Occupancy

2023

Location

Upper West Side, NYC

Client

Roe Corporation

The design for a new 9-story mixed-use residential and retail building at 470 Columbus features a modern interpretation of traditional district typology on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. With Architecture and Interiors by BKSK, the design for “Charlotte of the Upper West Side” is cohesive – the warm materials, modern detailing and concepts of screening are carried throughout, with both centered on the contemporary heart of the building; the cleverly disguised, heroic glass windows.

Intended to dialogue directly with the Upper West Side district typology, the building’s design drew inspiration from the architectural traditions of sculptural brick and terra cotta details, planes of masonry, and robust cornices. In that tradition, 470 Columbus is designed of layers of masonry – the brick piers are interwoven with horizontal terra cotta baguettes to create a suspended terra cotta rain screen that conceals large, contemporary windows, framing legible openings that mirror the punched windows of adjacent tenement buildings. Inside, the horizontal screening of the terra cotta rain screen evokes a modern serene quality and the layers of masonry give way to contemporary wood.

The project is designed to achieve Passive House certification, with exceptional energy efficiency and low energy use requirements, and is the first LPC approved residential condominium built to Passive House standards in Manhattan.

Alyssa Kapito Interiors & BKSK Architects collaborated on the Interior Design.

 

Awards

Chicago Athenaeum, Good Green Design Award, 2024

Architecture Masterprize, Residential Architecture - Multi Unit, 2023

SARA New York Chapter, Design Award of Honor, 2023

Society of American Registered Architects New York Council (SARA | NY), Design Award of Merit, 2018

Chicago Athenaeum & European Centre for Architecture, Green Good Design Award, 2018

Driven x Design 2017 New York Design Awards, Silver Award, Architecture - Proposed, 2017

Multi-Housing News, 2017 Excellence Award, Silver - Unbuilt: Mid-Rise, 2017

Press

“The Newest Must-Have Home Amenity for the Rich: Purified Air,” Wall Street Journal , March 2024

“The Hot New Luxury Good for the Rich: Air,” The New Republic, February 2024

“Charlotte Becomes First Name In Passive House,” Passive House Accelerator, October 2023

“As the Climate Changes, Pressure Is Growing to Make Buildings More Efficient,” New York Times, September 2023

“Nice Shades: This NYC Passivhaus Condo Has Terra-Cotta Baguettes,” Tree Hugger, September 2022

“BKSK Architects Designed an NYC Condominium to Passive House and Beyond,” Green Building and Design, August 2022

“6 Extravagant Eco-Friendly Luxury Homes You Can Buy Right Now,” Gotham, August 2022

“Eco-friendly Homes Around the World Luring Conscious Buyers,” Luxury Travel Magazine, July 2022

“A Passive House of the Future in a Landmark Setting of the Past,” HenryBuilt, July 2022

“BKSK Architects realizes terra-cotta facade on an Upper West Side residential building,” The Architect's Newspaper, July 2022

“With Sustainability and Style in Equal Measure, this Cutting-Edge Condo is Manhattan’s Chicest New Resident,” Elle Decor, June 2022

“On The Market: NYC’s Charlotte Of The Upper West Side Is A Show-Stopper,” Gotham Magazine, December 2021

“Luxurious Makeover Comes To Upper West Side Residential Selection,” Forbes, October 2021

“Charlotte Of The Upper West Side Nears Completion At 470 Columbus Avenue,” YIMBY, September 2021

“Beauty Meets Sustainability In These Boutique Condo NYC Homes,” Luxe Interiors + Design, July 2021

“The Future of Everything | Home CLEAN AIR: THE NEXT LUXURY APARTMENT PERK,” Wall Street Journal, December 2020

“The Ultimate Map of NYC’s Passive House Movement, Includes 25 Energy-Efficient Overachievers now in the Works,” CityRealty, October 2017

COLLABORATORS
Ysrael A. Seinuck – Structural; GEA Consulting Engineers – MEP; RA Consultants – Geotechnical; Eckersley O’Callaghan & Partners – Exterior Wall Consultant; Metropolis Group – Expediting; IROS Elevator Design Services – Elevator Consultant; ZeroEnergy Design – Passive House Consultant; Future Green Studio – Landscape Designer; Construction Manager – Hudson Meridian & Construction Group.

 

Photography: Christopher Payne/ESTO; BKSK Architects; Henrybuilt

Renderings: BKSK Architects