Astor Place, a blue-green glass exclamation point in NoHo, leaps up from the center of an architecture-rich neighborhood.* New York critics’ opinions seem as varied as the surrounding buildings.
The New York Times‘ review asked, All That Curvy Glass: Is It Worth It? Suzanne Slesin noted a disconnect “between the grittiness of the neighborhood and the shiny newness of Mr. Gwathmey’s design,” but focused on interiors. She loved the views from within all that wraparound floor-to-ceiling glass, but bemoaned the paucity of solid wall space for paintings and other essentials. (You can peruse floor plans at the Street Easy NY listing.)
The New Yorker called it the Green Monster. Paul Goldberger acidly remarked, “Its shape is fussy, and the glass façade is garishly reflective: Mies van der Rohe as filtered through Donald Trump.”
City Realty’s extensive review is more neutral and academic. Among other things, Carter Horsley reveals that the Gwathmey, Siegel & Associates design is actually the third proposal for that site. (Mr. Horsley previously wrote about real estate and architecture for The New York Times, International Herald Tribune, and New York Post.)
The developer, Related Companies, calls the design “Sculpture For Living.” And whether you like the building or not, the 39 multi-million-dollar condominium units are all sold.
* See Astor Place and Vicinity for a quick neighborhood tour.
Astor Place Vital Statistics
- Location: 445 Lafayette Street
- Year completed: 2005
- Architect: Gwathmey, Siegel & Associates
- Floors: 21
- Style: Postmodern
Astor Place Recommended Reading
- The New York Times All That Curvy Glass: Is It Worth It? (January 15, 2006)
- City Realty review
- Street Easy NY listing (includes floor plans)
- The New Yorker Green Monster (May 2, 2005)
- New York.com Changing the Skyline: 8 Stunning NYC Buildings Designed by Starchitects (August 22, 2013)
- Astor Place website
- Emporis database
