Nouvel's Blinding Vision of the New Chelsea Waterfront

Friday, March 30, 2007, by Lockhart

[Courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel 2007]

What do 1,700 differently-sized, colorless panes of glass look like when dropped along the West Side Highway? Judging by the just-released rendering above of architect Jean Nouvel's 100 Eleventh Avenue, it's sort of like looking into the sun, only more fun. Nouvel's PR folks were kind enough to email along this and a bunch more images of the project the architect awkwardly terms "a vision machine" for our, and your, viewing pleasure. For those who must, there's yet more Nouvel from Alec Appelbaum and TripleMint.

[Left: copyright ArchPartners 2007; right: copyright dbox 2007/www.dbox.com]

[Copyright dbox 2007/www.dbox.com]

[Courtesy Ateliers Jean Nouvel 2007]

· 100 Eleventh Avenue [nouvelchelsea.com]
· 100 11th Avenue - Jean Nouvel [TripleMint]
· French 'Vision Machine' Starts Rising in Chelsea [Daily Intel]
· Nouvel's 100 Eleventh Assimilates Danny Meyer [Curbed]

Filed under Architecture, Manhattan: Chelsea, Real Estate Development,

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Comments (11 extant)

I know I am going to take a beating from the "it's out of context" crowd, but that building looks super-cool.

By bboy at March 30, 2007 12:13 PM

I like it, but perhaps only because it looks like a disco ball. Or maybe a billboard with sparkles to advertise a jeweler or used car lot.

Wonder if those windows will really be weather-proof, though. Those ridges are going to ice up. And possibly attract pigeons.

By borkus at March 30, 2007 12:22 PM

I'm not a huge fan of these glass thingies but I actually think it will help make the Barry Diller weirdness to the south look a lot better.

By sean at March 30, 2007 12:24 PM

I would vomit if this was in Tribeca - but W19th and 11th ain't Tribeca... This area needs to be remade and rebranded anyway.

By Fez at March 30, 2007 12:36 PM

The last rendering seems to delete Chelsea Piers from the view. That angle they show is a bit interesting in where it is cutoff. In fact, artist hipster dude wouldn't be able to see the pier to the south without looking through the ballfields steel frame and netting. Bravo renderings artist, you have made us all proud.

By Kumar at March 30, 2007 12:53 PM

Kumar: That ain't no ballfield -- it's a golf driving range ...

Not sure you're correct about the angle. From the way up high units that might be the view.

By pantagleize at March 30, 2007 1:02 PM

will the reflection potentially blind people driving down the west side highway?

By ian at March 30, 2007 1:15 PM

That will be the most expensive curtain wall ever constructed!!

By Bertram G.Goodhue at March 30, 2007 1:38 PM

Yeah that curtain wall is crazy. Check out Front Inc.'s website, they have pics of it being designed in CATIA. An actual good use for high powered software

By Jose at April 2, 2007 1:23 PM

10.

Remember the leaky facade on Meier's celebrity towers? Let's hope they learned a lesson from that one! I must admit, though, that celebs with bucket brigades in their living rooms during a rainstorm fills me with glee...

By Steveo at May 17, 2007 11:53 AM

11.

Good to see B. Goodhue is alive and kicking. Nouvel is "the one".

By stellmacher at November 16, 2007 9:24 PM