SO(HO) Chic

The latest work of art illuminating the streets of Soho, New York City’s fabled arts district, is the completed curtainwall of Soho Mews at 311 West Broadway. Designed by Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects, the extraordinary façade of this two-building residential enclave is a dazzling interpretation of the strength and simplicity of the neighborhood’s classic cast iron architecture. Its meticulous composition of stone, metal and three types of glass—clear, frosted and fritted—is a modern tribute to Soho’s distinctive character that gives a shimmering sense of depth and texture to the building’s exterior.

In creating a contemporary response to the stately geometries and modulated façade fenestrations of Soho’s traditional 19th-century cast-iron industrial buildings, Gwathmey Siegel studied subtly complex tartan patterns for inspiration. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission lauded the design as “an elegant interpretation of the Soho aesthetic.”

The striking architecture features a stone base with metal panels and recessed glass with horizontal and vertical channels expressing floor slabs and columns. The shifting of vertical mullions, from bay to bay and floor to floor, gives additional articulation, movement and rhythm to the façade, enhancing the play of light and shadow. The profusion of glass provides the two buildings of Soho Mews with abundant natural light; at the same time, the ingenious interplay of construction materials assures privacy.

Here are the specifications for the glass used for Soho Mews.

The main insulating glass units for the vision glass (GL-1) are Guardian’s thermal 5.2.5. The exterior lite is tempered ¼-inch glass with the #1 surface clear and the #2 surface coated with SunGuard SN 68. The interior lite is 3/16-inch tempered with the #3 and #4 surfaces clear. The U factor is .29 nighttime and .28 daytime, the shading coefficient is .44 and the SHGC is .378. The overall unit thickness is 1 inch.

The translucent “frosted glass” (GL-2) is from AFG. The ¼-inch exterior lite is acid etched on the #2 surface. There is a ½ inch air space and the ¼-inch interior lite has the #3 surface acid etched.

 The fritted glass (GL-3) is 1-inch AFG clear tempered with 50 percent white silkscreen lines on the #2 surface. The exterior lite is ¼-inch tempered and the interior lite is 3/16-inch.

 “As the largest buildable site in Soho, we sought a design that would be dramatic and contemporary, and yet contextual, echoing the historic character of this rich, storied community,” says Albert Laboz of United American Land, developer of Soho Mews. “Gwathmey Siegel created an innovative, contemporary design that evokes the Soho sensibility while establishing its own unique identity. Community representatives, planners and preservationists all agreed—voicing unanimous approval at every level of government.”

“The intent of the facade, aside from the literal articulation, was to render a constant changing dynamic "light quilt" that would animate the street as an illusive mural, read differently at different times of day and night,” says Charles Gwathmey.

The superb residences of Soho Mews maintain a singular design language throughout, as graceful proportions imbue each of its 59 lofts, 5 townhouses and 4 penthouses with unparalleled sophistication.

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