opportunity to live inside a Pritzker prize winning architects’ design, they also bring unique attributes such as direct elevator access, private terraces and a diverse range of plans.
As well as the expected amenities such as fitness room with Antonio Citterio-designed Technogym equipment, a children’s playroom, resident’s living room and library furnished by DDC and Minotti and illuminated steam room (of course), when complete, the building will even offer its residents a shuttle to the subway during peak hours.
Siza, who is most well known for his contributions to cultural architecture including the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art in Portugal, brought the same sense of refined modernism to 611 West 56th Street. This sensibility is echoed through Gabellini Sheppard’s interiors that include soft materiality to create a sense of place in every residence. Custom oak millwork and Pietra Cardosa stone lines the floors and walls of the spaces, while the glazing is etched to bring privacy to every residence. Siza has designed a custom bench for the project, and Cooley Monato is behind the custom lighting design.
With its focus on craft and simplicity, Gabellini Sheppard was an appropriate fit for the job. The interior architecture and design studio is also behind the interiors at Tadao Ando’s 152 Elizabeth – which we had an exclusive look-in to earlier this year. Construction of the tower is well underway, with residences launching onto the market earlier this month. §
