Landmarks approved two-story addition for store-and-loft building after rejecting three previous designs. On November 16, 2010, Landmarks unanimously approved a revised design for a two-story addition to a six-story store-and-loft building at 33 West 19th Street in the Ladies’ Mile historic district.
The Morris Adjmi- designed project went through several iterations which Landmarks deemed too large and too visible. The owner’s initial five-story proposal featured a translucent metal mesh that covered a setback facade. A reduced three-story design followed the form of a traditional mansard roof and featured honeycomb- patterned, glazed aluminum and glass with masonry sidewalls and a terra cotta cap. Landmarks found the third proposal, which reduced the mansard design to two stories and simplified the facade, too pedestrian compared to the creativity of the previous design and still too large for the district. 7 City- Land 140 (Oct. 15, 2010).
At the November meeting, Landmarks’ staff described Adjmi’s revised design. Similar to the previous proposal, the addition would rise to two stories and only be visible from the street at indirect angles.The shape of the addition’s facade returned to the more abstract interpretation of a mansard roof depicted in the second proposal and featured two hexagonal projecting bays. The addition would be equally visible on both frontages of the through-block building and present identical facades.
The Commissioners supported the revised design with Commissioner Joan Gerner noting that Adjmi successfully made a “wonderful design” more robust and appropriate for the district.
LPC: 33 West 19th St., Manhattan (09- 7994) (Nov. 16, 2010) (Architect: Morris Adjmi Architects).