While I selected to observe and look for the key details of  The Whitney, I observed several significant material details that if looked at closely represent the beauty of the architecture that stands in Chelsea. The back wall is concrete and the most predominant feature is the envelope that is suspended outward towards the sidewalk. While the envelope doesn’t lowers all the way down to the sidewalk, it extends to only be punched back to form a glass facade. This glass detailing represents a union of metal with glass.  The wrapper of glass, comes together with the metal to form a solid structural feature. Along the glass there are metal channels that run down the length of the glass and separate themselves from the glass by a few inches. The metal lines attach itself to the building at the bottom and at top. These components attach itself to the glass on the inside and the outside of the building. Along these metal pipes that run along the building, there are metal fasteners that clasp onto the glass and run down the pipes.

 

  

The envelope forms a metallic wrapper of the building that doesn’t come completely down to touch the sidewalk. It floats as it is supported by metal columns that support the structure creating varying levels of the envelope at different points. The presence of the columns therefore creates varying levels of thresholds that have a profound experiential effect. Where does the entry to The Whitney really begin? It’s dominating effect on the sidewalk. Its presence at the staircase from the sidewalk that creates this experiential passage along the entire block.

    

The staircase acts as a invitation into The Whitney and forms an interesting relationship to the sidewalk. This is a feature that brings about the question as to where entry to the whiney begins. The features of the raised envelope and the staircase in my opinion ensure that entry begins well before one walks through the doors. This signifies the architectural presence of the building.

 

The envelope lowers and lifts at different variations with the support of the columns, creating varying levels though the passage.

The building as a backdrop of concrete with glass in front of it. This along with the meal envelope that extends down creates an interesting relationship between the three materials.

The building connects to The High Line next door. The concrete of the back wall of The Whiney meets the brick wall that marks The High line.

 

 

100 11th Avenue

This is an interesting piece of architecture that marks its presence in Chelsea. The connections and the inconsistent shapes creates a dramatic and complex effect.

 

IAC Building

The way that the curve of the building controls the sidewalk and how its shape creates a predominant mark on the street is fascinating. This attribute stems and extends itself from the form of the architecture alone.