Gotham East 126th Residential, the latest New York City project designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, elebrated its first steps with a groundbreaking ceremony where official renderings for the project were revealed.
The project is backed by developer Edward Blumenfeld’s firm, Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG) and will offer 233 units for rent, which will rise along East 126th Street between Lexington and Third avenues.
Ingels said the building “almost moves from 125th to 126th street,” and he goes on to say that “an amazing roof garden for the inhabitants” is on offer, supplying wide-spanning “views over the developing neighborhood.”
Ingels says that the facade is “inspired by an elephant’s skin,” and continued “is smooth on its surface which means that it will reflect better than cor-ten. On the south side where you have a lot of direct light a bright material would emphasize the shape. But on the north side, where you have light from the sky, then actually a dark material where you can have the sky reflected… emphasizes the three-dimensionality.”