NEW YORK | MiMa (440 West 42nd Street) | 617 FT / 188 M | 63 FLOORS

[NYC4Life]

Much darker thank what we saw in the early renders.

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

how did we get from nice sleek modern design to.....box...?

the rendering lied to us....

[RoldanTTLB]

It's like the obelisk from 2001: a space odyssey. That said, there's some interesting glass changes on the north face (but I can't find my photos from that side... tomorrow maybe).

[NYguy]

^ These new skyscrapers have already changed the notion of the west side being a lowrise, dead zone. Of course, there's still a lot more to come.

[RoldanTTLB]

Hey! Here we go...





It is really hard to find a photo of a building behind a tree when I take hundreds of photos every month. Sigh!

[Dac150]

I’m a little disappointed with the final product considering the renders alluded to something different. It’s not a ‘bad’ design, just not what was advertised. However, it’s just the beginnings of much more to come for that area.

[photoLith]

I really really love the glass on this thing, more buildings should be done in black like this, its pretty sexy.

[NOPA]

It looks great relative to the Bumblebee tower next door (which is goddamn awful). While I think it's just ok, once other stuff pops up hopefully it will be a nice contrast.

[NYguy]

oolz0r

[SkyscrapersOfNewYork]

SONY is not pleased,up until now i didnt miss this one...


http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:CWrZh...shack.us/img220/1719/77340460gw9.jpg&t=1

[Lecom]

Originally Posted by RoldanTTLB

It's like the obelisk from 2001: a space odyssey. That said, there's some interesting glass changes on the north face (but I can't find my photos from that side... tomorrow maybe).

Originally Posted by NYguy

^ These new skyscrapers have already changed the notion of the west side being a lowrise, dead zone. Of course, there's still a lot more to come.

Now it's a high-rise dead zone. The area around 42nd Street, between 8th and roughly 11th, may have the worst highrise collection in the city, aside from housing projects districts. I don't mind most of the mundane residential towers along 42nd, though they are nothing to write home about, yet hordes of ugly Kaufman hotels, the Zebra Tower abomination, third world-looking midrise developments and now this blockbusting Space Odyssey Obelisk haven't improved this area by all that much. It still feels like a car-jammed Lincoln Tunnel offramp dead zone with many mediocre buildings from both the distant and recent past, without any nightlife, retail, or even a nearby subway. Speaking of the latter, I believe real change to this neighborhood is gonna come once the 7 Line Subway extension is complete and the Hudson Boulevard is developed. Till then, the area is still "meh" at best, despite the beefed up skyline.

[Dac150]

I like the minimalism and boldness of the façade, but what kills it is the mechanical equipment on top of the building. It looks like from the initial renders that it was meant to be hidden, but since that didn’t come to fruition it in turn really dampers the final product.

[Lecom]

Well, much of the rest of this building screams "value engineered" as well. Contrast to the beautifully refined Silver Towers next door.

[Obey]

Originally Posted by Lecom

Now it's a high-rise dead zone. The area around 42nd Street, between 8th and roughly 11th, may have the worst highrise collection in the city, aside from housing projects districts. I don't mind most of the mundane residential towers along 42nd, though they are nothing to write home about, yet hordes of ugly Kaufman hotels, the Zebra Tower abomination, third world-looking midrise developments and now this blockbusting Space Odyssey Obelisk haven't improved this area by all that much. It still feels like a car-jammed Lincoln Tunnel offramp dead zone with many mediocre buildings from both the distant and recent past, without any nightlife, retail, or even a nearby subway. Speaking of the latter, I believe real change to this neighborhood is gonna come once the 7 Line Subway extension is complete and the Hudson Boulevard is developed. Till then, the area is still "meh" at best, despite the beefed up skyline.

Lol, what's your point?

[Dac150]

Originally Posted by Lecom

Well, much of the rest of this building screams "value engineered" as well. Contrast to the beautifully refined Silver Towers next door.

Well if the intent was to sacrifice aesthetics for convention and efficiency, then I’d venture to say that was met. It’s not so much a ‘bad’ looking product, but compared to the renders there are some clear differentiations which without in turn reveal some design flaws (such as the exposed mechanical equipment on the roof).

[Lecom]

Originally Posted by Dac150

Well if the intent was to sacrifice aesthetics for convention and efficiency, then I’d venture to say that was met. It’s not so much a ‘bad’ looking product, but compared to the renders there are some clear differentiations which without in turn reveal some design flaws (such as the exposed mechanical equipment on the roof).

It's not horrible, it just screams "cheap." You can see that at some point in the design process, they just flat out gave up trying. It would look better as a background building, with taller towers nearby, which we might see once the Hudson Boulevard developments pick up.

[Dac150]

Originally Posted by Obey

Lol, what's your point?

I’m not sure how you missed his point; it’s pretty clear. The area, while recently developed with residential high-rises, still carries the character it had prior to them being developed. That character can be defined simply as ‘nowheresville’, lacking vibrancy.

I do hope though that with the new influx of residents, the area will step up its game a little in that department without having to wait and rely on future development a few blocks south.

[Obey]

Originally Posted by Dac150

I’m not sure how you missed his point; it’s pretty clear. The area, while recently developed with residential high-rises, still carries the character it had prior to them being developed. That character can be defined simply as ‘nowheresville’, lacking vibrancy.

I do hope though that with the new influx of residents, the area will step up its game a little in that department without having to wait and rely on future development a few blocks south.

Yeah...so what? So what if it's still 'nowheresville'? That isn't a point but just stating the obvious.

[Dac150]

Originally Posted by Lecom

It would look better as a background building, with taller towers nearby, which we might see once the Hudson Boulevard developments pick up.

Exactly, and for the sake of contributing to the formation of a canyon on 42nd, it does the job just fine. It’s perhaps not as attractive as others nearby, but decent ‘filler’ nonetheless.

Plus, it helps bury that dreadful ‘zebra’ building a little.

[Dac150]

Originally Posted by Obey

That isn't a point but just stating the obvious.

The point is that high-rise development doesn’t necessarily equate to added vibrancy, as suggested by a previous post. Just because the area may visually be different doesn’t mean the character has changed one way or the other.

What all this development will do however, is potentially contribute to new added vibrancy to the area without having to rely on long-term changes (such as the Subway extension project).

It's not that complex.