Herzog & de Meuron and Pawson To Design New York's 215 Chrystie Building Announces Developer Ian Schrager

Switzerland-based Herzog & de Meuron and London-based John Pawson are joining forces in designing the 215 Chrystie building, according to NY developer Ian Schrager Company.

The architecture of the 28-storey block located in downtown Manhattan is conceptualized by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron. The Swiss firm has worked previously with Schrager in developing 40 Bond, which was a residential project.

For 215 Chrystie, the duo proposed a structure made from raw concrete frame which will be pushed to the facade. With this, the interiors will be column-free. The lower level of the building will be decked with 370 rooms while the uppermost eleven penthouses will have bespoked designs by interior designer John Pawson.

Herzog said, “Our idea was to stack two very distinct typologies on top of each other, and on one hand to express their difference, while on the other to unify them within the same building skeleton.”
Within the exposed structural skeleton is a floor-to-ceiling glazing, allowing for an uninterrupted view of the city’s skyline. The architects want for the building to become a “city within the city.”

“To introduce a sense of scale and to further foster the expression of each individual floor, each column is slightly inclined ... The prominent corner of the building facing Chrystie Street is where two geometries of the inclined columns meet.”

Herzog explained that instead of giving priority to one direction, the design will braid two directions together. The resulting design is a sculptural corner column which will become the visual identity of the entire structure.

The eleven penthouses which will mostly take up an entire storey individually will have a floor plan that maximises the flow of light and space, according to Pawson.

He explained, “The interior of the 215 Chrystie residences are charged with atmosphere, where the fundamental qualities of light, surface and proportions are such that the experience of space itself is transformed.”

Pawson added that the goal of the design is to “express the details of life in the details of the architecture.” The interiors will have walnut wall panelling, oak floors, flush detailing and stone and concrete bathrooms. The lighting fixtures will be designed by Arnold Chan.

The building, which is set to open in 2016, will also have a private garden.

"215 Chrystie is the ultimate expression of Uptown meets Downtown. It is both tough and refined at the same time," said Schrager. "I'd like to think of it as 'refined gritty' or 'tough luxe.'"