The South Bronx’s first major new development in years, Bankside, has topped out on phase I and just broke ground on phase II. Designed by Hill West Architects, Whitehall Interiors and Leong Leong, and developed by Brookfield Properties, the 7-tower, 1,350-unit rental project will completely reenergize the neighborhood while holding true to the area’s architectural aesthetic, with design details like:
· Two parcels that flank the 3rd Avenue Bridge (connecting Manhattan to the Bronx’s Mott Haven neighborhood) with distinct façade styles: one made of weathered masonry and brick to echo the industrial heritage of the site, and the other constructed with glass and metal. Dark metal accents and raw concrete are used throughout to further reflect the rich fabric of the neighborhood.
· An irregular composition replete with low-rise elements and lower podiums, plus bridges and overhangs, between the towers, which are offset against a backdrop of noble brick and industrial structures that date back to the area’s original iron foundries, piano factories, train repair yards and light manufacturers.
· Scaled down building massing achieved through the use of grouped openings and clustered apertures.
· A public esplanade along the waterfront and a network of open spaces with varying degrees of privacy, such as two private entry courts nestled within the buildings.
