Did you see the dummy construction worker standing under the scaffolding on the corner of the block: creepy looking. Take a look at the lower right corner of the photo; he is tied to the pole supporting the street scaffolding. Not sure who put it there, but it is there today.
And here a closer, and creepier look…
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local 666
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Ha ha good one!
Imagine walking home late at night under that scaffolding, turning the corner and seeing this: could give someone a heart attack. That thing looks very lifelike…
Any ETA to when this will be complete or t/o?
We have reached a mile-STONE. The decorative stone work on the facade is now being attached to the concrete superstructure: traditional brickwork and limestone slabs. I think the stone slabs are note actually quarried natural stone; but most likely prefabricated composite made from molds. I saw them mounted on the trucks and they look like natural stone; massive, solid, heavy pieces - whatever the material. I see so much more material and labor and craftsmanship goes into this type of building; as opposed to simply attaching framed glass panels to the entire facade. The end result is so much more substantial looking from the outside; and I would imaging it also makes for a interior apartment that have a more ‘enclosed’ feel for the occupants. This is all coming together nicely and will be quite the ‘stand-out’ beauty on those far west blocks along 22nd/23rd street near the Hudson River. I really think the developer ought to pay me for such great free publicity: but good work deserves praise - so enjoy.
I think there are cast from mainly concrete: not sure.
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Precast is a great material. I’ve seen it work in some remarkable buildings. In addition to ease of installation without a need for scaffiolding, it can be cast into virtually any shape, made into an array of color tones with dyes, and extended into the interior if desired. Here’s the Georgetown Law Center Library I helped plan by Hartman & Cox. Precast was also used on parts of the interior which is gorgeous.
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That alternating brick and cast stone banding looks like London.
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Yes, basically - this is doing ‘historical reproduction’ of architectural styles that were commonly done prior to the rise modernist architectural styles. I find these ‘traditional’ architectural design are always quite attractive; it pleases just about everyone - as apposed modernist designs that often get more criticism from the public. They only major variation from those classically oriented Architectural designers, Rosario Candela comes to mind, is the huge windows: if you look up his work, you will see many of his residential buildings look quite similar to this - but all with much smaller ‘punch’ windows. The other difference is the use of ‘precast’ stone slabs that look similar to natural quarried stone that would have been used in the past. Then of course there is the traditional looking brick work we see here, that are actually ‘brick panels’ that are quite different from the individually placed bricks/mortar done entirely by hand on site: that type of hand laid brick work is rarely done these days.
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Stern NEVER disappoints.
He should design the replacement for the Park
Lane.
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Yes, RAM is always popular. Here is like a model day Rosario Candela - here is a Candela design somewhere here in NYC… There are many in Manhattan. 
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Never forget that Robert A. M. Stern designed this monstrosity:
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Yikes I hope he was still in college?
That is surprising; not what one would think was an ‘Architectural’ design. This was probably before Robert discovered his love of Gothic Architecture, and the ‘ease’ and ‘profitability’ of simply doing a a copy of historical styles - a pastiche of Georgian, Romanesque, Gothic, and other ‘traditional’ designs.
I now feel conflicted regarding the merits of this type of work; despite it pleasing appearance - it still lacks originality. My taste is flexible and eclectic; but my preference is leaning toward the modernist style - both for its functionality and originality.
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