LibeskindWatch: Tower Spoken Of in 'Elliptical References'

Monday, October 1, 2007, by Joey

We may be a little heavy on the New York magazine links this morning, but the gang over there just put out another issue of the occasional real estate supplement Vu., and there's some good stuff. Like, for example, a lengthy profile of architect Daniel Libeskind right when he's back in the spotlight as the potential designer of a big mystery tower next to the One Madison Avenue clocktower. Could NY pry anything out of him? Not really:

Conspicuously absent from the poster-size renderings on the walls, and spoken of only in elliptical references, is Libeskind’s first Manhattan project. If the developer, Elad Properties, can obtain all the necessary permissions—a gigantic if—the tower will rise above the fourteen-story base of the Metropolitan Life Building on Madison Avenue between 23rd and 24th Streets, looming over the landmark Clock Tower. Libeskind and Elad are offering no design details and only the vaguest response when asked if the tower is even in the works. “I grew up in New York, so this is my city, and I love the challenge of working in this marketplace, where every square inch costs money, and still creating something forward-looking and new,” is all that Libeskind will say.

Has more ever been written about a building that most likely will never happen? It's getting to the point where a napkin sketch of this thing could set off a riot, and maybe that's the point. Libeskind, you rascal! So much buzz and you have yet to do anything.
· The Liberation of Daniel Libeskind [NYM]
· Elad Has Deal for One Madison's Air Rights? [Curbed]

Filed under Architecture, Manhattan: Gramercy/Flatiron District, Real Estate Development, Daniel Libeskind, One Madison

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Comments (7 extant)

Any place else in "
his" city where he can place a towering monstrocity besides one of "his" city's most beatiful buildings.

By Anonymous at October 1, 2007 10:14 AM

can someone please at least explain to me if this building ever really does get built how are people going to enter it? Will there be an separate entrance or what? Also I do believe there is a sky walk from that building to the next, does that mean people in that building will have access to it too? I'm from DC, I know down there we can build a few extra floors if needed but nothing like this.

By Sikbug at October 1, 2007 12:22 PM

Why does it have to be "forward looking"? Why can't we just have something that looks old but is new.

Modern architecture is the biggest scam ever. They promise you air and light but what we really get is a tacky glass box with exposed concrete. Stick with materials humans like... brick, stone, terracotta, wood - you know, normal people materials.

By anon at October 1, 2007 4:42 PM

When are the two of you gonna stop shacking up together and get married?

And, of course, by the "two of you" I mean New York Magazine and the Gawker empire, and by married, of course, I mean merge.

By John K at October 1, 2007 9:01 PM

Libeskind had to hire another architect (former Trad/ PoMo, now wannabe avante-gardiste Alex Gorlin) to design his own apartment in TRibeca. I guess Danny and Nina did not want to listen to his own bullshit at client-architect meetings. - So what makes anyone think he can design a residential condo tower for others?

By Anonymous at October 3, 2007 4:09 PM

anything that this guys does cannot be made reality.

I hate this nobody, he was a nobody before the WTC plans and now that he lost that gig he's still a nobody. What's up with his 80's get up. His plan for the WTC was the worst, safest, most bland thing that could ever be conjured up.

Libeskind is a boring, safe, coward, insecure, self-conscious bastard. I hope he designs German museums for the rest of his life.

By arkadius at October 3, 2007 7:31 PM

Is that Daniel or Nina in the photo? I swear I can't tell one of those bulldykes from the other .... wonder if they borrow each other's jockstraps .... hmmmmnnnn

By Elise at October 3, 2007 11:58 PM