Gatehouse to One Madison

Detail, craft, and scale—this building, a gatehouse to a tall, slender residential tower behind it, borrows from the best of the neighborhood. Situated on a quiet side street off Madison Square, this intimate building was designed to convey a sense of arriving home for building residents. The five-story façade takes its cues from the historically rich fabric of the block. Staggered vertical fins made of custom glazed terra cotta screen the spaces within, while also giving depth to the façade. The variegated hues of creamy glazing imbue warmth and distinction among its limestone-faced neighbors, moving and reflecting light in unique patterns throughout the day. These details and others, such as the travertine forecourt that leads to the building’s custom bronze and glass entrance doors, were carefully conceived to appeal to the human senses and enhance the ceremony of coming home.