Examining the revival of surface character and traditional materials in New York City buildings, critic Justin Davidson cites KPF’s 64 University Place and 520 Fifth Avenue projects as exemplars of “texture, shadow, and drama.”
“Brick is Back” by Justin Davidson tracks the rise of glass towers in Manhattan that took off around the turn of the millennium and identifies a more recent resurgence in the use of solid materials and richer textures for high-end apartment and office buildings. 64 University Place, a residential project in Greenwich Village, demonstrates a contemporary evolution of New York architecture with a hand-laid brick façade that presents a dramatic arcade of stacked arches and recessed windows to the busy downtown block. Davidson calls this “anti-exhibitionist architecture,” arguing that “these techniques make the surface less superficial, creating a buffer of shadows between window and street.” This design language is also present in the form and material palette of 520 Fifth Avenue, with arched bays of glazed terra cotta and aluminum, which the article calls “a graceful and fresh but retro mixed-use tower.”
KPF President Jamie von Klemperer is quoted throughout the piece, emphasizing how hand-crafted buildings like 64 University Place inspire their users and the people who experience them, “there’s a greater interest in and appreciation of craft and of humanistic architecture. We like to see how bricks are laid and wood is milled.” This craft-oriented attitude drove the project team to source local masonry, carefully blend its color, and employ a skilled team of workers to lay the bricks one by one. Davidson writes, “the workmanship shows in the color and precision of the grout, the mottling dark flecks, and the triangular pieces where the arches meet — details that give the façade a subliminal liveliness.”
The prevailing architectural language of Greenwich Village, defined by textured masonry, intricate detailing, and an earthy color palette, was also a main reference point for 64 University Place. Details like the rhythmic arches, wrought-iron balconies, and greenery planted to climb vertically up its street-face pay homage to the heritage of the neighborhood.
Read the full article in New York Magazine here.