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Charlotte of the Upper West Side is a 9-story mixed use building at 470 Columbus Avenue. The design features a modern interpretation of traditional district architectural typology. The design for CUWS is cohesive – the warm materials, modern detailing and concepts of screening are carried throughout, with all three centered on the contemporary heart of the building: the cleverly disguised, heroic glass windows.
Intended to dialogue directly with the surrounding architecture, the design drew inspiration from traditions of sculptural brick and terra cotta details, planes of masonry, and robust cornices. CUWS is layers of masonry – the brick piers are interwoven with horizontal terra cotta baguettes to create a suspended terra cotta rain screen that conceals large, contemporary windows, framing legible openings that mirror the punched windows of adjacent tenement buildings. Inside, the horizontal screening of the terra cotta rain screen evokes a modern serene quality and the layers of masonry give way to contemporary wood.
The project will set a new standard for energy performance, occupant comfort, and indoor air quality for residential buildings in NYC. We utilized, and even enhanced, Passive House design standards. PHI design relies on a nearly airtight building envelope, with robust insulation and, in this case, street-facing windows with 4 panes of glass. Filtered fresh outdoor air is supplied to every habitable room by a separate ventilation system, distinct from the heating and air conditioning system, substantially raising the indoor air quality. CUWS is one of the first condominium buildings in New York to introduce Ultraviolet C (UVC) energy throughout its mechanical system to irradiate germs and viruses.
Charlotte of the Upper West Side is a 9-story mixed use building at 470 Columbus Avenue. The design features a modern interpretation of traditional district architectural typology. Intended to dialogue directly with the surrounding architecture, the design drew inspiration from traditions of sculptural brick and terra cotta details, planes of masonry, and robust cornices. CUWS is layers of masonry – the brick piers are interwoven with horizontal terra cotta baguettes to create a suspended terra cotta rain screen that conceals large, contemporary windows, framing legible openings that mirror the punched windows of adjacent tenement buildings. Inside, the horizontal screening of the terra cotta rain screen evokes a modern serene quality and the layers of masonry give way to contemporary wood. Charlotte’s namesake is a real child; the building’s focus on sustainability, and health and wellness, is a purposeful endowment toward her generation’s future. We utilized, and even enhanced, Passive House design standards in the design. The project is Passive House certified, with exceptional energy efficiency and low energy use requirements, and is the first LPC approved condominium built to Passive House standards in Manhattan.
Charlotte of the Upper West Side is named for a real child, but it’s a building inspired by—and designed for—her entire generation. Charlotte embodies our aspirations for a sustainable future in which intelligently designed buildings improve people’s health and wellbeing, while also being environmentally conscientious.
BKSK was established in 1985, and is now a six-partner, fifty-person firm headquartered in New York City. As both architects and scholars of the built environment that surrounds us, we believe that great design has meaning and consequence, and what we build, how we build it, and how it is used, matters. Together with our clients and consultants, we create meaningful, thoughtful, and beautiful works of architecture.
More generally, we are specialists in socially engaging, contextually appropriate and environmentally conscious design. We have developed our expertise by truly listening to, and learning from, our clients and each other. Our projects include residential, cultural, community, and educational institutions, at every scale. Our practice has taught us that in the civic realm, we play an important role—not only as an architect but as an advocate for buildings that contribute to the spirit of a place.
