HdM's Latest NYC Project Revealed

According to New York Yimby, which initially revealed the renderings, the project will have 88 condominium units in a 13-story, undulating concrete-frame structure. It is Swiss architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron's third project in New York City for developer Schrager, the first being at 40 Bond Street in NoHo, and the previous one just unveiled last month for a site in the Lower East Side. The site at West, Leroy, and Clarkson Streets is currently occupied by auto repair facilities.

The initial renderings show some similarities with the Lower East Side project unveiled last month for Schrager, most notably the way full-height glass walls are set behind a concrete frame. The most notable differences are the way 357 West Street undulates in plan, as if in reference to the waves of the Hudson River, and the addition of retractable shades on the exterior, reminiscent of residential buildings in Switzerland that do not have (or need) the luxury of air conditioning.

New York Yimby draws parallels between the revealed renderings and the work of Bertrand Goldberg, particularly Marina City, though comparisons to his River City project further south along the Chicago River seems more apt. We can also see a bit of Morris Lapidus in the design; perhaps the curving hotels of the architect rubbed off on the Swiss duo in their time in Miami designing 1111 Lincoln Road and PAMM.

Whatever Herzog & de Meuron's inspirations may be, their design for 357 West Street is a departure from other contemporary residential buildings in the area, especially Richard Meier's three towers at Perry and Charles Street, towers that arguably started the 21st-century trend of residential glass boxes in Manhattan. The combination of curving exterior walls and retractable shades gives the design enough distinction to give it a notable presence on Manhattan's west side. But when that will happen we're not sure, as permits have yet to be pulled for the project and Schrager has not announced a target date for completion.