Hotel Tower and Sky Garden
Manhattan, New York
The project aimed to design a distinctive skyscraper hotel tower with an integrated sky garden in Manhattanville, New York City, poised to become an iconic feature of the city's skyline. The focus was on enhancing the area's aesthetic and cultural appeal, making it a landmark destination. The urban design strategy emphasized creating a pedestrian-friendly environment around and within the development. Key challenges included improving pedestrian accessibility and maximizing space for public amenities. This was achieved by incorporating public spaces and underground parking at the ground level, resulting in more surface area for pedestrian pathways, patios, and public gathering spaces.
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The architectural design features dynamic parametric diamond panels, creating a striking facade for the tower. Structural support is provided by diagonal steel elements holding diamond-shaped curtain wall panels, allowing for a fully glazed exterior. This design effectively harnesses natural light, particularly beneficial given New York's often cloudy weather. The tower's design widens midway, enlarging the curtain wall at the sky garden level to enhance views of the Hudson River and city skyline. The project also includes a three-story retail podium that contributes to the urbanization of the streetscape, encouraging pedestrian movement and interaction. Overall, the development aims to significantly enhance Manhattanville's vibrancy and functionality, offering a blend of hospitality, office, public, and retail spaces.



