THE FUN BACK to when skyscrapers were fun and not just high-rise. BACK to the basics of being a skyscraper. BACK to the basement (the way it makes contact with the the city, the way it is plugged into the city), the midsection (the reproduction of the floorplan) and the top (the ending), for they can make the skyscraper (so beautifully sketched by Hugh Ferris) to be FUN.
THE FLATIRON BACK to the Flatiron (Daniel Burnham and Company, 1903) at Madison Square Park, New York. It is one of the first skyscrapers that is not just a tower like the Metropolitan Life Tower (just around the corner of the park) or a cathedral like the Woolworth Building. It is in fact a skyscraper in its purest form: the reproduction of land. With a clear basement, a midsection and top, without any setbacks. Because of the triangle with rounded corners (a flatiron), the view of the front of the building is spectacular and FUN.
THE LEVER HOUSE BACK to the Lever House (1950, Gordon Bunshaft & Natalie de Blois, SOM), New York. The basement of the lever House is lifted thus creating a large public area, it is well plugged into the city. The Lever House is one of the first skyscrapers with a curtain wall. It is not a very high skyscraper, but one of the more beautiful. The view of the building from all sides is different and the building stands out in its environment (except for the opposite Seagram Building) as the only building that has FUN.
THE PLECTRUM FORWARD to the Plectrum (2021) at Madison Square Park, New York. The building is located opposite the Flatiron. The shape of the floorplan is similar but because of its continuously curved lines it is not a flatiron but a PLECTRUM. It is very well plugged into the city with the base lifted (like the Lever House). The midsection (the scraper) reproduces the plectrum shape and is it has a modern curtain wall with BAY WINDOWS. The top is shaped in a gothic way. Because of its shape the Plectrum has astonishing views from all sides. It is a skyscraper with lots of FUN.
THE PROGRAM AT HOME. The program is a living and working one. Living (units 50-100 m2) in apartments (on floors 2, 3, 4 and 6 to 36). Working units (studios for those who live there on floors 37, 38, 39). FRENCH BALCONIES for the lower apartments and BAY WINDOWS for the upper apartments. The square at ground floor is for the public and the gardens at the 5th and 40th floor are for the residents.
THE FLATIRON BACK to the Flatiron (Daniel Burnham and Company, 1903) at Madison Square Park, New York. It is one of the first skyscrapers that is not just a tower like the Metropolitan Life Tower (just around the corner of the park) or a cathedral like the Woolworth Building. It is in fact a skyscraper in its purest form: the reproduction of land. With a clear basement, a midsection and top, without any setbacks. Because of the triangle with rounded corners (a flatiron), the view of the front of the building is spectacular and FUN.
THE LEVER HOUSE BACK to the Lever House (1950, Gordon Bunshaft & Natalie de Blois, SOM), New York. The basement of the lever House is lifted thus creating a large public area, it is well plugged into the city. The Lever House is one of the first skyscrapers with a curtain wall. It is not a very high skyscraper, but one of the more beautiful. The view of the building from all sides is different and the building stands out in its environment (except for the opposite Seagram Building) as the only building that has FUN.
THE PLECTRUM FORWARD to the Plectrum (2021) at Madison Square Park, New York. The building is located opposite the Flatiron. The shape of the floorplan is similar but because of its continuously curved lines it is not a flatiron but a PLECTRUM. It is very well plugged into the city with the base lifted (like the Lever House). The midsection (the scraper) reproduces the plectrum shape and is it has a modern curtain wall with BAY WINDOWS. The top is shaped in a gothic way. Because of its shape the Plectrum has astonishing views from all sides. It is a skyscraper with lots of FUN.
THE PROGRAM AT HOME. The program is a living and working one. Living (units 50-100 m2) in apartments (on floors 2, 3, 4 and 6 to 36). Working units (studios for those who live there on floors 37, 38, 39). FRENCH BALCONIES for the lower apartments and BAY WINDOWS for the upper apartments. The square at ground floor is for the public and the gardens at the 5th and 40th floor are for the residents.
