Bjarke Ingels’ curvy East Harlem tower tops out
Rendering of E126 courtesy of Bjarke Ingels Group
The concrete, t-shaped residential tower designed by starchitect, Bjarke Ingels and his firm BIG, topped out over the weekend, adding diversity to Upper Manhattan’s usual upright architecture. The East Harlem project at 158 East 126th Street, known as E126, uniquely slopes inward as it rises upward, allowing more sunlight to hit the street. As CityRealty learned, the unusual configuration will provide residents incredible views of the East River and Central Park from a rooftop garden.
Construction progresses at E126, photo via CityRealty
According to the firm’s website, the t-shaped footprint, “offers a diverse set of unit sizes and layout organizations.” The building’s facade of interlocking checkerboard pattern panel system allows floor-to-ceiling windows in every unit.
Rendering of the lobby via BIG/Bloomingimages
Rendering of the fitness center via BIG
Developed by Edward Blumenfeld’s Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG), the rental building will offer 233 units, including one- and two-bedrooms. Expected to open sometime next year, the building will provide affordable rent for 20 percent of total units.
During the site’s groundbreaking, Ingels told Architect’s Newspaper, that the building will be filled with “explosions of color.” He added that the lobby will exhibit work from local artists and be filled with “splashed Carribean colors.”
Apartments will sit above the existing commercial buildings and residents of E126 will have access to a fitness center, lounge and workspace that will overlook a two-storied gallery space. The rooftop features pools, decks and shaped landscape. Other amenities include a virtual reality room, golf simulator, bar, yoga room and on-site parking.
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