ARCHITECTURE

idiosyncratic pedigree, is what makes New York by Gehry
typical of the latest phase in architecture’s long partnership
with speculative real estate development.
The real-time dynamics that informed the decision
to shift from a mixture of sales and rentals to a rental-only
building during construction are visible inside.
The exterior undulations combine with irregular massing
to yield 350 unique unit plans, ranging from 500 to 2,500
square feet. Of these, there are (or were initially) 191 studio
apartments, 504 one-bedrooms, 164 two-bedrooms,
23 three-bedrooms, 4 penthouses, and 13 terrace apartments.
Although this mix favors single tenants or couples,
the presence of a public school at the base suggested the
possibility of a growing market for larger families. Hence,
studio apartments were placed adjacent to one-bedrooms
to allow them to be combined in the event that such a
market emerged. 11 The unit plans themselves are nondescript,
although the bulging façade allows for bay windows
with expansive views at the upper floors. Ceilings
are somewhat higher than the current norm, at nine feet.
Beyond that, the units are compact and efficient, with the
Gehry signature having been applied to the selection of
interior finishes and appliances, as well as to the assorted
amenities—game room, fitness center, “grilling terrace,”
etc.—scattered throughout the building. All apartments
are equipped with central air conditioning rather than the
more common (and less expensive) through-wall units. 12
In these and other respects, New York by Gehry combines
a series of conventional calculations regarding location,
square footage, finish, and amenity with the less calculable
but no less consequential factor of what a Forest City
Ratner vice president called “great architecture.” 13
As of summer 2014, the building was fully leased,
with a typical studio apartment renting at $3,100 per
month, a one-bedroom apartment at $4,500 per month,
and a two-bedroom apartment at $7,100 per month. At the
10 ft 20 ft
Gehry Partners LLP, New York by Gehry, developed by Forest City Ratner Companies,
New York, New York, completed in 2010. Partial plan, Floors 9–22 (studio and one-bedroom
apartments). Drawn by Nabila Morales Pérez.
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