07-23-2010
Mural on 53rd Street
Something new and exciting has happened on the west side in Manhattan!
Last year, Alchemy Properties organized a mural design competition for two facades of their latest mixed-use residential development, the FXFOWLE-designed Griffin Court Condominium. The project, which includes 95 residential units surrounding a two-level landscaped courtyard, has facades on multiple streets. Its prime 54th Street & 10th Avenue corner lot is simple enough, but it also has frontage on 53rd street without occupying that corner, thanks to an interesting twist of land acquisition. Thus, an uncommon opportunity was created: public art space!
Buildings are viewed from every angle—there is no "back" of a building in a city that builds against, above, and sometimes over its neighbors. If there is any part that isn't seen, it's usually at the side property lines, but even there light wells could exist that should be respected. In this case, the corner of 53rd and 10th is a squat (how odd!) car repair shop that won't be building upwards anytime soon. This potentially leaves two sides of the project blank and definitely exposed since traffic runs north on 10th Avenue.
Alchemy put out the call asking artists to submit mural proposals for a 6500-square-foot area on two non-continuous walls (roughly 59'x83' and 31'x66') facing two directions, south and west. Submissions from around the world offered all sorts of styles and approaches: abstract collages and realistic figures, random objects and graphic symbols, landscapes and seascapes. If there was a dominate theme it was definitely clouds. The committee certainly had a lot to think about!!
In the end, Corinne Ulmann, a young Brooklynite architectural designer, was given the honor. Her design—brightly colored leaves and branches collaged with shadowy windows—mimics the building's façade and perks up any cloudy day. And, although I have yet to witness it, casual encounters with people in the neighborhood have informed me that it looks great at night as well!
Ms. Ulmann's piece, included in today's New York Times, makes a statement without screaming and is well-suited for the development given that it speaks to the private interior landscaped courtyard. However, the painted walls give back to the city by offering something a little out of the ordinary on an average urban intersection.
Last year, Alchemy Properties organized a mural design competition for two facades of their latest mixed-use residential development, the FXFOWLE-designed Griffin Court Condominium. The project, which includes 95 residential units surrounding a two-level landscaped courtyard, has facades on multiple streets. Its prime 54th Street & 10th Avenue corner lot is simple enough, but it also has frontage on 53rd street without occupying that corner, thanks to an interesting twist of land acquisition. Thus, an uncommon opportunity was created: public art space!
Buildings are viewed from every angle—there is no "back" of a building in a city that builds against, above, and sometimes over its neighbors. If there is any part that isn't seen, it's usually at the side property lines, but even there light wells could exist that should be respected. In this case, the corner of 53rd and 10th is a squat (how odd!) car repair shop that won't be building upwards anytime soon. This potentially leaves two sides of the project blank and definitely exposed since traffic runs north on 10th Avenue.
Alchemy put out the call asking artists to submit mural proposals for a 6500-square-foot area on two non-continuous walls (roughly 59'x83' and 31'x66') facing two directions, south and west. Submissions from around the world offered all sorts of styles and approaches: abstract collages and realistic figures, random objects and graphic symbols, landscapes and seascapes. If there was a dominate theme it was definitely clouds. The committee certainly had a lot to think about!!
In the end, Corinne Ulmann, a young Brooklynite architectural designer, was given the honor. Her design—brightly colored leaves and branches collaged with shadowy windows—mimics the building's façade and perks up any cloudy day. And, although I have yet to witness it, casual encounters with people in the neighborhood have informed me that it looks great at night as well!
Ms. Ulmann's piece, included in today's New York Times, makes a statement without screaming and is well-suited for the development given that it speaks to the private interior landscaped courtyard. However, the painted walls give back to the city by offering something a little out of the ordinary on an average urban intersection.