The Smile Residential Building
THE SMILE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING
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ARCHITECTS
Bjarke Ingels Group
PHOTOGRAPHS
Pernille And Thomas Loof
YEAR
2020
AREA
26000 m²
LOCATION
New York, United States
MANUFACTURERS
Pohl
CATEGORY
Apartments, Apartment Interiors
PRODUCTS USED IN THIS PROJECT
Ventilated Curtain Wall - Europlate®
Text description provided by architect.
Bridging Harlem’s active 125th Street corridor and the quieter 126th Street, The Smile is a mixed-used development that houses a nursing school on the street level and residential apartment units above.
One-third of these residential units contain affordable housing units that strengthen and provide housing diversity within the neighborhood. East 126’s unique T-shaped footprint offers a diverse set of unit sizes and layout organizations, while also strengthening the connection relationship with the neighboring buildings.
This architectural move enables the building massing to comply with the city’s zoning envelope and at the same time enables the residential street to have more direct sunlight.
East 126’s unique T-shaped footprint offers a diverse set of unit sizes and layout organizations.
One-third of these residential units contain affordable housing units that strengthen and provide housing diversity within the neighborhood.
While the exterior envelope is blackened textured metal panels the interior residential spaces are a neutral, minimal palette.
Throughout the interiors, spaces consist of raw architectural materials of wood.
The more public amenities spaces combine the languages of the exterior facade metal panel and colored tiles alongside the more neutral residential materials.
The interior amenities for residents include a fitness center, media room, relaxation spas, social lounges, and workspace which overlooks a skylight-lit three-storey gallery.
The entrances are tiled with vibrant splashes of colored concrete that draw inspiration from the neighborhood’s murals and provides a unique, lively welcome into the building.
This interstitial space highlights the integration of the existing building brick facade and the new building’s exposed steel structure.
