One High Line’s twisting towers by BIG dance in New York
One High Line by Bjarke Ingels’ BIG is completed in New York, including a home interior by designer Dan Fink

One High Line’s sculptural pair of towers stands out in graceful, seeming perpetual motion, by the water of Manhattan's Hudson River. The project (formerly known as the XI), situated by the famed High Line Park in West Chelsea, has just been completed, as a collaborative work between its architect, Bjarke Ingels’ BIG; Alex Witkoff, co-CEO of developer Witkoff Group; and designer Dan Fink, who worked on one of the luxurious homes' interiors.
One High Line’s twisting towers
One High Line’s mesmerising volumes are clad in glass and travertine stone. Strong geometries – something of a BIG specialty, if you look at the Danish studio's past work, such as the Vestre factory in Norway, IQON in Quito, and El Cosmico campground hotel – define the exterior composition. However, the 'twisting' effect was not a mere aesthetic decision; the shapes were engineered to achieve the best possible vista for the residents of each apartment.
'The façade design is inspired by the punched windows seen in the historic warehouses of the Meatpacking and West Chelsea neighbourhoods. The façade patterning functions as an honest expression of the gridded structural logic of the building, which steps to follow the movement of the towers’ geometry. The travertine stone is in a way a tribute to Gordon Bunshaft and his Solow Building and Grace Building, both not far away,' says Ingels.
'Our site is blessed because it has The High Line on one side, and the Hudson River on the other side. It’s really breathtaking, and from an architect’s point of view it’s incredible to get a whole city block. We wanted to see if we could discover an architecture that could be both the character of Chelsea but at the same time do something that would be true to its time when the neighbourhood is full of creativity and ideas about architecture. It wasn’t about firsts but more about responding to the incredible location and figuring out how to maximise it, to take advantage of The High Line and Arts District and river and views.'
The exterior effect of motion and geometry is softened inside, where drama gives way to subtler tones and refined, luxurious materials as well as the views take centre stage. Large, floor-to-ceiling glazed openings pull those vistas in, bring together The High Line's greenery, the waters, and New York's iconic cityscape in every home.
‘It feels calm to be and live there’
Interiors span from one-bedroom to five-bedroom residences, all of which can make the most of a series of lush amenities, including a swimming pool, spa and fitness area with one of the best views in town. The home by Dan Fink specifically mixes vintage and contemporary finds, including a rosewood dining table and a sofa by JD Moveis e Decoracoes, both from the 1960s, lounge chairs by Cassina, and artwork by Pace Gallery.
'The building that Bjarke designed is so elegant, with its embracing pairs of towers and glistening water views. I wanted the interiors to reflect that kind of natural grace and beauty. We chose furnishings in simple, sophisticated shapes, covered in easy materials and a soft palate. It feels calm to be and live there, floating above The High Line and the river,' says Fink.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Ellie Stathaki is the Architecture & Environment Director at Wallpaper*. She trained as an architect at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece and studied architectural history at the Bartlett in London. Now an established journalist, she has been a member of the Wallpaper* team since 2006, visiting buildings across the globe and interviewing leading architects such as Tadao Ando and Rem Koolhaas. Ellie has also taken part in judging panels, moderated events, curated shows and contributed in books, such as The Contemporary House (Thames & Hudson, 2018), Glenn Sestig Architecture Diary (2020) and House London (2022).
-
Re-style the source of your favourite sounds with the new Bang & Olufsen Atelier service
Bang & Olufsen Atelier brings macro-level colour and material customisation to the Danish manufacturer’s wide range of hi-fidelity devices. We delve into the sample drawer
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Rétromobile revisits some of the icons of car design, along with their modern descendants
We tour the halls of Rétromobile Paris 2025 and take in remastered automotive classics, futuristic record-breakers and mighty monographs
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Designer Danny Kaplan’s Manhattan showroom is also his apartment: the live-work space reimagined
Danny Kaplan’s Manhattan apartment is an extension of his new showroom, itself laid out like a home; he invites us in, including a first look at his private quarters
By Diana Budds Published
-
A wavy roof tops this Accessory Dwelling Unit's cabin-like form: all miniature charm
This Californian Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) by Spiegel Aihara Workshop (SAW), offers an aesthetic and functional answer to housing shortages and multigenerational family living
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025: let the desert architecture party begin
Palm Springs Modernism Week 2025 launches on 13 February, marking the popular annual desert event’s 20th anniversary, celebrated this year through more midcentury marvels than ever
By Carole Dixon Published
-
On the shores of Discovery Bay, this wooden house is the ultimate waterside retreat
Dekleva Gregorič’s Discovery Bay House is a structured yet organic shelter that blends perfectly into the surrounding Pacific Northwest landscape
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The 10 emerging American Midwest architects you need to know
We profile 10 emerging American Midwest architects shaking up the world of architecture - in their territory, and beyond
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
A light-filled New York loft renovation magics up extra space in a deceptively sized home
This New York loft renovation by local practice BOND is now a warm and welcoming apartment that feels more spacious than it actually is
By Léa Teuscher Published
-
Inside Bell Labs, the modernist vision behind Severance's minimalist setting
We explore the history of Bell Labs - now known as Bell Works - the modernist Eero Saarinen-designed facility in New Jersey, which inspired the dystopian minimalist setting of 'Severance'
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Zaha Hadid Architects’ new project will be Miami’s priciest condo
Construction has commenced at The Delmore, an oceanfront condominium from the firm founded by the late Zaha Hadid, ZHA
By Anna Solomon Published
-
A West Austin house invites you to commune with nature
Westview Residence by Alterstudio, a West Austin house among trees, makes the most of large windows and open-air decks in a verdant setting
By Ellie Stathaki Published