InterActiveCorp HQ - 555 West 18th Street @ West Street - by Frank Gehry

[lofter1]

I like the glass -- it's got a nautical look about it.

[NYatKNIGHT]

I was sort of hoping those crazy support columns would be visible through the glass.

[lofter1]

^^ Maybe when the interior lighting is up and running there will be a "ghost" effect ...

[Citytect]

I like the way the glass appears in the model a lot more than what they're putting up. However, that degree of transparency would be nearly impossible to attain.

[finnman69]

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It looks like the frit was airbrushed on. So much for my high hopes for Gehry's latest very expensive experimenting. The horizontal stripes will look like zebra stripes and totally takes away from the shape and form of the glasswork.



It was a huge mistake not to emphasize the structure through the glass, but that's Gehry, it's all about skin, never architecture.

I predict the IAC executives will HATE the frit from the inside, drastically reducing their views which could have been so much nicer.

If Gehry had used a slick 7 WTC type clear skin on the same design he would have had a winner. This could be one of the ugliest new buildings in NYC for a long time.

[finnman69]

I like the way the glass appears in the model a lot more than what they're putting up. However, that degree of transparency would be nearly impossible to attain.

Transparency anyone?

[Citytect]

^Transparent, indeed. But if you compare those examples with the glass depicted in the model of IAC, you will notice a difference. Not quite the nice, colorless, glare-less, satin-y glass seen in the model.

I'm not saying the 7WTC glass wouldn't have been a good choice for this building. I think that's what most of us were expecting. My first choice would have been the fictitious glass from the model. Something like the 7WTC glass second, preferably less blue. I'm sick of blue/blue-green/green glass. Alas, I only get to make these decisions in my fictional glass world.

Not fond of the 505 glass.

[Cayo]

Any info on what company is manufacturing the glass for this one?

http://www.saint-gobain-glass.com/uk...product_id=621

[lofter1]

Thanks, Cayo ...

Some great looking product there.

[MidtownGuy]

The glass is making me sad now.

[lofter1]

It will be interesting to see if the glass changes on the upper floors.

[Fabrizio]

Finnman made a great post and a good case....a sharp critical eye. However.... the fact that the clear stripes have a "feathered" edge ... with a transition from clear to solid, leaves me hopeful that the final effect will be something more interesting than "zebra stripes". We´ll see.

And yes, 7WTC and 505 5th do have nice glass (and I especially like the traditional verticle shape of 505´s windows). While we´re at it: wouldn´t the Time Warner have looked great with this kind of transparency...)

[lofter1]

What we're seeing now -- without interior lighting -- has very little relation to how this will appear when the building is complete and operational.

[infoshare]

I am perplexed by the glass choice: bold horizontal lines across the entire structure will visually "cancell-out" the the overall form of the building.

To go to the time/expense/effort to achieve those subtle contorted forms only to "hide" them behind bold horizontal stripes - what a blunder.

I wait and see - they cant be that daft. or can they?

[ablarc]

The stripes will be much less pronounced once the lights are on inside.