When it comes to built-in kitchen appliances, German firm Gaggenau has always set the highest of standards – and in the case of Sir David Adjaye’s 130 William tower in Manhattan, quite literally, too.
The undulations of Lower Manhattan’s skyline has a new peak. 130 William is the striking new residential development from New York-based real estate developers Lightstone. New from the ground up, both the exterior of the building and the interiors have been conceived by the visionary Ghanaian-British architect, Sir David Adjaye, and exhibit a bold hybrid of the city’s former mercantile vernacular and modern-day loft-living tastes. The 66-floor structure stretches to the skyline-defining height of 244 metres.
Situated in the financial, cultural, retail and entertaining hub of Lower Manhattan, 130 William furnishes an affluent local residential market with comfort and community. It is accessed via an Adjaye-designed public plaza and the many amenities include a health club and spa, IMAX cinema, pet spa, children’s activity centre, a trampoline room, golf simulator and private rooftop. It’s remarkable not only for this phenomenal offering and the calibre of the exterior architecture but also the level of attention given to the quality of the shared spaces and condominium interiors, from the sumptuous materials to the high functionality of the fittings and appliances.
‘Working with Gaggenau was a natural choice for us,’ says Scott J. Avram, Senior Vice President of Development for Lightstone. ‘From the quality and aesthetic of the appliances to the way they blend perfectly in the open kitchen concept, every aspect has been meticulously thought out'
There are 242 apartments ranging in size from studios up to four-bedroom residences, including the uniquely finished Penthouse and Loggia Residences at the top of the building that are wrapped from end to end with private terraces. All the apartments are airy spaces, sculpted with light from large bronze-framed, arched windows and warmed up with wide-plank oak flooring. They feature elegant custom-designed fixtures and hardware – from taps to door handles – in burnished bronze, while the bathrooms and kitchens are punctuated with exquisite marble sourced from Italy and Spain. Adjaye’s eye is everywhere.
For some elements, however, independent expertise was sought. In the kitchen, for example, Gaggenau was a key collaborator, called on to match the superlative interior functionality and finesse with a full complement of its elegant, technically groundbreaking kitchen appliances. With a synergy of form and function ideals, the decision to partner with the German appliance makers was a no-brainer. ‘Working with Gaggenau was a natural choice for us,’ says Scott J. Avram, Senior Vice President of Development for Lightstone. ‘From the quality and aesthetic of the appliances to the way they blend perfectly in the open kitchen concept, every aspect has been meticulously thought out. For example, residents are able to cook on Pietra Cardosa stone countertops using state of the art appliances, which are a statement themselves that support our architectural vision.’
Adjaye, meanwhile, has studios in London, New York and Accra, and has applied his deeply reflarchitectural visioective form of culture-responsive architecture to buildings on every continent, from the Smithsonian National Museum in Washington DC, to the forthcoming National Cathedral in Accra. He has a knack for creating new typologies, the signatures of which are carried through to every last detail. For 130 William, he rejected commercial-tinged glass as a prime material and sought to celebrate the masonry and arches of the buildings that originally populated the area, using hand-cast concrete panels to sculpt the facade. The arch is a motif that features in the generously sized windows and loggia terraces, the pool design, the plaza and also in the lobby’s feature wall. ‘Adjaye’s vision, along with Lightstone’s expertise and ingenuity, has achieved a new benchmark for residential living,’ says Avram. ‘These homes provide a calm sanctuary for those with discerning taste.’
The level of attention applied to the details comes as little surprise when you consider the uncompromising ambition of the partners involved. Lightstone has vast experience in residential and hospitality development, with properties across 28 states, a $6.5-billion existing portfolio and $3.5 billion in development. They look to create neighbourhood-synced buildings that respond to the needs of the surrounding market, putting emphasis on environmental responsibility and community.
The uniqueness of the offering has, accordingly, been rewarded with a warm response. ‘130 William has been recognised as the best-selling condo in New York City, ’ Avram affirms. ‘The building is appealing to a diverse range of purchasers who are impressed with its sophisticated architecture and interior design paired with an impressive suite of amenities.’
