Black and Bendy Five Franklin Place Fully Exposed

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The bonanza surrounded architect Ben van Berkel's 20-story Tribecaish condo building continues today with a full reveal on design blog Dezeen. After yesterday's tease, we finally get to see full-on frontal shots, of both the Broadway side of the building (which is actually the rear) and the future 5 Franklin Place entrance, as well as interiors of some of the 55 apartments, made up of "loft residences" on the lower floors, "city residences" above those and three "sky penthouses" on top. The fixtures were designed by Berkel and B&B Italia, as well as the sub-grade spa and gym, connected to the lobby via a curved stairwell. Berkel, under the aegis of his UNStudio firm, clad the building in black metal bands that fatten up and slim down as they curve around the façade. The Franklin Place rendering is very interesting, as it portrays the somewhat dank alley as a semi-hidden Garden of Eden—one that leads to lavishly expensive condos, or course (hence the red Bentley). Five Franklin Place will be a discussion piece for at least decade or two, so what's the gut reaction? Stud or dud?

On the Loft Residences, Dezeen writes: "On these floors – floors 2 through 7 – van Berkel created Loft Residences with 20’ double height living rooms and floating upper level mezzanines configured to bring daylight deep into the apartments. Whereas New York loft mezzanines are typically fixed at one end of an apartment, generating a tunnel effect that leaves a portion of the home very dark, UNStudio made a seemingly simple but radical move by shifting the mezzanines of the Loft Residences to the centre of the floor plan. Each Loft Residence at Five Franklin place also enjoys a large vault with a soaring integral wall that turns from the kitchen into a library."

On the City Residences, floors 8-18: "Characterized by 270 degree views and generous floor plans with expansive paved terraces on the east and west sides of the building. Inspired by the gracious entry foyers of New York’s great pre-War apartments, van Berkel worked to create an equally graceful 21st century interpretation: In every City Residence a custom wall panel frames the lacquered gallery foyer, creating a special space for art, and rooms unfold to flow into one another."

On the Sky Penthouses: "Spectacular panoramic views of the Manhattan’s West Side to the Hudson River. Veritable houses in the sky, these homes are graced with an interior, cylindrical glass elevator wrapped by a curved, cantilevered floating staircase; operating fireplaces; master baths with panoramic views; and expansive ipe wood and travertine slab terraces with outdoor Sky Spas and entertaining areas."
· Five Franklin Place by UNStudio [Dezeen]
· Berkel's Burka on Broadway is Black, Bendy [Curbed]
· Berkel Diggin' 5 Franklin Place [Curbed]

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