Gunn Landscape Architecture to Design the Rooftop of Williamsburg’s Futuristic Level Hotel
Williamsburg’s upcoming Level Hotel is right on track for its 2016 opening as construction continues moves full speed ahead at 55 Wythe Avenue. Back in July, architects Yohay Albo and Nick Liberis of Albo Liberis LLC were revealed as the brains behind the building’s ultra modern form, and it’s just been announced that Gunn Landscape Architecture will be taking charge of the expansive rooftop escape that will sit atop the retail pod of the futuristic hotel.
The landscaped rooftop will add some much needed greenery to this corner of Williamsburg, which remains wholly industrial in aesthetic—especially when compared to surrounding blocks. In addition to low-maintenance native plantings and an urban farm, Gunn plans to create arbor structures from living willow, weaving them into sculptural shapes that will both block the wind and beautify the rooftop in a unique way. But the best news of all may be that the rooftop will be open to everyone, providing 20,000 square feet of new public green space to the area.
“The beauty of having an area that will be open to residents of the community, is that a structure becomes a part of the existing landscape, adding to the revitalization, rather than as a stand-alone construction that does not enrich the neighborhood,” Gunn said.
The Level Hotel itself will host 183 rooms, retail space at its base, and ten stories of commercial office space. Developer Zelig Weiss, paid about $30 million for the site.
