nybt-forum-threads NYC Trivia and Info Thread

[Xyloxadoria 1,098]

I just found some interesting info about NYC and thought Id start a NYC thread to post information or Trivia that might be useful to NYBT or its members. If you have any NYC info, feel free to post in this thread.

 

My Trivia post is about 11 Madison Avenue. 

 

Currently, this is what is on the lot:

 

 

If it looks short and stubby, its for a reason. It was supposed to be much taller (even taller than the empire state building) The great depression ended it at its lower height. However, all the structural elements are in place. if you wanted to finish the building you could. Here is what it would have looked like completed:

 

There was also a loosing proposal for the same lot. This is what it looked like:

If you are interested in the plans of the building as it stands currently, then there are floor plans of the building on this site. 

Vlasky already took advantage of the plans.

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Wow, that was very interesting. The winning design is much more elegant, too. Good choice to go for that one, and pity it was never finished. Who knows, maybe one day it will live for SimCity...?

[Vlasky 1,803]

Well, as I showed before:

 

 

 

I did a 'massing study' for that one few months ago.

 

I have to correct you tho, The second model wasn't proposed for the site. It's a part of Hugh Ferriss' series of drawings and renderings which were to serve to architects as guidelines how to apply zoning law to their buildings' massing:

 

 

this is what I'm talking about:

 

[Parisian 557]

Great! Thank you for this post. I didn't know that this building was suppose to be higher. But contrary to T Wrecks, I prefer it to be that "short" because I hardly imagine a third "downtown" between Midtown and real Downtown. That would have been a little "too much". This is just my opinion.

 

By my side I found something. The project has not been retained. But anyway, here the project of Rafael Vinoly for the 220 Central Park South (yes a new skyscraper will takes place).

 

the link 

 

http://sunlab.co/?works=220-central-park-south

 

PS : vlasky; do u want to release this one the Stex or it is just a part of your personal work?

[T Wrecks 10,210]

Great! Thank you for this post. I didn't know that this building was suppose to be higher. But contrary to T Wrecks, I prefer it to be that "short" because I hardly imagine a third "downtown" between Midtown and real Downtown. That would have been a little "too much". This is just my opinion.

I think you misunderstood my post. I meant that out of the two visualizations for the final building*, I liked the first proposal better. I didn't say anything about the actual building as it stands vs. any of the proposed version, or about the architectural context of the building in reality and if it should have been built or not.

 

*: Now Vladimir has already corrected the initial post and clarified that the second design hasn't been an alternative proposal at all.

 

@ Vlasky: Shame on me, I had forgotten about these pictures of the massing study you did. The building would sure be quite a whopper, probably only suitable as a landmark (or for CAM users). But visually pleasing nonetheless!

[Shy Dude 149]

Crap, I thought I was the only one here that knew about that building.

 

What next? 111 Eighth Avenue? 

[Xyloxadoria 1,098]

I'm glad that other people knew more about that proposed building than I did I guess its time to listen to the the advice of one of my favorite former presidents again:

 

Never Trust everything that you see on the internet, as some of it may not be true.

- Abraham Lincoln

 

Anyway to keep this thread going, heres another failed proposal killed off by the great depression thought up by developer John Larkin. it was going to be built on the site where the McGraw Hill building is now (Plus a bit more, up to 41st):

 

 

The depression happened, and so plans for that building went away, and his lot was eventually built on by the 50s. Not wanting to give up, he then proposed a building for the lot next door in 52 Heres a picture, the other building in the picture is the McGraw Hill Building:

 

Also, a second topic! 11 Madison Avenue alredly has everything in place for something to be built on top of it (like Hearst Tower) For developers, its the prefect site, foundations are already layed, the elevators are in place, and there's not much space in the area that's not already a park. Its also a very nice site. 

 

So could something be built on top of it? I think so. But if something was built, it would have to look like it belonged there. (Maybe a modern version of what was going to be built that sticks  close to the original design, just not as tall?)

 

There's another proposal right across the street that doesn't fit in. It looks like this:

[edwardjeria 503]

amazing

I also want to contribute

this is the original model crysler building

 

 

com can see many things changed