By LAWRENCE TAN

Celebrated Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas unveiled Thursday his proposed design for 23 East 22nd Street that would solve the problem of not blocking the view of neighboring One Madison Park, a 60-story condominium by the same developers, Slazer Enterprises, as well as complying to zoning laws in the already congested New York City residential skyline.

Koolhaas’ proposal takes the form of a stepped cantilever design for the 18 units to be housed in the planned 24-story tower. Koolhas sidestepped the problem, literally, by varying the ceiling heights and floor spaces of the individual units, which range from a US$7 million studio to the US$50 million penthouse.

This means the units in the tower’s mid-section (floors 11-20) have a reduced ceiling height and larger floor space while those above and below the middle floors have expanded ceilings. For example, the duplex on the sixth floor gets a 21-foot ceiling while some penthouses boast 30-foot high ceilings.  

When completed in 2010, the tower will house amongst other amenities a Creative Artists Agency (CAA) screening room, pool and gym.

www.oma.nl

www.23e22.com

via New York Times / World Architecture News