Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza has revealed the 611 West 56th Street skyscraper in Manhattan, which is the architect’s first building in the United States. The 440-foot-tall (134.1-meter) residential tower is sited on the Upper West Side between Riverside Park and Central Park near Danish architecture studio BIG’s VIA 57 WEST residential tower.
In line with the 88-year-old architect’s usual style, the building is clad entirely in Perla Bianca limestone. The slender tower rises from a thicker base with a 53-foot (16-meter) windowless block, crowning the building.
The 35-story building has 77 luxury condominiums with residences ranging from one to four bedrooms including the larger “maisonettes” and a grand penthouse. The duplex maisonettes and the penthouse have access to private terraces.
The limestone façade was designed to create a contrast with other towers in the area which have dark or mostly glass façades. Over-sized windows punctuate the stark white façade and provide views of Manhattan and west over the Hudson River.
Where the building moves from the thicker base to the more slender tower extension there is an outdoor garden. Residents of the tower will have access to an exercise center and entertainment rooms, as well as a community room for events and hosting.
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