EAST 126

Images – Courtesy of BIG

Title – Senior Architect

Location – Harlem, New York

275,000 SF Mixed used building 233 Rental units (47 affordable) and 40,000 SF of commercial tenant fit-out. Bridging between Harlem’s active 125th street corridor and the quieter setting of 126th street, Gotham Residential will contribute a mix of private and public space to the neighborhood. The first and second floors will house commercial tenants that enliven 126th street and connect to 125th through the existing Gotham plaza building at street level. This passage is met by a four-story gallery formed by the facades of the existing Gotham plaza building and the new residential building. Collective spaces for residents including a fitness center, lounge, and workspace, look onto the gallery on the interior of the block on levels 3 and 4 with apartments on the north facade looking onto 126th street. On level 5 terrace apartments look onto the green roof of the existing structure. On level 6 the project expands into the air space above the existing building, allowing for apartments with views south over Harlem towards central park and the East River. From 125th street, this third wing of the building appears to hover over the existing, adding a dynamic dimension to the drama of the Street. on 126th, the building’s facade gently slopes back to allow light onto the street. The building’s “Y” shaped plan offers units of diverse size and organization. The interlocking checkerboard pattern allows for an elegant facade when viewed from the street and expansive floor to ceiling windows in every apartment. On the roof, a pool and deck tops off the amenities for residents, with a shaped landscape providing an exciting social space as well as more intimate spaces for smaller gatherings. The building draws its form from context, shaping itself to its surroundings, and offering new energy to the already exciting neighborhood.